These days I tend to avoid posting a direct comparison between the Laser and another class of boat because of the inevitable impression it creates that I am implying that someone else's choice of boat is inferior to mine. So before you attack this post just remember
- It's not written by me.
- Susie knows what she's talking about (even if I often don't).
- Just because some of us like Lasers doesn't mean that we don't know that they aren't for everybody.
- Personally I think it's a marvelous thing that are so many different kinds of sailing boats and so many different styles of sailing. That way we can all choose a boat that suits our interests, aptitude, and income.
Chacun à son goût!
Peter Vessella, John MacCausland and I can speak to the topic of "LESS IS MORE." I am referring to comparing and contrasting the Star to the Laser.
| STAR | LASER |
| more control lines than you can count | 5 control lines |
| crew required | no crew required |
| trailer required | trailer optional |
| hand brake on trailer | dig your flip-flops into the gravel to stop runaway boat |
| usually mast breaks when you death roll (see Vince Brun death roll, 1988 Star NAs) | mast does not break when you death roll |
| hiking strap and hiking vest required | need hiking strap only |
| halyards | no halyards |
| more stays than you can count | no stays |
| spreaders | no spreaders |
| jib | no jib |
| whisker pole | no whisker pole |
| $65,000 for a new boat | $6,000 for a new boat |
| spreaders and stays constantly need adjusting for changing conditions | only need to adjust outhaul, cunningham and vang for changing conditions |
| more expensive than a 3-ring circus | more fun than a barrel of monkeys |
8 comments:
Gee, with only a few minor changes, the first column could read "ETCHELLS".
At least my mast doesn't break during a death roll.
Skip Etchells built and raced Stars before designing the Etchells. So it's no wonder there are similarities between the two boats.
... and his wife Mary as crew was the only woman to ever win the Star worlds.
The comparison didn't get too much into the fine points of physical torture on the Star vs the Laser.
Is droop hiking quite civilized?
Can we talk about this in a forum in which children might be present?
And Pat and I this afternoon spent some quality time on board what might be the last Etchells built by Skip Etchells himself (but certainly was among the last), USA 38. It was originally painted green, so I wonder whether it might have been a Shillelelagh.
why is a barrel of monkeys fun?
According to Charles E. Funk, word historian: "One monkey arouses a great deal of amusement. Two or more than double the interest and amusement. If one were to release a barrel full of monkeys, we must suppose that their antics would become hilariously comical."
But how would the monkeys react to having been confined in the barrel? What accommodation would the barrel need to meet SPCA or OSHA health and safety standards? Would the monkeys be too hyper or grouchy to type out the collected works of Shakespeare? (Or with only one barrel of monkeys do you just settle for a couple of sonnets?)
It's an old whiskey barrel. The monkeys are very happy.
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