Top Laser Sailboat / ILCA Dinghy Race Upgrades

[@ferfernando950]

Excellent video! I'm a noobie in the sailing world, just bought a boat, and you don't have a clue how immensely useful this video is for me!! Please keep them coming! Not only newbies would find these kind of videos useful, also veteran sailors who need to update... Thanks a lot! Liked and subscribed!

[@sammaproductions]

the bailer springs are great! i have to say though we still tie down the sail to the boom with rope, it's much better than the velcro strap. the velcro strap is not secure enough, it's bulky and doesn't travel well along the boom. the strap lasts for about 2 months, after that if you tie it it will loosen up after sailing for a while. if you use a rope and wrap it around the boom at least 3 times you get a much more precise and secure setting. i know some top class sailors that use the original traveller block because it's shorter than the harken one, it allows you to sheet in just a little bit more

[@cawsey7465]

Rooster ones are very good it's lasted for 2years also try spraying mclube or wd40

[@hedojake]

Samma!! Your laser video clips are fantastic!! Good soundtrack and smooth editing.

[@MontyD]

I just use a soft shackle

[@505KP]

Nice work on this video. Hits all the important points. The presenter is excellent; Speaks well without the excessive "ums" and "uhs" so common in poor speakers.

[@MrDrewsing]

Excellent video! Honestly I can't remember how I researched new subject matter before the internet. I scored a old laser at a yard sale last summer for $200. I could see right away that it was missing the vang, outhaul, smart pig and upper traveler block. I rigged the outhaul and crafty swine easily enough with some spectra line and a clew strap tie down from my local chandlery. I also raided my bucket of salvaged/saved gear and managed to cobble together a vang using a old fiddle block and a standard turning block. Both have beckets but Only sheave each so there's very little purchase. Feeling proud of myself, I took to the water and learned very quickly that a kicker with very little purchase is really only good for keeping the boom secured to the mast. I called y'all today and Katie managed to round up a used holt laser vang for me. I can't wait to try it out! I live in New England so, I'll probably be wearing a wetsuit by the time it arrives. Either way, thank you!

[@WestCoastSailing]

Drew - Thanks for your feedback and welcome to the world of Laser sailing! If you have any additional rigging questions, just let us know. Happy Sailing.

[@chroniclesofstuntbucket3522]

Good one. Helps me assess used boats as I look around, how much upgrading is needed.

[@Tomm9y]

I use a Clew sleeve over the boom. It is a stainless steel unit fitted with clew hook and ball bearing outhaul block. No only does it hold the clew close to the boom, it's very easy to unhook the main. Much easier and safer to manoevre and launch, sometimes I only attach the sail once on the water.

[@nickbanham8750]

An excellent video, so well explained too..

[@mikeshannon3020]

Great video, excellent speaker

[@itsnicethat1]

Great video, guys, thanks!

[@hedojake]

Flawless presentation, could I assume the velcro clew strap would work on a zuma?.....the "sport sedan" version of a laser. I like the idea of one less knot to tie when rigging up on the beach.

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hello there! Yes, the velcro clew strap should work fine on your Zuma. The Zuma and Laser use a nearly identical aluminum extrusion for the boom, so the dimensions are similar. We're certainly advocates for anything that makes it easier for you to get out on the water!

[@vincebennett8460]

Bought the new blocks how do I attach them to the boom there are riveted together. The hangers on the boom are riveted to the boom as well.

[@Matt02341]

Excellent Video! Everything just works! Lots of little refinements add up to a significant upgrade. IMHO Prioritizing for cost, impact, and ease of use: Main block and traveller, D ring velcro, carbon fiber tiller extension, push pin for boomvang, telltale and then as needed. BTW, love the braiding on the bitter end of transom. (splicing keeps everything flat, nice work)

[@weezyy1945]

the link to the spliced traveler goes to the wind indicator

[@donlopeaguirre112]

I had one of the first lasers back in the 70's - great boats. Mine - and most others - had a leak problem from the centerboard box. Has that been fixed at the manufacturing level?

[@tomknight5432]

Seems like it... mine from 2005 is completely water tight!

[@sebastianm7856]

Does anyone know what that mainsheet is or where I can find one in that kind of blue? Looks great and would love to have one myself. Thanks!

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hi Sebastian - Check out the 7mm Rooster Polilite - It is available once again in BLUE and can be found here: westcoastsailing.net/7mm-rooster-polilite-line/

[@sebastianm7856]

@@WestCoastSailing Thank you for the quick reply! Much appreciated

[@mprmedia5615]

Veteran : no stretch Rooster : hold my laser

[@masonmitchell4050]

Personally, i prefer the Harken clew sleeve for the clew. It makes rigging really easy.

