Comments on: Laser 2, From idea to reality! A guide for owners and boat buyers http://www.sean-barton.co.uk by Sean Barton, a freelance PHP website developer in Crewe, Cheshire Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:17:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Sean http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-6129 Sean Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:22:27 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-6129 Hi Marvin, I actually sold the boat a few weeks ago through lack of use. It's sadly not a good time for me to own one on account of the wife not being bothered and children too young. I had a great time sourcing the bits and making it all work though so I encourage you to stick with it. You might have to start contacting sailing clubs around you because these boats (of a certain age) tend to have been left sitting for years with their bits just ripe for you to buy. You might find that asking around the clubs and getting in touch with owners is enough to convince some bored old sailor to sell you the entire boat and then you can help other people via eBay or similar selling the parts (not to mention making a profit!). Good luck! thanks Sean Hi Marvin,

I actually sold the boat a few weeks ago through lack of use. It’s sadly not a good time for me to own one on account of the wife not being bothered and children too young. I had a great time sourcing the bits and making it all work though so I encourage you to stick with it. You might have to start contacting sailing clubs around you because these boats (of a certain age) tend to have been left sitting for years with their bits just ripe for you to buy. You might find that asking around the clubs and getting in touch with owners is enough to convince some bored old sailor to sell you the entire boat and then you can help other people via eBay or similar selling the parts (not to mention making a profit!).

Good luck!

thanks
Sean

]]> By: Marvin Moore http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-6117 Marvin Moore Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:43:16 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-6117 Great story and what a wife you have buying you a boat!!! While pregnant!!!!! She is a dream wife. I just bought a laser 2 with everything but the mast (and rigging) and am searching world wide for one. So far nothing. I might even have to make one from some old mast and have the base engineered to fit in the step. Best of luck and thanks for the story..it gives me hope. Great story and what a wife you have buying you a boat!!! While pregnant!!!!! She is a dream wife.
I just bought a laser 2 with everything but the mast (and rigging) and am searching world wide for one. So far nothing. I might even have to make one from some old mast and have the base engineered to fit in the step. Best of luck and thanks for the story..it gives me hope.

]]> By: Sean http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-5979 Sean Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:45:34 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-5979 Yes it sounds about right doesn't it. I was a little bit worried about cutting mine down for the same reasons you suggest to best to leave a couple of inches more than you wanted to take off on there and see if you can live with it. Remember you can take off but not put back on again. Sadly Laser 2 tillers and extensions aren't cheap (as with any other product from Laser Performance). I got mine from eBay as you read in the saga however it's from a Laser 1 so the measurement I gave would be wrong regardless. The simplest way to check would be to rig the boat (on a calm day) on the trailor, sit in the helming position, pull in the main as far as it will go so that the sheets are tight then attempt a tack on dry land. As your hand passes the main block you have your overlap. As I said it might just be something you can live with or possibly move the main block forward a few inches? You could always put it back I suppose. Not something I considered at the time. Hope this helps to some degree. I've not managed to get out in the boat for a while but with the weather as it is today in the UK I certainly feel that I should make the effort over the next few weeks! thanks Sean Yes it sounds about right doesn’t it. I was a little bit worried about cutting mine down for the same reasons you suggest to best to leave a couple of inches more than you wanted to take off on there and see if you can live with it. Remember you can take off but not put back on again. Sadly Laser 2 tillers and extensions aren’t cheap (as with any other product from Laser Performance). I got mine from eBay as you read in the saga however it’s from a Laser 1 so the measurement I gave would be wrong regardless. The simplest way to check would be to rig the boat (on a calm day) on the trailor, sit in the helming position, pull in the main as far as it will go so that the sheets are tight then attempt a tack on dry land. As your hand passes the main block you have your overlap. As I said it might just be something you can live with or possibly move the main block forward a few inches? You could always put it back I suppose. Not something I considered at the time.

