Lasers and sunfish are both 14''. Lasers are faster but less stable than sunfish, not that sunfish are very stable either. Sunfish are a little more forgiving. Kids can climb around on the sunfish more easily. Capsize, while not inevitable, happens sometimes in either boat. Hiking is more common and/or necessary with the laser.Righting either boat after capsizing is easy, but practice first, deliberately. That way, when it happens "all of a sudden", it won''t be a problem. Cockpit size in both boats is the same,but the sunfish cockpit may be "deeper". You can also get "beach wheels" for either boat, and walk it down to the beach and the water. They weigh about the same, and you''ll need 2 people to get it on/off the car.I sail in Lewis Bay. Before July, I wear a wetsuit if I''m taking out my sunfish. Forget the Escape.