The cost of a laser sailboat can vary. It’s just like buying a car, you half to shop around for the best deal.
A Laser sailboat new will cost anywhere from $5000 to $6000. A used Laser sailboat will cost you between $2000 and $6000. The price of the boat will depend on the year it was built and the condition it is in.
Buying a laser is a fairly simple process. Since they are so small it is much easier to transport. A lot of them do come with trailers, but some do not. Just be sure you have a way to move it when needed. The laser is 14 feet long. To help compare to a truck, a long bed truck is usually 8 feet.
If you really want to save some money, you should look all over the country. I can find some good deals on laser sailboats right now, but they are about three states away. If you are willing to drive to the boat and pick it up, you could save a thousand bucks or two.
Purchasing A Laser Sailboat
If you have decided to get into laser sailing, you will need a boat. The question is do you buy used or new? That will depend on your budget and possibly, your intended use. The intended use will either be racing, recreational, or both. The good thing is, as long as the boat is well kept and In good condition, it will work for both options.
When it comes to buying a used laser, there are a few things you need to check.
The first thing to check is the hull. Make sure it is solid and has no holes or soft spots. The next thing to check is to see if it comes with everything you need. I once was given a laser boat, but it was just the hull and nothing else. I actually ended up selling it. It was not a project I wanted to take on. I wish I had it today though.
When purchasing a used laser, you may be asking how old it is.
How Old Is My Laser Sailboat? Complete List
| YEAR | HULL NUMBER |
| 2000 | 168875 – 171536 |
| 2001 | 171537 – 173950 |
| 2002 | 173950 – 176694 |
| 2003 | 176695 – 179554 |
| 2004 | 179555 – 182213 |
| 2005 | 182214 – 185370 |
| 2006 | 185371 – 188573 |
| 2007 | 188574 – 192439 |
| 2008 | 192440 – 194846 |
| 2009 | 194847 – 197063 |
| 2010 | 197064 – 200309 |
| 2011 | 200310 – 202431 |
| 2012 | 202432 – 204542 |
| 2013 | 204543 – 206662 |
| 2014 | 206663 – 208458 |
| 2015 | 208459 – 210618 |
| 2016 | 210619 – 212235 |
| 2017 | 212236 – 214962 |
| 2018 | 214953 – 216182 |
| 2019 | 216183 – 217579 |
| 2020 | 217580 – PRESENT |
The list above should help you identify the year of your laser sailboat. If the number is not on this list it must be much older.
The Parts Of A Laser Sailboat
The laser has a few different parts that you need to know about.
First, we have the mast. The mast is a two-part mast that can be adjusted depending on the size of the sail you are using. It gets set into the mast step, which is a hole in the hull where the mast goes.
Second, we have the sails. There are 3 different sizes of sails you can use on your laser. The size will depend on your weight. You need to have good balance for the laser sailboat and sail size will help accomplish this. The three sails are listed below:
3 Laser Sail Types
- Standard Sail – sail size 7.06 meters, crew size 154lbs +
- Radial Sail – sail size 5.76 meters, crew size 121-154lbs
- 4.7 Sail (smallest) – sail size 4.7 meters, crew size 77-121lbs
You can also use the smaller sails for high winds. Each sail will also contain 3 battens.
Battens aren’t necessary, but they do help support the leech. To find out more about battens read the article Can You Sail Without Battens?
The third is the daggerboard. The daggerboard goes down through a slot in the hull. You put it all the way down for upwind, up for downwind, and middle for reaching. The daggerboard is a type of keel.
Fourth is the rudder. the rudder will be down when sailing and needs to be kept tight. If it kicks up on you, you will lose the ability to steer the boat.
The fifth part of the boat is the boom. You will not be able to use your sails without the boom. It is very similar looking to the mast. Just make sure when you purchase your boat, that you have both the mast and the boom.
The sixth and final part you need is the tiller. The tiller is what controls your rudder and allows you to steer the boat. You will also want a tiller extender. The extender will allow you to control the boat when leaning out over the high side for balance.
Those 6 parts are the most necessary components to check for when purchasing a laser sailboat. You will also need the lines for raising and lowering sails, but I’m sure you know about those.
My Final Thoughts About The Laser Sailboat
The laser sailboat is a lot of fun for beginners and experienced sailors. They are fairly cheap and easy to use. There is a part of balance required to use them, but it should come pretty easy with some practice. I would love to own a laser, but at this time I do not. They are great for racing as well. If you want to go fast and love competition, I highly recommend a laser sailboat. I hope this article helped answer some of your laser questions and if you have more, please reach out to us! Cheers!
