Got a Lazer (sailboat)

[DREDIOCK]

Yes, I finally got a Lazer.  Not a lazer 'beam', but a lazer boat. 

One of the kids in my sailing class has a father who didn't want his lazer any more.  So he said we could borrow it for the summer.  (He just wants to get rid of it... he doesnt care how much he gets for it)

Well, we can see why he didn't want it anymore...  The second we saw it, it was covered in Moss, and everything was all stinky 

So we took it home, and used a Pressure Washer to take off all the moss and dirt...  Now it looks brand new.  So we decided to try and rig the mast.  We got it to stand up straight, but one of the things the mast connects to is bent out of shape.  It doesn't effect anything, but it looks a little bad.  We're pretty sure that it's connected and put together correctly.  However, we see a few things that are left out, like a hook, and a few little holes. 

The thing is, this Lazer is supposed to have a Jib (I think that's what they're called) Which is a smaller sail that goes in front of the main sail.  We don't have the main sail OR the Jib.  They're at the place we got the boat from, we're going back tomorrow to get the sail(s) 

We dunno how to put that either though...  So, I guess we'll figure it out.

I'll have pictures later. 

Screw the pictures.
This upcomming comedic disaster calls for video! LMAO

[lasersailor184]

The Spinnaker is the front sail right?  Wow, I should just take a picture of all the parts I have together and have you tell me what I'm missing.   

The jib is the foresail that connects (sorta) to the front stay (front metal wire holding up the mast). 

A spinnaker is a large somewhat free floating sail that is hoisted when you're sailing downwind.  A difficult sail to learn and use, but very fast and rewarding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baCSG1J3fpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGtteIYNQy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3NnjqgrisU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCkNGFbWjWo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc-mEBuxapo

Those are some of the better ones.  Top one is a favorite I watch every week or two.

[Oogly50]

Now now, I'm starting to get this figured out!   

The rudder DOESN'T go directly on the front... It leads to quite a few steering problems... 

[Oogly50]

The jib is the foresail that connects (sorta) to the front stay (front metal wire holding up the mast). 

A spinnaker is a large somewhat free floating sail that is hoisted when you're sailing downwind.  A difficult sail to learn and use, but very fast and rewarding.

The sailing clock still applies to it right?  I'm just assuming that it has no mainsheet to pull it in, but probably just a regular rope? 

[lasersailor184]

The sailing clock still applies to it right?  I'm just assuming that it has no mainsheet to pull it in, but probably just a regular rope? 

What?

[Oogly50]

Okay...  So if I'm going on a reach, the spinnaker needs to be half-way out, just like my sail? If I'm going upwind, my Spinnaker needs to be pulled in all the way, just like my sail?

Basically, it just behaves like a regular sail right? 

[lasersailor184]

Okay...  So if I'm going on a reach, the spinnaker needs to be half-way out, just like my sail? If I'm going upwind, my Spinnaker needs to be pulled in all the way, just like my sail?

Basically, it just behaves like a regular sail right? 

Ah.  The highest point of sail the spinnaker would be used on would be a beam reach (90degr to the wind).  If you're sailing any closer to the actual wind angle, you wouldn't trim it in to fit, you'd pull the sail down.  If you're sailing an angle further downwind than you'd bring the spinnaker more square to the wind, while letting all the other sails out.

The spinnaker is only a temporary sail.  It goes up when you start to sail downwind.  It comes down before you start to sail upwind.

[Oogly50]

So, when going into a broad reach, I would still leave my Spinnaker at a beam reach position? 

When you say "it comes down before you start to sail upwind" Does that mean that it gets "put away?" 

Is there a fast and easy way to "put it away?"

[lasersailor184]

So, when going into a broad reach, I would still leave my Spinnaker at a beam reach position? 

When you say "it comes down before you start to sail upwind" Does that mean that it gets "put away?" 

Is there a fast and easy way to "put it away?"

The spinnaker is only tied onto the boat in 3 positions.  It's a roughly triangular symmetrical sail.  The halyard holds it up, and the sheets trim it in.  However, a spinnaker pole is used as well.  This pole is placed on the windward side of the boat and is attached to the windward sheet. 

As you turn the boat further downwind, you would ease out the jib and mainsail.  However, you would shift the spinnaker around the front of the boat towards the wind so you can catch more wind.  If you let the spinnaker out as you went downwind, it would go behind the jib and mainsail and not fill.

There's way more complex things to do with the spinnaker, but don't worry about them quite yet.

[Oogly50]

  I'll read this once I'm not so tired, and maybe it'll make more sense.  I'm off to bed.  Thanks for all your help sir!   

[lasersailor184]

I'll read this once I'm not so tired, and maybe it'll make more sense.  I'm off to bed.  Thanks for all your help sir!   

I'm too tired myself to check to see if I've described it correctly.  So...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL3QzQusquE

However, spinnakers are hard to use.  And until you get it perfected...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIrMSI9YBo&feature=related  you'll probably spend some time in the water.  I did.


Capsizing these boats is no big deal.  Remember that.


Capsizing these boats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNJQMwW7iUY&NR=1 isn't so lighthearted though.

[68Wooley]

I used to teach people to sail on those things. Lots of fun and so much faster than the 420's we were also using.

One thing I noticed though - the European boats almost all had spinnaker chutes (only really early models didn't) so I'm guessing this is either a really, really old boat or its a 'fun' model that doesn't have a spinnaker.

[68Wooley]

A difficult sail to learn and use...

Yup - think steering with your knees whilst trying to hoist the sail fast enough to not sail over it whilst your crew's tries to attach the pole to the mast and guy, set the pole to the right height and get it sheeted in. Meanwhile the boat's just hit warp speed, there's spray everywhere and you're teetering on the edge of a capsize. Then you gybe...

Ah good stuff.

[MiloMorai]

The Laser 2.  The greatest 2 person dinghy that never really happened.  My favorite boat in the world.

You still have it?

Yes. Used for pleasure so not set-up for racing.

[Nilsen]

Watch out for rocks. Those you cant see are the worst.