Check out a blog named "Proper Course" by Tillerman. He is, or was, a Laser masters sailor who bought an Aero several years ago. He seems quite happy with the boat, but he does have an active fleet nearby. He started a new blog about the Aero at some point, but I can't find it.
I would hit...
Is there a tire size stamped on the sidewall of the tire? The original Seitech wheels used a standard 4.80/4.00-8 wheelbarrow tire and tube. The current Dynamic wheels look similar, but I couldn't say for sure.
Even a standard wheelbarrow tire isn't as common as it used to be. I could find...
West Coast Sailing is looking to produce hulls at the ZIM facility in Rhode Island. There were pictures posted of molds arriving at the RI facility on SA in anticipation of a pilot run. They indicated they did not plan to sell China-built and US-built hulls side-by-side in the US.
ILCA gives...
I believe someone sold a special case for flying with Laser blades. I doubt they are sold any more, and a custom Pelican case is probably a more economic solution anyway. I've seen people fly with blades in checked baggage just by stuffing extra life jackets in a normal blade bag. Not...
2009. Now that you mention it, I believe the discussion at the time was rake was being measured to survey builder tolerance. The main purpose of the inspection was to check sail
numbers and that rigging was compliant with class rules.
Before the inspection, the measurer was more than willing...
The one time I went to a regatta with measurement, it was mostly an equipment check to ensure that your rigging complied with class rules. They did have a template for measuring the mast rake. Undoubtedly there were wide tolerances.
Very common question.
Yes, you can cut down standard section and sail the boat with a Radial sail. But no, it will not work.
The Radial spar is made from thinner aluminum to have a specific bend characteristic that matches the Radial sail. A sawed-off standard spar will be too stiff, and the...
I did this once years ago. I took the old bearings to the auto parts store, and they were able to measure them and find me a replacement. Unfortunately I did not retain the size information. Still, a knowledgeable person should be able to find the right size for you, may take going to...
Bow swivel is the best feature of the Kitty Hawk. One tip, always try to transfer the boat to and from the trailer with the trailer attached to your car. If the tongue of the trailer is sitting on the ground, it means you have to lift the stern of the boat even higher to clear the gunnel supports.
Yes, the forestay is only there to keep the mast upright with the rig untensioned. All the tension is in the jib luff wire. Sounds like you already figured out what to do with shock cord and the forestay when the rig is tensioned.
The magic box is an older system for the jib tension. Now...
Thinking back many moons when I sailed 470s. Given there are so many different manufacturers and so many different national authorities with their own numbering, it isn't like Lasers where a sail number is assigned to each hull by the builder. I believe when you buy a 470, it is up to you to...
LaLi is right. Don't change the spar fittings without good reason. With the classic vang setup, you can add shackles and swivels as needed. I'm not sure how the upgraded vang setup would work, but it could probably be done. Personally for a boat of this age, I would just stick with the...
Storing it upside down on the rack would be best for stress on the hull. Storing it upright on the dolly will speed your launch retrieval time. If you can figure out a way to get the dolly up on to the rack, more power to you.
People who don't sail small dinghies, or at least not very often...
So is that what they looked like before you pulled them out, or did the process of removal destroy them?
Of course the boat will work without them, it's just emergency floatatiion in case the hull is filled with water. Sorry, don't know how many are supposed to be in there.
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