Hope this helps to some degree. I’ve not managed to get out in the boat for a while but with the weather as it is today in the UK I certainly feel that I should make the effort over the next few weeks!

thanks
Sean

]]> By: Callum http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-5972 Callum Mon, 04 Jul 2011 02:37:50 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-5972 Hi Sean, thanks for getting back to me. A hacksaw and pop rivet ought to do it. Mine is Aluminium. Can you tell me the length of the tiller and the length of the extension? I probably won't alter it until the boat is rigged and ready. Hi Sean, thanks for getting back to me. A hacksaw and pop rivet ought to do it. Mine is Aluminium. Can you tell me the length of the tiller and the length of the extension? I probably won’t alter it until the boat is rigged and ready.

]]> By: Sean http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-5970 Sean Sun, 03 Jul 2011 07:31:49 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-5970 Hi Callum, Impressive you found one nearly complete. I have yet to find one both cheap and ready to sail. Yes I had to cut the tiller extension down quite by bout 8 inches I think but then it was an aftermarket carbon one. I personally don't go out too far so have never had that issue however yes I imagine that if you were a lot taller and really get forward in the boat then it might be an issue. For me though I have always got a few inches of extension available to lean a little further. It was a bit of a pain having to untangle it each time I tacked, I went for the easy option instead of adjusting my style. I suppose you could give it a little flick as you turn to get it past perhaps. Good luck with it.. good to hear from another enthusiast! thanks Sean Hi Callum, Impressive you found one nearly complete. I have yet to find one both cheap and ready to sail. Yes I had to cut the tiller extension down quite by bout 8 inches I think but then it was an aftermarket carbon one. I personally don’t go out too far so have never had that issue however yes I imagine that if you were a lot taller and really get forward in the boat then it might be an issue. For me though I have always got a few inches of extension available to lean a little further. It was a bit of a pain having to untangle it each time I tacked, I went for the easy option instead of adjusting my style. I suppose you could give it a little flick as you turn to get it past perhaps. Good luck with it.. good to hear from another enthusiast!

thanks
Sean

]]> By: Callum http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-5969 Callum Sun, 03 Jul 2011 01:53:21 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-5969 I was lucky enough to get a Laser 2 pretty cheap and almost complete. I found your article searching for others having problems with the length of the tiller extension. I took it for its first sail today with a novice crew and found that I had to manually unfoul the extension from the mainsheet at every tack. Bit of nightmare but managed not to take a swim. I've been thinking about this hard but can't visualise a way to turn the boat without hanging that long extension up on either the center mainsheet or if I swing it to the stern, on the mainsheet leading to the traveller. You said how much you cut off but how long did that leave the extension? Can you still hike out far enough? Thanks. I was lucky enough to get a Laser 2 pretty cheap and almost complete. I found your article searching for others having problems with the length of the tiller extension. I took it for its first sail today with a novice crew and found that I had to manually unfoul the extension from the mainsheet at every tack. Bit of nightmare but managed not to take a swim. I’ve been thinking about this hard but can’t visualise a way to turn the boat without hanging that long extension up on either the center mainsheet or if I swing it to the stern, on the mainsheet leading to the traveller. You said how much you cut off but how long did that leave the extension? Can you still hike out far enough? Thanks.

]]> By: Sean http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-4488 Sean Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:43:37 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-4488 Hi Andy, thanks for the information... I had actually looked at each of those sites but for some reason didn't document their usefulness in my report. The boat is now sitting at the club for the Winter as the lake is currently frozen, Will see how she goes in the new year once I can procure a wetsuit with legs or a drysuit. Not as hardy as I used to be apparently! thanks again Sean Hi Andy, thanks for the information… I had actually looked at each of those sites but for some reason didn’t document their usefulness in my report. The boat is now sitting at the club for the Winter as the lake is currently frozen, Will see how she goes in the new year once I can procure a wetsuit with legs or a drysuit. Not as hardy as I used to be apparently!

