Laser 4.7

Encyclopedia : L : LA : LAS : Laser 4.7

---

---

 

This article is about the Laser 4.7. For the general Laser history and more information, see Laser (dinghy)

The Laser 4.7 is a one-design dinghy in the Laser series. Because they are a one-design class of sailboat, all Lasers are built to the same specifications. The Laser is 14.3 ft long, with a waterline length of 3.81 m (12.5 ft). The hull weight is 56.7 kg (125 lb), to facilitate car-topping. Many enthusiasts have even devised methods of mounting the boat on top of a car single-handedly.

Lasers are cat-rigged; they have only a main sail. The standard sail is 7.06 m² (76 ft²) and, especially in higher winds, is best sailed by a person weighing more than 80 kg (175 lb). For lighter sailors, the Laser Radial and the 4.7 have been developed. The 4.7 uses the same hull and top mast section as the Laser, but has a different bottom mast section and sail. The sail is only 4.7 square metres, as opposed to 7 for the standard Laser, meaning it can be sailed by sailors weighing only 55-65ish kg (120-145 lb).

The 4.7 is quickly gaining popularity in most of the world. In some places it is replaced by the Byte dinghy, also designed as a youth single-handed boat similar to a Laser, but the interchangeability of the rigs of the Laser series has always made them popular. It is often used by youth sailors graduating from the topper sailing dinghy.