Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our customers
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our customers
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December 22, 2023 3 min read
With over 223000 Lasers/ILCAs being built worldwide, it is one of if not the most popular single-handed dinghy. You can travel to most sailing clubs in the UK and you will find multiple Lasers in the boat park.
With the Class being so vast you can get and folded boat or purchase brand new depending on budget. We often get asked questions from people beginning to sail the Laser/ILCA and below are some of the most frequently asked.
This is a very common question when trying to insure your Laser is the sail number.
You will need to know this and there is a handy list that tells you the age - Laser Age List. This is also good if you are buying a secondhand boat to make sure that the sail number on the sail matches the Hull
Also by knowing the age of your Laser you can find out what colour Gelcoat was used when your boat was made and make your boat look new again or tidy some small damage.
ILCA 4 / 4.7 Is recommended for 35kg to 55kg Crew weight
The ILCA 4 / 4.7 Sail Area is 4.7m2
ILCA 6 / Radial Is recommended for 55kg to 70kg Crew weight
The ILCA 6 / Radial Sail Area is 5.76m2
ILCA 7 / Standard MKII Is recommended for 65kg+ Crew weight
The ILCA 7 / Standard MKII Sail Area is 7.6m2
Just remember this is only a guide.
Most sailing clubs have club boats you can try and get a feel before you buy a boat or rig.
At Sailing Chandlery we stock ILCA and replica parts. But what should you use?
It is mainly down to personal preference if you are planning on using your sail every weekend for many years to come, the ILCA sail is the one for you. The initial cost is more but the key difference in the sails is the weight of the Dacron.
Replica sails are made from 3.8oz Dacron comparatively to the ILCA Sails are constructed from 4.2oz Dacron.
The heavier Dacron increases the strength and provides you with a stronger and longer lasting sail.
If you aren't planning on racing every week and just planning on going out for a sail/cruise the replica sails are fantastic Great value for money and an affordable way to get out on the water
Whether you need an ILCA or a Laser is down to one main use case.
If you want to go to national championships and the Olympics you will need an ILCA.
If you are planning on club racing and local club open meetings you will be okay with a Laser.
The key difference between the two is the plaque on the back of the cockpit. The Laser doesn't have a world sailing plaque like the ILCA this is why it can't be used for nationals or worlds.
New sail or rig package for a fresh start in your new boat.
XD Parts and packages - If you have pre-XD boat we sell upgrade packs with new purchase systems and instructions. The higher purchase systems make sailing the boat easier with a vast amount more adjustment to the rig.
Instructions for Applying Sail Numbers Here
We have a handy article that shows you how to do this here.
I rang to request some advice on replacement parts for my dinghy and was very impressed with the excellent advice and efficient delivery of the required parts. Many thanks
Great product, safely packaged, delivered on time, at a competitive price. One more thing - the person on the end of the phone is an actual person, informative, helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant. What more could you ask for.
The sales team were quick responding to our questions, dispatched to us promptly, and the product is a perfect replacement for our old tiller which ended up at the bottom of a lake!
It was time for me to upgrade to a newer Ilca and it was recommended that I get a Devoti. The price was competitive and the service from Andrew and his team was fantastic. I received lots of communication and the boat was delivered to me within 2 weeks. It is really great that Sailing Chandlery take the time to set up the rigging so that you can get straight on the water. I am very pleased with my new boat and am loving sailing it. Thank you Sailing Chandlery!
Ordered a dyneema RSAero halyard on the Thursday. It arrived by mid day on the Friday and was used on the Saturday. Excellent product and service. Thank you
Cover arrived after three days and is well made and completely covers the boat boom up . The straps and clips all work fine. Good product.
My local chandlery were unable to supply a white inspection hatch and so it was amatter of looking online. Sailing Chandlery had the cover I needed in stock at a good price and delivery. I had never used them before but the service I received was excellent with the delivery on time and the hatch is now fitted.
I will definitely return, especially with the discounts on offer. Thank you Sailing Chandlery!
Always happy with my orders from Sailing Chandlery. They are quick to post and very helpful when I have had a question.
Jason delivered the boat on time at Hayling Island Sailing Club. The boat was new and all the spars were in perfect condition. Jason came to pick up the boat and return the deposit which I gave at the time of the delivery. Every interaction with Andrew and Jason were handled very professionally. I will recommend to any sailor Sailing Chandlery in the future. I really appreciated how easy it was to charter this boat. Thank you very much. Jacques Kerrest
Prompt delivery, with helpful updates and time slot spot on. Perfect new sail at a great price and the number fixing service is well worth it. It even won its first race! Thank you.
I needed GBR letters for the ILCA Europeans and they arrived by the next post.
I made a mistake on my order and it was put right at zero cost to me ! Amazing !
I’ll certainly be back
Product exactly what I wanted
Excellent service and prompt delivery.
Had the boom and mast in stock. Order processed quickly, great service and local so could pick them up. Friendly and helpful staff as always. Thank you
Delivered on time after chatting by phone to a very helpful person at Sailing chandlery. Absolutely no complaint with this Company and will continue to use them for my sailing needs.
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