thanks again
Sean

]]> By: Andy GBR9212 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-4461 Andy GBR9212 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:40:21 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-4461 Hi sean Lovely to see a laser 2 returning to the water. I can suggest a very good website for restoring/maintenance on the laser 2: http://www.cautionwater.com/category.aspx?categoryid=17 Currently have an as new boat, but thinking of restoring an older one too. The site above is great, lots of advice and tips, make your boat look good as new, repainting and all sorts. If your unsure if something is rigged right, theres a rigging guide on the left hand side of the page. If you want it even more shiny, get some marine polish, they tend to come up nicely. Also, the UK Class association is in need of new interest and members, as the commitee is thinning; they also have advice to offer through the forum and yahoo group. http://www.laser2sailing.org.uk/ Oh, and this site has another forum which is handy: http://www.jard.co.uk/laser2/ Cheers, good luck and well done, looks like a good buy after the spending! Andy Hi sean

Lovely to see a laser 2 returning to the water. I can suggest a very good website for restoring/maintenance on the laser 2:

http://www.cautionwater.com/category.aspx?categoryid=17

Currently have an as new boat, but thinking of restoring an older one too. The site above is great, lots of advice and tips, make your boat look good as new, repainting and all sorts. If your unsure if something is rigged right, theres a rigging guide on the left hand side of the page. If you want it even more shiny, get some marine polish, they tend to come up nicely.

Also, the UK Class association is in need of new interest and members, as the commitee is thinning; they also have advice to offer through the forum and yahoo group.

http://www.laser2sailing.org.uk/

Oh, and this site has another forum which is handy:

http://www.jard.co.uk/laser2/

Cheers, good luck and well done, looks like a good buy after the spending!

Andy

]]> By: James http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-3087 James Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:47:37 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-3087 Hi Sean, great work on the boat and on posting your story here. A friend and I also just got hold of an ageing Laser 2 and we're some way off getting it into the shape we'd like to see her in. Many of your comments on sourcing parts etc. have been very useful. Thanks again. James Hi Sean, great work on the boat and on posting your story here. A friend and I also just got hold of an ageing Laser 2 and we’re some way off getting it into the shape we’d like to see her in. Many of your comments on sourcing parts etc. have been very useful. Thanks again. James

]]> By: Sean http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/about/sean-spare-time/laser-2-from-idea-to-reality-a-guide-for-owners-and-boat-buyers/comment-page-1/#comment-2868 Sean Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:16:27 +0000 http://www.sean-barton.co.uk/?page_id=373#comment-2868 Hi John, Good to hear from a fellow enthusiast. My wife's family sail in Chester, the Whiteheads... I may have met you but apologies for not remembering. I'm awful with names and faces! Yes sailing has been great fun since I have had the boat on the water. The Kicker sadly cost me 40odd quid from the official dealer but it seems to do the trick. I would like to see a cam cleat on there instead of the V shaped it of metal it's currently got. Would make life easier for derigging etc.. I'm finding the square back a challenge and have chopped about 8 inches from the tiller extension as it was impossible to handle at the huge size it was when I got it. I can't believe anyone would use that on an L1! Otherwise it's going great. A little bit too much for a novice like me to handle on my own at times but a very good little boat. I do, however, keep gawping at the Solos they have at Nantwich & Border Counties where I sail. Very nice indeed! Good luck at Shotwick and for the future. Stay in touch. ta Sean Hi John, Good to hear from a fellow enthusiast. My wife’s family sail in Chester, the Whiteheads… I may have met you but apologies for not remembering. I’m awful with names and faces! Yes sailing has been great fun since I have had the boat on the water. The Kicker sadly cost me 40odd quid from the official dealer but it seems to do the trick. I would like to see a cam cleat on there instead of the V shaped it of metal it’s currently got. Would make life easier for derigging etc.. I’m finding the square back a challenge and have chopped about 8 inches from the tiller extension as it was impossible to handle at the huge size it was when I got it. I can’t believe anyone would use that on an L1! Otherwise it’s going great. A little bit too much for a novice like me to handle on my own at times but a very good little boat. I do, however, keep gawping at the Solos they have at Nantwich & Border Counties where I sail. Very nice indeed! Good luck at Shotwick and for the future. Stay in touch.

ta
Sean

]]>