Spoonie 74 #1 Posted September 4, 2020 Slightly random thought... I have a laser dinghy that needs a mast step and gunwhale repair. I've torqued it apart basically and deck has become separated from hull. Cost of repair professionally is more than an equivalent replacement. Even if I do it myself, it's never going to be the same boat. Unlikely to sell it in current state or even repaired. I'm Randomly wondering if it would make a nice rowing skull? Cut the deck off, put in some seats, and whack on a set of oar locks... Otherwise I'm contemplating taking it to the tip and paying to dispose of it. Cheers Craig Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny Dumas 275 #2 Posted September 4, 2020 Buddy put a 15 hp on one with HD tech (deck screws). Pretty fast till it turtled. Lost the motor. So, maybe don’t try that. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #4 Posted September 4, 2020 36 minutes ago, VWAP said: Well... that's a bit ugly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #5 Posted September 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Kenny Dumas said: Buddy put a 15 hp on one with HD tech (deck screws). Pretty fast till it turtled. Lost the motor. So, maybe don’t try that. haha.... I do have a little 3 horse though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Major Tom 380 #6 Posted September 4, 2020 You might need to put a skeg on the boat to give it some directional stability, otherwise a very small rudder fixed on the centreline could do the same thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #7 Posted September 4, 2020 38 minutes ago, Major Tom said: You might need to put a skeg on the boat to give it some directional stability, otherwise a very small rudder fixed on the centreline could do the same thing. Yeah I was thinking about that. Just hang a little rudder off the existing pintles with a short tiller. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #8 Posted September 4, 2020 Can't find any other examples, but the bright work on this one is lovely: https://angusrowboats.com/blogs/news/fixed-seat-rowing-geometry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trovão 469 #9 Posted September 4, 2020 a fat-assed hull like the laser doesn't make a good rowing dinghy, imho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobbieB 1,174 #10 Posted September 4, 2020 Pretty sure back in the day someone designed and sold a rowing insert that fit a Laser cockpit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #11 Posted September 5, 2020 4 hours ago, Trovão said: a fat-assed hull like the laser doesn't make a good rowing dinghy, imho. True, however with a lowered CoG they're actually pretty stable, and seated/stowed gear position just slightly forward will have that stern out no problems. I'm thinking Something to take up the river/flat water with the wife and child and a picnic set. 175kg max load limit on a laser would do that (at a pinch) We'll see... looks like I'll be cutting her up anyway. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny Dumas 275 #12 Posted September 5, 2020 An axe is pretty effective and more fun than ruining a saw. Slice the flats and a couple good smacks on the gunnels. Definitely not safe though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Champlain Sailor 282 #13 Posted September 8, 2020 As others have stated, the boat will have minimal directional stability. Growing up in the 80s, a friend converted an old worn out laser into an outboard skiff. I think he hung a 7.5 or 9.9 motor on it. It got up and planed fine, but wouldn't turn for a damn. The wide hull kept it from leaning into the turn, there was no chine for bite, and it would just skid sideways. Pretty funny, and amusing for a few days, but in the end he put his motor back on his aluminum jon boat and the old laser went away. For rowing, I'm sure it would work, but would likely not be particularly fast, compared with a narrow rowing shell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nota 38 #14 Posted September 13, 2020 had an older chrysler board boat hull that made a decent rowing dink I don't remember any directional problems rowing it and it was fairly fast longer is better for rowing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimC 671 #15 Posted September 14, 2020 It would be rather draggy as a rowing hull. The wide stern would be a lot of wetted area. A purpose designed rowing/paddle craft will be a lot finer aft. Now if you were to cut two lasers at max beam and join the two front sections... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JBOATTROUBLEMAKER 38 #16 Posted September 15, 2020 On 9/3/2020 at 8:44 PM, Spoonie said: Slightly random thought... I have a laser dinghy that needs a mast step and gunwhale repair. I've torqued it apart basically and deck has become separated from hull. Cost of repair professionally is more than an equivalent replacement. Even if I do it myself, it's never going to be the same boat. Unlikely to sell it in current state or even repaired. I'm Randomly wondering if it would make a nice rowing skull? Cut the deck off, put in some seats, and whack on a set of oar locks... Otherwise I'm contemplating taking it to the tip and paying to dispose of it. Cheers Craig I would part it out, you could get $300 or so of part value off of a hull (Rails, Outhauls, Blocks, Cleats ext). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spoonie 74 #17 Posted September 15, 2020 4 hours ago, JBOATTROUBLEMAKER said: I would part it out, you could get $300 or so of part value off of a hull (Rails, Outhauls, Blocks, Cleats ext). That's a given, but $300 hardly seems worth it really. And I still have a hull I need to cut up and dispose of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trovão 469 #18 Posted September 15, 2020 On 9/14/2020 at 2:33 PM, JimC said: It would be rather draggy as a rowing hull. The wide stern would be a lot of wetted area. A purpose designed rowing/paddle craft will be a lot finer aft. Now if you were to cut two lasers at max beam and join the two front sections... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill5 1,596 #19 Posted September 22, 2020 Remember these? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
knobblyoldjimbo 30 #20 Posted September 25, 2020 Cut the dagger board so it sticks a few inches down , then you should have your directional stability. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Major Tom 380 #21 Posted September 25, 2020 8 hours ago, knobblyoldjimbo said: Cut the dagger board so it sticks a few inches down , then you should have your directional stability. That won’t help at all, it is almost in the centre of the boat, when rowing your bum will be almost above that point so everything will pivot around a point not far from the centre of the case. Most decent rowing boats have full length or at least significant transom skegs to keep the glide path of the boat straight.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dex Sawash 472 #22 Posted September 26, 2020 I went to a beach rental for week with my sunfish clone. Left the stupid mast at home. 'Spent the week paddling the canals. 'fish makes an ok SUP with tiller bungeed on center with rudder blade almost up/floating. Would just make a smaller blade if I was going to do it a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites