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NickM
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2013 : 17:09:37
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Am I right in thinking that Laser have now stopped making the Keel as well? Their website suggests they are still selling spares. I wonder how long stocks will last. Laser have just deleted the L2000 too but LDC are taking it on. No propsect of them doing the Stratos I expect, but I think some L2000 parts are shared with the Stratos.
If Laser have completely dropped the class, what is it's long term propspect? Should it "break free" from the Laser parent like the SB20 and 2000? (Does anybody care?)
NickM
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Novice Bob
United Kingdom
20 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2013 : 14:42:51
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| Where did you hear this, I can't find anything about either Stratos or 2000 being discontinued? |
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NickM
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
Posted - 09 Feb 2013 : 21:20:13
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Laser Performance has so many redundant sites lying around the Internet that they have not taken down that it is difficult to get a clear picture. What is clear however is:
a) Laser 2000s are now being made by LDC, see this link for the announcement. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/167507/LDC-Sailing-is-the-new-2000-Class-builder, and
b) Laser Performance having withdrawn from the UK, Sailboats.co.uk are now the official suppliers of Laser boats in the UK, see http://www.sailboats.co.uk/Cat~New_Laser_Boats_5793.html. (Some confusion here as they also list L2000 as a boat they can supply but I suspect they are only referring to stock items they have acquired from Laser Perfornace.) The Laser Stratos Keel is not listed on the Sailboats website.
I have also come across a Laser website (which I cannot now find) in which then Stratos is deleted.
I'll talk to a few people at the London Dinghy Show and update the above shortly.
NickM |
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NickM
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2013 : 19:59:02
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Yep, Sailboats have confirmed to me the Stratos Keel is discontinued.
NickM |
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Novice Bob
United Kingdom
20 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 15:31:32
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| Eeek, I need a new keel assembly. |
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NickM
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2013 : 20:26:16
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I had a couple of useful conversations at the Dinghy Show which might be of general interest.
I spoke to people on the sailboats.co.uk stand. They confirmed that Sailboats are now the "official" Laser supplier in the UK. They will continue to support a number of otherwise "defunct" Laser classes like the Laser 2, Laser 5000, Laser 3000 and the Stratos. Spare parts for the Stratos are no problem at the moment. The foils are the same as the Bahia (in production.) A new keel would (for a Keel) could be made as a one-off and might be very expensive (e.g. £2000!)
They have sails in stock. When the stock runs out they will order a new batch (usually 6 at a time from Hyde) to keep the price down. There might therefore be a delay. There is nothing to stop you going to Hyde yourself and buying a Stratos sail but, as they would have to make it as a "one off" it might come in more expensive.
Selden masts are also bought into stock.
Interestingly they said that the old Laser factory near Northampton is still turning out Lasers and, as they still have the mould for the Laser Stratos Keel (but not the C/B version,) they could in theory produce a Stratos Keel as a one off - but the price might be different.... I am not clear is they are still producing them in job lots for training centres etc.
Of course other chandlers may have Stratos spares in stock too.
The person to contact at Sailboats is Dan Slater.
I also spoke to the (Laser) 2000 Association. They told me that some two years ago they thought Laser might be planmning on deleting the 2000 so they had a number of discussions which ended in Phil Morrison (the designer - also of the Stratos) assigning copyright of the 2000 away from Laser which enabled the Class Association to approach other potential suppliers. LDC are now building them, with some minor tweaks to the fittings that are not performance enhancing. It would in theory be open to the Stratos Class Association to follow this route but I doubt there would be enough interest in finding another builder.
NickM |
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deswift
122 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2013 : 20:54:19
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Hi Nick, Interesting conversation. Actually, I can't think of many parts on the stratos (except foils and spars) that you couldn't get from one chandlery or another. And as for sails, I'm sure there would be no shortage of sailmakers happy to provide options to the class. I foresee some interesting conversations this summer at the Nationals and AGM!!... (watch this space for details).
