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tldr as someone who has sailed both is that the aero wins for recreational sailing and the laser wins for serious racers, solely based on the caliber of competition and community support, the aero is more fun to sail imo but simply does not have active fleets or good coaching available in most parts of the world
If we want to encourage more women and girls to sail which single handed dinghy would you suggest? Our juniors learn on bath tubs (Optimists) and to keep them engaged in the sport they want a fun boat. Or they can ride a jetski!!
When I was 17 in 1958 a lady gave me a wooden sailfish which I sailed constantly on Crystal Lake Michigan. My tummy muscles would get tired of leaning so I put a board across the cockpit so I could stand up and sail which was amazing for me then. Only drawback was having to squat down to look under the sail for other boats. No windows in the sail then! I was criticized for showing off all the time (Had long black hair and black bathing suit) Even called a "hussy"! Far as I know I was the FIRST windsurfer!! Such a wonderful life that was!!
Is it class legal to add some electric tape between the rudder and the universal joint over the casing? I don’t trust just having a “plastic clip sound” holding my tiller extension down…
Sorry, agree with all you say in the video except: "a unique boat" and then 10 seconds later say "there's half a million of them." "Unique" literally means there is only one. The Sunfish is absolutely the farthest boat there is away from unique.
Nice video, thanks. One comment/change: a lot of folks rig the cunningham on the port side of the mast and use the port cleat, so that there's less rope in the way of their mast timer.
I went through the process of selecting a new single handset last year. Settled on a lowrider Moth. No comparison, blasts Lasers and Spirals for dead. An active community of highly knowledgeable sailors who (mostly) build their own boats. Want light weight, try a scow, 22 kg in plywood, 15 kg in carbon fibre. I had a Laser 50 years ago. Disappointing then and almost arcahic now. So sad that sailing can't move on.
Raced lasers for years, never needed hiking pants, never got caught under the boom when tacking. Never sailed the aero, but would like to try it. Online forums complain the aero is uncomfortable in light winds cos you're spending too much time on your knees, the wider laser decks mean you can be more comfortable in light airs
I use a Clew sleeve over the boom. It is a stainless steel unit fitted with clew hook and ball bearing outhaul block. No only does it hold the clew close to the boom, it's very easy to unhook the main. Much easier and safer to manoevre and launch, sometimes I only attach the sail once on the water.
So I faked it. Bought two Hobie Holder One 12 hulls (one to get the trailer) and fitted them with Laser recreational sails and line kits purchased through West Coast Sailing. What a ride and yes, with a Rolly Tasker jib (12’x4’) I can out run Lasers. Aeros? Probably not.
Good Video ,the one thing you left out was what i used to tell my Children growing up was if they Mastered a Single Sail little Boat they would have the Basics and Knowledge on being able to Sail almost anything because it teaches you all the important basics like Currents , Wind Direction without Instrumentations ( for that i showed them how to rotate your head and feel the Wind using both your Ear tips ) BTW both my Children are grown Adults who live in my Home State of Florida and are Competent Boaters i was very Adamant about teaching my Youngest how to Navigate and know your location by Paper Charts sure i have GPS and modern Electronics but always have Paper Charts as my Backup or Emergency use ,Paper Charts don’t have Breakdowns or Power Failures even in bad Lightning Storms my Sailing Skiff by choice has been a Howmar Hauler because of the FullFloatation and ability for extra Cargo / passengers , i also like the way it tows on a Long Line behind my Motor boat and i can solo Paddle it easily with a Kayak Paddle or motor it with a Electric Trolling Motor with ease it’s also easy to Install and Stow as i’ve added a quick Connectoion on my Battery and Motor leads for that Purpose i’m glad to see you guys have all the Parts for the SunFish Boats many of which are Univerally Adaptable for many of the other “little” Sailboats too
Hi Sebastian - Check out the 7mm Rooster Polilite - It is available once again in BLUE and can be found here: westcoastsailing.net/7mm-rooster-polilite-line/
Aero is by far the better. The only con is its cost and race availability. Laser is just too outdated in numerous ways, especially that you have to put the mast thru the sail....
That's what's like I rig my Laser, with a few more sophisticated boom jack, the cunhingham with triple knots, and in the boom. 15 minutes to keep for go out. Nowadays is more sophisticated everything, new pieces, etc I sail Laser for decades, but still rig the older way, and by the rules it was forbidden some rigs...