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hi Mason - Thanks for your feedback! The Harken Clew Sleeve is a great option for those looking to simplify the rigging process. There are multiple ways to secure the clew to the boom, including the sleeve, a clew strap, or a basic length of spectra line, depending on your preference. Clew Sleeve - www.westcoastsailing.net/default/83055.html Clew Strap - www.westcoastsailing.net/default/boat-parts/laser/clew-straps.html

[@SlightReturn666]

@@WestCoastSailing it's good but it's heavy and it really doesn't slide very well. I have never seen one used on a top boat. If they made some kind of thing with rollers (after all, Harken has some expertise with plastic bearings!), the clew sleeve would be killer.

[@SlightReturn666]

The best and simplest fixing of the clew to the boom is just a line with a square knot. Will never fail, and slides just fine. The velcro straps wear out way too fast and they are not at all bombproof.

[@SergioMiletto8]

False it stretches less than any type of line it lasts like 1000 hours of sailing but like after a year usually you change it

[@porgiesplays6655]

what was the mainsheet block (im not talking about the ronstan RF6210) im talking about the boom blocks there was no link in the description?

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hi There! The upgraded blocks for the mainsheet system are the latest Harken Ball Bearing Blocks. These are available in a few configurations, depending on what you want to upgrade, including a kit with all three blocks or each block individually. Complete Kit w/ 2x Boom Blocks and 1x Traveler Block - westcoastsailing.net/harken-ball-bearing-blocks/ Forward Boom Block - westcoastsailing.net/laser-bullet-block-upgrade/ Aft Boom Block - westcoastsailing.net/laser-bullet-block-w-becket-upgrade/ Traveler Block - westcoastsailing.net/laser-traveler-blocks-upgrade/

[@porgiesplays6655]

@@WestCoastSailing thanks, can you give a ranking of all the mainsheet blocks?

[@themadunboxer8721]

You don't know if spirit levels are class legal do you? Thanks! 😁

[@alorue62]

you only need the rubber bung on the bail wen it is really light wind. most of thee time I will take the rubber bung off so the water can drain out of the cot pit faster.

[@AJ-sw8pm]

but the self bailer will stay open right?? you don't want it to be open, causing drag when there only a tiny bit of water from when you launch and got water in your boots etc

[@samdecoussemaeker5797]

Hi, I’m setting up an old yellow laser, some places are out of gelcoat like at the back of the boat some places or at the front of where you put the foil in and also by the mast step... So i was thinking about the teflon upgrade strips but the lower one how exactly would you install it? Regards from Belgium!

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hi There! Thanks for your message. The mast wear strips we offer are installed on the mast, rather than in the mast step, which is the only way you could get them in the right place. The lower one is installed just above the base plug of your mast, and the upper one is installed in the spot that would be just below the deck line, so that you don't see either of them when the mast is stepped, but they are protecting both the mast and the mast step. More info here: westcoastsailing.net/mast-wear-strips/

[@samdecoussemaeker5797]

Thanks for the very fast response and the great service!

[@marwanelkholy6547]

i have the exact same tiller-extension combination but 1250 cm and the thinnest diametere but the titanium thing thats on the tiller fell in the water,is it a problem

[@WestCoastSailing]

Hi Marwan. The titanium wear plate is designed to help prevent wear caused by contact between the tiler and the traveler line. However, the plate is not an essential part of the set up, so if it happens to come off and you've lost it, no reason not to keep using the gear!

[@onpahanvaan]

Bit overdue though anyway... The titanium/stainless plates on tillers apparently have a tendency to come of. One way many use to help retain them is to just put some electrical tape on the ends of it. Rooster at least sells also replacement plates for their tiller, I don't know about the other brands.

[@marwanelkholy6547]

@@onpahanvaan thanks man👍

[@NSMVRLapid5]

Where can I buy the bailer springs?

[@WestCoastSailing]

Neria, you can find the Laser autobailer springs here: westcoastsailing.net/laser-autobailer-springs/ The kit includes instructions or we have a great how to install video on the page.

[@emdashl2]

Are all of these class legal?

[@WestCoastSailing]

Emma, yes, all of these upgrades are 100% class legal.

[@Weddingphotographyontario]

Will have to blow some money now hahaha

[@Radial-lc8rb]

my boat is better lol