Laser 2 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull is longer and slightly heavier than a Laser, at 14 ft 5 in overall with a 4 ft 8 in beam and a documented 160 lb weight, and its mid and aft sections are wide and flat while the topsides stand nearly vertical. That geometry gives an extra-wide waterline beam, but the freeboard is kept low — a choice the designers tied directly to shipping-container dimensions. The wider flat sections carry a penalty in high wetted surface, which the magazine noted makes some sacrifice in light-air speed. The cockpit itself is shallow and does not retain much water; most of what comes aboard leaves through the daggerboard slot, which sits flush with the cockpit sole, while a self-bailer set in the middle of the aft end is ineffective unless the boat is level.

Rig and Handling

The Laser 2 carries a fractional sloop rig with a 124 sq ft mainsail and a 110 sq ft spinnaker, the latter cut with a long foot and short leeches so it can be carried close to the wind easily. Spinnaker sheets lead comfortably to the middle of the boat rather than the transom, the pole stows along the boom with its lift attached, and the sail stuffs into a proper launching bag. The mast breaks into two sections and all halyards can be left in place for storage, making rigging and unrigging about as simple as a boat with shrouds can be, though a Laser sailor will still feel it a chore. On the water the hull is at its best on a plane, and its stability lets beginners make a few foul-ups without getting wet, or even throw up their hands with no one on the wire without flipping. It is, however, wet even in protected water, and it does not have the upwind ease and grace of slower designs.

Accommodations and Cockpit

This is a dinghy, not a cruiser, and the cockpit reflects that. Testers found the space confined, especially for someone near 6 ft 3 in, with little room to spare once seated. The shallow cockpit and flush daggerboard slot aid drainage, but the confined volume and fairly basic approach toward fittings and sail controls make light-air racing awkward for adult crews. Downwind, the forward hand must contend with a half-raised daggerboard as part of the routine.

Known Issues

A period tester found the mainsheet fittings awkwardly placed and the traveler bridle — a simple effective solution on a single-hander — not adequate for the mainsail trimming a trapeze crew should do, with adjustments difficult under load and the Clamcleat too small or wrongly angled to grip the control line. The shaping controls, vang, traveler and outhaul are not easily adjusted, and the 2:1 mainsheet purchase feels heavy. Trapeze gear is basic, with a handle but no adjustable hook height; the reviewer called that omission crucial because it makes effective trapeze work, especially in marginal conditions, very difficult.

Refits and Ownership

Performance Sailcraft emphasized a wide crew-weight tolerance of 230 to 400 lb in its sales literature, and the kept-down size and weight make car-topping a possibility. The two-section mast and stored halyards mean the boat packages to the hull length for transport. For an owner, the meaningful upgrades cluster around the sail-control and trapeze shortcomings the testers identified rather than around the hull itself.

The Verdict

The Laser 2 is a purpose-built double-handed plane-seeking dinghy that trades light-air grace and fine cockpit ergonomics for outright downwind fun and a forgiving stability envelope. Its construction and rig are straightforward to own and move, but the trapeze and trimming setups show their basic origins.

Pros