In a message dated 8/17/99 1:31:08 PM Central Daylight Time,
doughty@lynx.dac.neu.edu writes:
<< having a "pure" class shouldn't mean having a class made up of
boats that are all either new, or have never been used much (regardless of
age). >>
You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately the Laser is made of materials
that lose their panel stiffness from extended use. There is no way to "keep
a boat competitive" endlessly without making certain rediculously extensive
modifications. Our boats lose their competitive edge in a few years of hard
use, and we have decided not to let every Joe Blow build a boat and call it a
Laser.
Remember, you are a pretty smart guy and you have absolutely no idea how to
refurbish a Laser without making it perform differently than it should.
If the life extending repairs are to be made in a manner that does not make
the boat faster than the original construction, the repairs must be made by
removing "tired" laminate and replacing it with laminate similar to the
original construction.
Considering the extensive and expensive nature of a refurbish job on a Laser
hull, you would be better off spending your time asking customers, "Do you
want fries with that?" Then you could buy a brand new boat and keep your old
one as a beater boat for practice. As a practice boat your Laser will out
live you.
here is my bet.
You cannot refurbish a tired Laser to "as new performance" in fewer than 100
hours. You can use my shop where I will have all the proper tools and
materials sitting ready for your use. If you succeed I will donate the
materials, and we will tell the world how you did it. Realistically, I doubt
you can do the job in 1000 hours. You do not posses the expertise or the
hand skills to complete the job.
My offer does not include the new lines, new sails or replacement spars.
I am suggesting that you probably do something for a living that is a lot
more rewarding to your wallet than attempting to make competitive Lasers out
of old Lasers. Considering the fact that the majority participants in our
sport come from families who live at least slightly above the poverty level,
it seems absurd that any of the sailors would consider "saving money" by
working at less than a buck an hour.
There is nothing particularly offensive to me in the concept that it takes
about a buck a sailing hour in purchase price to keep your boat competitive
at the National level. That is cheap! You cannot bowl for that. You cannot
waterski for that. You certainly cannot afford anything with the word
"racing" in he title for less than the racing Laser. (remember ithe Buck an
hour maintenance schedule will keep you in the top end equipment wise at the
NATIONAL level.
It takes way less money to be competitive in venues without waves. There are
twenty five year old boats racing regularly in my local fleet. Bowling balls
have a shorter life span.
Most sports are not played at all with 25 year old equipment. At least our
old toys can still play the game. I was an all star catcher. I offered my
mitt bought halfway through my last season to the kid next door and he
politely declined. It is obsolete. You stick your hand in it and catch
baseballs and it is obsolete. A Laser used half a season and stored indoors
for 22 years can still go win the North Americans.
The only thing that lasts 25 years for a typical athlete is a Bar of soap.
Fred Schroth
Laser Class - North American Region
