Old Lasers - does Anyone Buy These Anymore?
- Thread starter Shu
- Start date
couchsurfer
Super Anarchist
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...umm...........nevermind :mellow:
...umm...........nevermind :mellow:
thisisnotaspoon
Member
I used to have a 37xxx ('77) about 10 years ago. which I think makes it the first year of 'lasers' rather than kirby weekenders. It really was utterly FUBAR'd and dog slow, and that was 10 years ago on a boat sailed inland. The equivelent boat now would be 13xxxx ('87), maybe they improved construction over time and mine may have had a hard life, but id be weary buying another 25+ year old boat.
kurio99
Member
Not sure where you live, but up North, the season is over. People won't start looking again until April. You also face a ton of competition. There are dozens of lasers for sale at any one time anywhere in the world. For a beater, your competition is not just other lasers but every cheap boat that floats. Anyone racing is going to be looking for something reasonably competitive.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for the replies. I'm in the San Diego area, so racing season doesn't really end. Although old, they haven't been sailed hard. I've owned 7942 since it was new. These were definitely known as Lasers then in Southern California, not Weekenders.
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couchsurfer
Super Anarchist
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...how much were you a$king?
...how much were you a$king?
ZeroTheHero
Super Anarchist
In San Diego there must be a lot of Lasers. You have competition I bet. What method are you trying to sell them, CL,Ebay, SA, etc? I have found CL to be pretty good. These boats are not likely to be bought by racers so don't market them that way. Aim for the person who wants a small boat inexpensively. Emphasize ease of set up, ability to car top, comfort, availability of parts, resale value (face it these boats are devalued to the point where a purchaser might buy it for, say, $600 and then sell it 2 years later for the same). Sure some of these are stretching it a bit but that is what that market wants. When I was selling my Sunfish one was in full racing trim. Guy who bought it couldn't have cared. It was a mid 80's boat in good shape, fine for club level racing. He put it on a mooring behind his lake house. Last I saw it, it was pretty sad looking full of water and discolored from a summer in the lake. No weekend racer is going to touch it unless it's been kept pristine and is still cheap.
couchsurfer
Super Anarchist
....in the NW,,it's rather rare to see a complete and functioning laser below $1000 ---a fair price for a ready to go 14' sailboat
.....emphasize the aspects of being complete and ready to go,,,,and 'no structural issues,,no leaks' if that's the truth
....in the past,,,I would look at,,sometimes buy one of these---a great source of some very resilient spars,,,and sometimes a hull can prove to be very 'interesting'--currently have a 4digit# that's a stiff 123lbs,,,and will be a great raceboat once I refinish the bottom.
.....emphasize the aspects of being complete and ready to go,,,,and 'no structural issues,,no leaks' if that's the truth
....in the past,,,I would look at,,sometimes buy one of these---a great source of some very resilient spars,,,and sometimes a hull can prove to be very 'interesting'--currently have a 4digit# that's a stiff 123lbs,,,and will be a great raceboat once I refinish the bottom.
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- Thread starter
- #13
They are up on SA Classified (just a few more days left). 7942 is ready to race, and was competitive in the Mission Bay fleet to the extent I could sail it well. The only "new" things it doesn't have are the so-called self-bailer, the outhaul led to the cockpit, and perhaps a boom stiffener, though the old booms seemed quite stiff. I suppose you could put one of the carbon tillers on it, but that seems like gilding a pig to me. Probably time to replace the hiking strap. 1599 is ready to sail, but not race competitively. I'd take offers on them.
And yes, teak cockpit rails on both boats.
I'm going to go edit the ads.
And yes, teak cockpit rails on both boats.
I'm going to go edit the ads.
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couchsurfer
Super Anarchist
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..probably best to advertise locally...craigslist?
..probably best to advertise locally...craigslist?
coolerboy
Member
I bought a '76 laser with a trailer for $900 on craigslist. I race actively but bought the Laser to beat myself up after work on windy days out on the Bay. The boat holds up great and maybe I will see if it can compete a little bit in the Svendsen series but that's not why I bought it. The main reason I bought it was the trailer was great. I can keep it next to my house (no expenses for a boat I am not racing) and take a 2 minute drive to pop it in the water when I want to go out. I would say you should use craigslist or maybe even donate it to a jr sailing program and see if you can write it off on your taxes. Just my 0.02 cents and I hope it helps. I race extensively on bigger boats but the Laser on a windy day is still a real hoot for me. Good luck.
couchsurfer
Super Anarchist
coolerboy
Member
couchsurfer you find me a hoot for $900 and Ill come hootin and hollerin haha. Honestly, have never even heard of them until I see you post on this site. Looks like a real fun boat.
Ned
Super Anarchist
I just picked up 45578 built 1977 for $500 complete on Craigslist. Wasn't a raced boat but a rec boat so the deck is stiff but the hull looks like a hard beach landing oil canned it.
Need to do a blow test and replace the plug then see what else. Did fill in a shark bite in the trailing edge of the dagger.
It's for goofing off on days when I have no friends or no friends with working sailboats, which is most days. Or for shepherding the girls Toro.
Need to do a blow test and replace the plug then see what else. Did fill in a shark bite in the trailing edge of the dagger.
It's for goofing off on days when I have no friends or no friends with working sailboats, which is most days. Or for shepherding the girls Toro.
coolerboy
Member
Ned....I feel like we bought the same boat. A few things I have done. As a rec/lake boat it had a wooden tiller. This was no problem until it was blowing 20 and I had some weather helm. This snapped so I bought a new aluminum stick. For all the beach junk on the bottom I wet sanded it and it made a big difference. Started with 200 then did a round with 500. Not sure if I care to upgrade the outhaul/vang/Cunningham but that would be my next chore. Everything is set up to day sail and not quickly fine tune. A few new cleats/blocks could change all that.
Ned
Super Anarchist
If I was still in Maryland I would swap out the wooden tiller for a lacrosse stick shaft, the Brine ones were stiffest. Harder to come by here in the PRH.
So far finish sanding is busting off the oxidation and crud with 60 grit on the DA. More to do in that department before squeegeeing on a coat of 105/206 to seal up the cracks in the gel coat at some point. May sail over the weekend once I replace the plug if it's not going to be too windy. It won't every be at race prep standard. Just a lounger and I'll keep an eye out for a Radial rig.
Major focus now is the El Toro which is almost ready to float, except for the mast but I'll borrow one for now.
So far finish sanding is busting off the oxidation and crud with 60 grit on the DA. More to do in that department before squeegeeing on a coat of 105/206 to seal up the cracks in the gel coat at some point. May sail over the weekend once I replace the plug if it's not going to be too windy. It won't every be at race prep standard. Just a lounger and I'll keep an eye out for a Radial rig.
Major focus now is the El Toro which is almost ready to float, except for the mast but I'll borrow one for now.
