tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post3899626895444957574..comments2023-09-19T08:57:32.980-04:00Comments on Apparent Wind: Walmart LasersAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17511782748972147582noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-86944921483816489192012-09-02T19:56:00.709-04:002012-09-02T19:56:00.709-04:00Of course, a full "Practice" Laser alrea...Of course, a full "Practice" Laser already exists. In Russia.<br />http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%87_(%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82)<br /><br />Complete, with a non Laser class legal hull (made in Tallinn), and an alternative bailer setup.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437802106268327035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-88418997739539437422010-06-26T07:50:27.031-04:002010-06-26T07:50:27.031-04:00If the "official" genuine Laser sail was...If the "official" genuine Laser sail was a good, durable sail we would not be having this discussion. I have sold my laser with the old striped sail and a new sail that I didn't like from the beginning. I tried, really tried to sail the new sail. I just hated looking up at the leach which was sewed too tight and and thus exhibited a 1 1/2 inch curl. Ugly and not fast looking. If it were a sail delivered to me by my sailmaker chums, I would have called them for a look and it would have gone back to the loft. I remember complaining to one of them and they said they couldn't help me. I sold my laser for a MC Scow.mgandrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09255808710576658821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-88331256159120476552010-06-18T13:25:59.293-04:002010-06-18T13:25:59.293-04:00and.... as volumes go down on the class legal part...and.... as volumes go down on the class legal parts, especially if they are unique to the vessel (like rudderheads), then the price will go up, further punishing those who play by the rulesUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03825975347504088816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-43734662310093529992010-06-17T15:30:03.313-04:002010-06-17T15:30:03.313-04:00I’m all for the “get more people on the water” the...I’m all for the “get more people on the water” theory. Intensity sails have done a great job in that effort, and I’m a big fan and a good customer. (<a href="http://apparentwind.blogspot.com/2009/07/congratulations-intensity-sails.html" rel="nofollow">Congratulations Intensity Sails</a>) I’m also for moving those people and their boats up to class legal racing. When the sail is the only issue, one big purchase makes the boat legal. The only duplication of expenses from what was required for a class legal boat is the Intensity sail ($200), and that sail will eventually be fully used in practice and informal racing over the next year. The legal sail will last several years if used only in regattas. Sailors make this transition all the time.<br /><br />On the other hand, making a Walmart Laser legal again involves lots more money and essentially throwing away those bargain parts. In addition to the sail, you now might replace that that “practice” board ($357), and “recreational” rudder ($281). Your initial savings of $33 and $17 for those items is not looking so smart now. No one is going to spend what it takes to make the boat legal again. I maintain that once a boat has travelled down that “recreational” Walmart road, it is never coming back. Those boats are lost to Laser racing forever. R.I.P.yarghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062966513084638375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-4787714447212895942010-06-16T22:46:36.717-04:002010-06-16T22:46:36.717-04:00oh yeah... in case it wasn't clear, my parts I...oh yeah... in case it wasn't clear, my parts I'm referring to are for a Sunfish, not a Laser. I don't know that there are as many knock-off or practice parts for a Sunfish, at least I don't recall seeming them in the APS catalog.my2fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14457239434851029876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-32714853254283973482010-06-16T22:44:26.784-04:002010-06-16T22:44:26.784-04:00I just recently ordered the practice race sail fro...I just recently ordered the practice race sail from APS - it was newly offered this year (at least new to me) and looks like it might have the Sunfish logo. Intensity Sails would have been my 1st choice, but his no longer have the logo (there was a factory error or something on his 1st batch... they aren't supposed to have the logos). I don't race (yet), so I didn't see the need to buy the class-legal sail, but did want the "race-cut" for the improved sail power. The sail is on back-order, though, so I haven't received it yet. <br /><br />For a typical recreational sailor, I don't see a problem with the illegal/knock-off/whatever you want to call it/ stuff, especially if it means more people are getting out on the water. As their skills improve, and sailing (and class-racing) become part of their life, then I think the cost will be easier to swallow for the "class-legal" parts to make everything legit.<br /><br />I can't comment from personal experience on any other Walmart-style parts you're referring to, but everything I've heard about the Intensity Sails versions of the "practice" sails has been great.<br /><br />cheers, my2fishmy2fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14457239434851029876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522701856181722751.post-1977264509965351942010-06-16T18:09:32.848-04:002010-06-16T18:09:32.848-04:00And what about West Marine foiling moths?And what about <a href="http://sipayne.blogspot.com/2010/06/mach-2s-at-west-marine.html" rel="nofollow">West Marine foiling moths</a>?Tillermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639738519386820997noreply@blogger.com