Re: Re: Food for thought & Weighted Centerboards

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In a message dated 15/12/1999 23:43:05, Lainie9126@AOL.COM wrote:

<<True, if you dig up a 70's vintage Laser out of somebody's garage, there 
are 
probably 30 "improvements" you will want to make to it before you go out to 
race it, not to mention basic maintenance.>>

Which is exactly what I did 2 years ago after about a 5 year hiatus from 
racing.  Everything on 1974 #15773 was original except for the dried pine 
pitch on the hull.  The great thing about the boat was that I could get in 
the water and sailing just by cleaning it up and varnishing the boards, after 
which it was a matter of making a minor upgrade (lines, spar plugs, bailer, 
new sail . . .) every so often while just learning how to sail the boat.

After 2 years I found that I had a boat that was in surprisingly good 
condition and competitive for its age, was starting to race the boat 
reasonably well, and just happened to be having a lot of fun!  I decided to 
get a newer 1997 boat, am selling mine to a junior sailor first-time owner 
who will race it (and be encouraged to join the class association), and am 
covering my initial and upgrade costs.

No boat is perfect, but the Laser has a unique capability to suit just about 
any level of skill or budget, with or without 'improvements.'   I doubt that 
any other boat could have given me everything that the Laser has:  minimal 
initial outlay, minimal upgrade costs, competitive sailing, cost recovery, a 
great (helpful and friendly) class association, a most supportive supplier 
network . . . and, a health benefit inducement for this 52-year old to get 
rid of 20 unnecessary pounds and get back in shape!

Having said all this, I see the ILCA as 'protecting the success' of the class 
rather than 'messing with success' as so many other classes have done.

Tom Hart #15773

PS - The trick to removing dried pine pitch is to soak a rag in Pine Sol and 
then let the rag sit on the until it softens up enough that it is easily 
scraped off.  Following that with a good rubbing, polishing and final buffing 
with 303 U/V Protectant brought the old oxodized 1974 yellow hull back to 
pretty amazing condition.
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