Design and Construction
The 4000 is 15.22 feet long, displaces 150 lb and has a beam that increases from 4.92 feet to 7.54 feet with the racks extended. It marked a departure for the Laser marque by using foam sandwich construction for both hull and deck, rather than the solid GRP for which the brand was known.
Early concerns that this construction might compromise Laser’s legendary toughness proved unfounded. A year-old test boat remained in excellent condition, with none of the dents and depressions normally associated with foam-sandwich builds. It showed little wear after a year of constant use.
The rudder and centreboard draw on proven Laser technology, and the centreboard is identical to the 5000’s. The deck has a self-draining, open-plan layout, while effective non-slip helps keep the crew planted when sprinting from side to side.
Rig and Sail Handling
The carefully developed rig uses a Proctor Epsilon mast section and Hyde sails. The boat carries 158 sq ft of fully battened Mylar mainsail and a 184 sq ft asymmetric spinnaker. The main is made from heavy, fibre-reinforced Mylar and has five battens; the battened Dacron jib has two. The asymmetric is short-footed by modern fashion and has three retrieval patches.
A Gnav applies forward load high on the mast, making the lower shrouds central to power regulation, while fixed-length spreaders with factory-locked adjusters prevent insecure rig settings in a blow. Those fixed-length spreaders limit tuning.
The mainsail hoists easily, although one crew member must feed it into the luff track. Both halyards stow in a pocket on the spinnaker chute. The kite launches through a single-line system, with the pole canted 30 degrees off the centreline. Recovery is no harder than the hoist, provided the pole-gybing lines are released.
Crew-Weight Equalisation and Performance
Equal performance across a range of crew weights lies at the heart of the 4000’s design. Lighter crews add lead correctors and extend the racks for more righting moment. Heavier crews carry less lead but bring the racks in, surrendering leverage. A simple table determines rack and ballast settings from ready-to-sail weight, while regattas use Laser’s Crew Power Equalisation system to weigh crews and assign those settings.
Upwind, the boat is well balanced, with a light, sensitive helm, and it works easily through waves. However, turning corners is a bit of a challenge, and bearing away requires real rail weight.
Downwind, the ride is wild, yet the kite remains easy to trim, stable and forgiving. There is little lee helm unless it is radically oversheeted.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
For a racing dinghy, the crew space is clean and generous. The Gnav’s geometry frees room, and crews adapt to it quickly. Moving from gunwale to rack is unintimidating, with little to trip over, while the open, self-draining deck clears water without fuss.
The toe straps adjust in length, with the aft attachment point moving out as the racks extend. Two forward tie-down points accommodate a range of leg lengths. Getting on and off the wire is also simpler than expected.
Rigging and Capsize Recovery
Rigging is complicated by the lack of both a mast gate and a forestay. A trapeze wire must act as a temporary stay until the jib is hoisted. There is also no jib furler, which keeps the crew alert on the slipway, although the boat is otherwise easy to manage on its trolley and trailer.
Capsize recovery is straightforward. The boat inverts quickly, but both crew members standing on one edge will right it. One person out on the centreboard can then stabilise the boat while the kite is pulled down, even with the hull still on its side.
The Verdict
The Laser 4000 is a thoughtfully engineered equaliser: a foam-sandwich, skiff-like dinghy that trades the 5000’s raw sophistication for greater manageability without surrendering speed. Its class structure and regatta support made it a growing, well-organised racing boat, while early durability reports eased doubts about its construction.
Pros
- Crew-weight equalisation allows crews across a wide range of sizes to win races
- Fast and secure upwind; wild but controllable downwind
- Foam-sandwich construction proved durable in early boats
- Clean, spacious deck with effective non-slip
Cons
- Lack of a mast gate and forestay complicates rigging
- No jib furler
- Turning corners demands rail weight
- Fixed rig adjustment limits tuning
