Laser 4000 Buyer's Guide
The Laser 4000 is Phil Morrison's 1995 single-trapeze racing dinghy that brought the 5000's crew-equalisation idea to a more manageable platform, with production running through 2002. For a buyer on the used market it is a specialised asymmetric racer rather than a casual dayboat, and its defining system — adjustable racks, lead correctors, and a simple weight table — shapes both how it sails and what you must check before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 4000 shares the same open self-draining deck and foam-sandwich hull-and-deck construction, with a centreboard identical to the 5000's and a lifting rudder secured by a multipart lanyard. The daggerboard drops in and ties with elastic Laser-style. Beam spans 4.92 to 7.54 feet depending on rack position, and the Gnav layout gives unexpected crew room for a boat this size. Two forward toe-strap tie points accommodate different leg lengths, and the aft strap attachment moves out with the rack.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The class rules let owners swap fittings as long as type and function hold, so hardware varies. Buyer-consequential items cluster around sail control and recovery: the Hyde fully battened Mylar main and battened jib are class-standard, while the spinnaker's three retrieval patches and short foot are distinctive. The mainsheet runs through a Harken swivel base cleat at a tuned angle, and vang plus Cunningham sit on the centre console led to a gunwale retrieval system. A single-line kite system extends the pole and hoists in a few pulls; both halyards stow in the chute pocket. There is no jib furler on any boat.
What to Inspect
The known rigging quirk is the lack of a mast gate or forestay, meaning a trapeze wire stands in as temporary stay before the jib goes up — check the trapeze wire terminals and deck fittings for wear from this duty. With no furler, inspect the jib hanks and adjustable track for honest function. Foam sandwich was a departure for Laser; a year-old test boat showed no dents or depressions, but examine hull and deck for the depressions this construction can show, and confirm the rudder and centreboard hardware, including the multipart rudder lanyard, are sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The used market centres on Switzerland. For a shopper, the checklist is short and specific:
- Confirm rack extend/lock and lead corrector fit from the weight table
- Check trapeze-wire-as-stay terminals and mast step for wear
- Verify no dents or depressions in foam sandwich hull/deck
- Test daggerboard elastic and rudder lanyard security
- Confirm Hyde main/jib/spinnaker and three-patch kite present
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Laser 4000. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | 1 | $4,352 | — |
Where they're listed
Laser 4000 listings appear across 1 country. Switzerland has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $4,352 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |