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I wouldn't go with pool noodles: lots and lots would be needed to provide the same buoyancy as the cubitainers, plus they're spongy. When your laser leaks they'll hold onto moisture and release it slowly enough to promote mildew growth and rot of the plywood parts of your laser, such as the...

I wouldn't cut into a good deck just for it, but if you've already got the inspection port(s) and some very water resistant hardware then why the hell not? Seems fun. There are waterproof boxes for iPods and waterproofed iPod nanos on the market. Keeping aware of other traffic, whether racing or...

Good points about sealant/adhesive vs resin. However, resin (either expoxy or polyesther) won't stand up to UV exposure, though 5200 does. If you do go the resin route you will need to put something on top of it to shield it from the sun. Gelcoat's generally more sturdy than paint and sticks...

Some 3M 5200 marine adhesive-sealant should do the trick to fill in the screw holes left behind by the deck cleats.

Oh which Express? I also sail on a friend's Express 34, Petite Helene, which is really a great boat. Very strong and very light for her size, sails great with a spinnaker.

Very good point, Ian, particularly about the presence of other boats. My home port is on a very heavily trafficked estuary (Clear Lake, Texas) with several dock-equipped bars. Unfortunately that means that even sailing in broad daylight is a real exercise in vigilance, regardless of any of the...

I searched for "night sailing" and found nothing relevant (e.g., "Introducing the new class sail," and "Why did you choose sailing over a powerboat?"), so I started this thread. THEN the forum suggested these actually relevant threads: "Night sailing" by grrladventure...

Does anybody have any experience sailing a laser at night? Aside from needing good night vision—certainly having the moon out would help with that—and port & starboard bow lights and a stern light if you're worried about being night-legal, what other considerations are there? I've been thinking...

I intend to launch from Surfside, TX. I did neglect to state for the sake of those unfamiliar with Texas Gulf Coast conditions that the surf conditions typically range from calf-high to shoulder-high with onshore breezes typically ranging from 5 — 15ish kts.

I've got a '75 I named "Student Driver!" Lasers of the '70's, unite! (:

That seems pretty reasonable. Thanks, LaserXD!

I'm going beach camping in a couple of weeks and thinking about bringing the laser. While surfing the laser ought to be tons of fun, a couple of things give me an unappetizing pause: 1. Rigging on the beach and then carrying or dragging the rigged boat out through the surf 2. Potentially...

Sure, but after it's been hoisted up into position would it not be feasible to lash it securely into place? The modifications to the laser you're talking about would be a lot of work, add more potential places for leaks, and the eyes might get in the way while you're sailing.

Interesting! Would it be feasible to attach two lines longitudinally, one onto the bow eye and one onto the aft end of the hiking strap? The laser wouldn't be secured in two dimensions like in the four-line scenario, but it ought to be secure enough to lift out of the water and then lash to...

Cool! Please let us know how that project goes and post photos!

Can you see on the inside-the-hull surface of that repaired spot on the mast step? I had one tiny hole visible in my mast step that leaked. It turned out not to be just one little hole but a network of cracks in an area roughly 3" wide x 4" or 5" tall going up to the joint with the deck. Get the...

I might clarify that I stuck silicone all in the rivet holes and on the rivets just before fastening them in there, then covered them over with silicone, too. The outer coating of silicone didn't work so well on the top because the sail sleeve fits so snugly, but it shouldn't be a concern since...

I'm a new owner of an old laser. When I first began sailing this boat it had no cap on the bottom end of the bottom mast spar. So far it hasn't been an issue because the mast sits on top of a metal disk inside the mast step. But on the recommendation of my local dealer I intend to install a cap...

Off the top of my head I don't know whether silicone would be class-legal or not. I don't see why it would be illegal and it was a solution recommended to me by staff at KO Sails, a local sailing gear & small boat shop that serves the local laser sailor community. Anyway, here is a link to the...

Speaking from personal experience, you want the top spar to be COMPLETELY water tight. If the top spar fills with water and then doesn't drain instantaneously then all the weight of that water aloft will make the laser impossible to keep upright. If you happen to sail someplace shallow and...