David
303
Warsash Sailing Club |
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nojonareach
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:27:48
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Hi David, Nick and others. i had replied on another thread about the nationals this year and association membership but have had no response. We bought No239 last summer and have enjoyed club racing it and cruising in Chichester Harbour. Do you still have a class association...if so we'd like to join!
Regarding sails, i think its probably time to drop Hydes as the sailmaker especially if they will only make in batches. I had a new kite made by Dick Batt, Batt Sails at Bosham. www.battsails.com as i have used him in the past for other boats. He's a top class sailmaker and its a fantastic kite. Dick has a great reputation and caters often for small classes. He did say to me that he would happily talk to the class if you wanted and come up with a plan as he has great experience of doing this kind of thing. oh and the kite was cheaper than an off the shelf Hyde, much better quality and made in the UK.
Cheers
John |
Edited by - nojonareach on 06 Mar 2013 15:35:13 |
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deswift
122 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:37:08
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Hi John, re membership, you can email the Class Secretary using the 'contact us' link @ top left of page, or come along to the Nationals and join on the day!.
Let us know how you get on club racing against other classes - is it a fair handicap?
Look forward to seeing you there.
David
303
Warsash Sailing Club |
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nojonareach
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 15:47:31
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Hi David
sorry i just saw that the nationals has been posted since i was last here!! okay will do re-joining.
Yes i think its a fair handicap. We race in a mixed fleet and due to the tides of getting back up to Emsworth e.g. punching the ebb we don't tend to beat the iso's, 400's and 300's but find were always mixing it with lasers, laser 2000's and RS200's who all rate around the same as us. We won the medium handicap fleet and came 8th overall for our winter open series October - December. There were about 50ish boats across all classes so we were pretty pleased. |
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Neiljbg
10 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2013 : 19:06:39
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Perhaps just to give some warning about where we could end up post Laser if we are not proactive. My other boat is a Laser 5000 and Laser stopped making them some years ago...we can still get foils through Sailboats but it is not quick. Sails..still through Hydes and Sailboats but again slow and if you need one quickly it can prove challenging....spars..Selden destroyed the mast section so we are in the unfortunate situation of seeking a new supplier ( think we are sorted now) for an aluminium mast (trying to keep the one design so not going carbon atm)....I won't go into hulls as it gets complicated..
None of these problems are insurmountable but we do need to think ahead ( as it seems the 2000s have done) to either get a supplier of the size of LDC or discuss where we go (retain the one design, allow some flexibility etc) with other suppliers...I think David's point around the AGM is a good one and probably an important agenda item ( do we need a small group to consider the ongoing supply situation with the boat to really nail it...)
Just my thoughts, I think if we are proactive now it will prevent problems in the future
Neil
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sboot
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - 24 May 2013 : 08:03:52
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We need to find a new manufacturer.
What about Heartly Boats? They do Wayfarers and Wanderers.
http://www.hartleyboats.com/
Any other suggestions? |
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madmanrichie
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2013 : 15:58:47
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| There are lots of boat classes that only have a small number of boats produced each year eg Wayfarer and Wanderer both built by Harley Laminates. There is no reason why the Stratos and the Stratos keel could not be produced by another boat builder. Both versions of the Stratos are excellent boats that would sell just as well as other boats such as the Wayfarer and Wanderers. Both the SB3 and the Laser 2000 have now been taken on by other builders and the same thing should happen to the both versions of the Stratos. |
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madmanrichie
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2013 : 14:17:27
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| Has anybody approached Phil Morrison and possible builders that could take on the design. The class can't continue if these discussions don't take place. |
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deswift
122 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jul 2013 : 14:34:05
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Hi Richard, looking forward to discussing this more at the weekend. Are you coming along?
David
303
Warsash Sailing Club |
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madmanrichie
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jul 2013 : 14:41:21
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Hi David no I won't be able to attend the Nationals.
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Manufacturer?
