Found Sail Boat in my Back yard

[Drhoward]

I'm a new member here as I just recently purchased a house and the previous owners left a small (laser I think) sail boat in the back yard. I don't know much of anything about sail boats so I figured I would ask a few questions. I am probably going to sell it as I don't really have much time to sail in the summer here (Calgary Alberta Canada) due to my job. What should I look for on the boat? It doesn't have a sail but there is a mast and the rudders as well as a small trailer.

Where should I look on it to get an age/model?

I tried to post pictures but I need to have 10 posts before I am allowed

Thanks for all your help in advance


Kev

[dylanwinter1]

Originally Posted by Drhoward

I'm a new member here as I just recently purchased a house and the previous owners left a small (laser I think) sail boat in the back yard. I don't know much of anything about sail boats so I figured I would ask a few questions. I am probably going to sell it as I don't really have much time to sail in the summer here (Calgary Alberta Canada) due to my job. What should I look for on the boat? It doesn't have a sail but there is a mast and the rudders as well as a small trailer.

Where should I look on it to get an age/model?

I tried to post pictures but I need to have 10 posts before I am allowed

Thanks for all your help in advance


Kev

good find

you could take some pix and link to them on flickr

I think you should regard this as the god of sailing sending you a message that although you live a rediculous distance from the sea he has chosen you to become a sailor

so find an old laser sail - you will find them on the web

put it on the boat and go sailing

it really is the most amazing thing

silent effortless motion - you will be entranced

Dylan

[CarbonSink62]

Burn it. Burn it now.

Pull out and nuke the site from orbit (it's the only way to be sure).

If you can't bring yourself to do it, perhaps because of some misguided notion that it's a 'done thing' because our ancestors have done this for untold centuries, try this quick, simple and (relatively) cheap activity:

Go to the bank; take out one quarter of your monthly household budget.

Stand in your shower, fully clothed, turn the water on high flow and cold.

Slowly tear up one of the bills; bang your head on the wall a few times.

Tear up another bill; bang your head again, but on a different spot.

Repeat until the money is gone.

That was the easy part.

Now go to your spouse/lover/parole officer and tell them it was fun and they should join you next time.

Best of luck with your decision!

Ken

[neverknow]

Is the boat and /or trailer registered. If so you might find out someone else owns them when you try to title them.

[dylanwinter1]

you see what happens if you become a sailor

you join a brother hood of intelligent, witty men with a well developed sense of irony and a great line of invective

Dylan

[Frogwatch]

Mow your lawn and find a boat? I thought that only happened with North Florida rednecks.

[paul323]

If it is a laser, then the hull number is on the transom (flat back end of the boat). Typically right side; typically the last two numbers are the year.

If it is a laser, the mast will be in two pieces, the boom one. You would also have a centerboard, rudder, and tiller. Without a sail, however, the resale value will be low. A new sail costs around $500+; a fully equipped older laser in CA, in good condition (solid, no flex in the decks, no leaks in mast step, etc), small trailer, $1000-$1500.

To get around the "10 posts" limit, you can put your pictures on an online service such as Vimeo, and post a link.

[Barquito]

Being sailors on this forum, we would tend to suggest that you fix it up and sail it. However, if it doesn't even have a sail, most likely there are going to be other issues with the boat. Might be a rough introduction to sailing. Unless the boat is in otherwise perfect condition, it is probably only worth $300-$500 anyway. Just put a bunch of pictures on e-bay and see what you get. Just be warned: a year or two from now, you will start thinking about that little boat, you will start imagining a sunny breezy day on a lake... you will be hooked.

[SloopJonB]

You have $0 in it - find someone who knows boats and have them look at it to see if it's worth bothering with.

Old Laser hulls get soft & flexy and get stripped of gear and discarded. The owners then buy new hulls & install the gear on them.

However, if all it needs is cleanup and a sail, you can buy a used sail and be sailing for nearly free on one of the best small boats ever designed.

Your kids will thank you for it later in life.

[dylanwinter1]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

You have $0 in it - find someone who knows boats and have them look at it to see if it's worth bothering with.

Old Laser hulls get soft & flexy and get stripped of gear and discarded. The owners then buy new hulls & install the gear on them.

However, if all it needs is cleanup and a sail, you can buy a used sail and be sailing for nearly free on one of the best small boats ever designed.

Your kids will thank you for it later in life.

Perfect post

great advice

and spelling out the possible great outcome

if you ever have kids sailing is the one thing you can pass onto them that will last them a life-time

they will have great memories of you as a wonderful dad

getting that boat going - or even selling it and spending the money on a better one might be the best investment you ever make

makes any other hobby such as golf, killing antelope with a bow and arrow or watching ice hockey pale into insignifance

Dylan



Dylan