Laser crazing - is this a problem

[DanielI]

I’ve been offered a Laser with trailer. The boat hasn’t been sailed in 15 years, but looks to be solid from my quick inspection. The only problem is some small damage to the fiberglass where someone tried to remove the old registration (which looks like an easy repair), and significant crazing/cracking on the deck. I’ve posted a close up of one of the worst spots, but the cracking is basically everywhere. When I push on the deck, I don’t feel any give, but there is a slight crunching sound sometimes. The boat has been mostly stored under cover, but has spent that time in hot, dry New Mexico.

From what I’ve read, it sounds like repairing would cost more than the boat is worth, correct? But is it a cosmetic problem, or a real safety issue? Or is there some inexpensive maintainence needed to keep it from becoming a problem? I can live with the aesthetics, but I don’t want to sail anything unsafe.

Thanks.

 

[leo310]

You did not state the condition of the sail. If you need sails then walk away the crazing need tp be sanded out then may be glass, faring and gel coat. 2-3 months work. A boat that's sail ready mite cost $750-2500.

 

[dlochner]

The crazing is most likely cosmetic. Since it was stored in a very hot area the cause is probably thermal expansion of the gel coat.

The damage to the hull does not look like it was from removing the state registration stickers, unless they did it by tying the boat up to a concrete dock with no fenders. Or maybe NM uses some really aggressive adhesive.

Most likely the repair will only involve some gel coat and paint. You will not be able to match the color.

When you say "offered" what do you mean, offered like "take this off my hands" or offered for a price?

 

[jssailem]

Welcome to SBO.
Lasers can be fun. A step up from Sunfish. See that your ASA training sight features the fun lake boats.

The sails are a key cost on a small boat. Free boats are always more expensive than you think. Boats that have a cheap price are perhaps as bad or worse.

The project can be a fun activity. You can explore the process of fiberglass - gel coat and boat painting building your skills for the future boats you may own..

 

[jon hansen]

no need to fix any of it. go sailing.

you can't see it from the cockpit.

 

[Siamese]

Repair would not be practical. If the sails are good, sail it. It's not going to break in two. And hypothetically speaking, if it did, so what?

 

[DanielI]

Thanks. I haven’t yet had the chance to look at the sails, I will do so.

Offered means no cost, “I want it to go to a good home.” The PO is someone I know. I don’t care how it looks, this would be for some fun family time when we can’t get to our keelboat. And a chance to learn a different set of sailing skills. Again, as long as it is safe.

Is there something I can or should do to make sure it doesn’t become a worse problem in the future?

I currently own a Sabot, but haven’t really used it because I don’t have a trailer, it doesn’t cartop as well as I had hoped, and it isn’t big enough for all of us. With two dinghys, we could do some weekend sailing nearby.

Which leads to my next question. Looking at that trailer, do you think it would be a bad idea to try to carry a 100 lb Sabot by inverting it and strapping it on top of the Laser?

 

[Thaniel]

Which leads to my next question. Looking at that trailer, do you think it would be a bad idea to try to carry a 100 lb Sabot by inverting it and strapping it on top of the Laser?

Check the load rating of the tires and the coupler. 100 additional lbs probably won't be an issue for the trailer as doubt anyone selects a trailer load capacity that close to the boat weight but best to check the ratings.

 

[dlochner]

Thanks. I haven’t yet had the chance to look at the sails, I will do so.

Offered means no cost, “I want it to go to a good home.” The PO is someone I know. I don’t care how it looks, this would be for some fun family time when we can’t get to our keelboat. And a chance to learn a different set of sailing skills. Again, as long as it is safe.

Is there something I can or should do to make sure it doesn’t become a worse problem in the future?

I currently own a Sabot, but haven’t really used it because I don’t have a trailer, it doesn’t cartop as well as I had hoped, and it isn’t big enough for all of us. With two dinghys, we could do some weekend sailing nearby.

Which leads to my next question. Looking at that trailer, do you think it would be a bad idea to try to carry a 100 lb Sabot by inverting it and strapping it on top of the Laser?

So long as the tires are good, I doubt it would be an issue.

I would seal the damaged gelcoat from the "state sticker" removal. So long as cosmetics are not a big issue this won't be a particularly expensive or difficult job.

Lasers are popular boats, if the sail is in bad shape check the Laser Class Association for leads on some decent used sails.

ILCA Home - International Laser Class Association

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www.laserinternational.org

 

[MikeHoncho]

You can purchase practice sails for under $300 so don’t walk just just because of that like posted above. This isn’t going to be raced so don’t price out spec’ed parts this will make things a lot cheaper. You didn’t post how much, this would help to know. A well maintained, vintage boat with a trailer is around $1500-$2000. From the pictures, this is not that. Prior to worrying about the gel coat, I’d evaluate the mast pocket and it’s attachment point to the hull bottom. Do some research, this is a known weak spot for lasers. If the boat doesn’t come with all the hardware ( mast,boom, center board, rudder then it’s only worth a couple hundred bucks in my opinion. If you buy it, I’d paint it. It the cracks were structural then it would be very obvious. The decks are laminated with a foam core. That many cracks would allow the deck to flop up and down. I’d be more worried about the deck delaminating from sitting out in the hot sun. They start to develop large, very shallow bubbles where you can push the top layer of the deck back down onto the foam core. It’s fixable with injecting epoxy into them and weighting it down.

just read your getting for free. As long as the mast pocket/deck isn’t damaged from a obvious pocket failure and you are handy with basic fiberglass repair/ brush painting and the hardware is there this is a no brainer.

 

[mikeracca]

Those cracks are mainly cosmetic, and not really an issue for a boat that isn’t in the water all the time. To fix them would require sanding the cracks down to solid glass, repairing any breaches in the glass (fibers showing) and then fairing and re coating with new gel coat. That will usually cost more than the boat is worth if this is a flip or it you are only planning on keeping it for a few years. Now if it is something to hand down to the grand kids or your kids when they become adults, then fixing it would allow them to have a nice boat that will last them for years and years.

 

[Dave Groshong]

Sabots are great boats, but you will have a blast on the Laser, just sail it.