Thread: GIS Build in Queenstown New Zealand

Howdy,

Just from the point of view that upgrading the vang mechanical advantage is the probable reason for the topmast problems (which didn't appear at the beginning, but rather as people started using the stronger vang to put more load on the system).

And a topmast with the same bend characteristics can still be stronger than the original.

So at the moment the topmast is failing fairly frequently, replacing it with a stronger one means more load in the rest of the rig as it stays intact very much past the point where the topmast used to break.

I think I did state it too strongly ... but knowing sailors, they always push things to their limits ... so more strength in the top might mean a rigging tweak that becomes widespread.

An equally nice outcome would have been the sole suppliers halving the price for the existing topmast. But once there is a captive market, there is no need for efficiencies or discounts.

Until someone comes out with a Laser Killer like Bic creating that little laser like dinghy that is an Optimist killer - a fully manufactured boat that is hundreds of dollars cheaper than a racing grade Oppie.

I think it is a bad decision on behalf of the Laser and demonstrates the cost of complexity ... but then I'm not voting

MIK