Design and Construction
Phil Morrison drew moderate hull lines for the 5000, and Laser themselves built and fitted out the hull. The construction follows the established Laser philosophy of a solid laminate using woven and chopped glass reinforcement in polyester resin, while the deck adds a foam sandwich core; the foils were produced in female moulds at Laser's own factory. This solid-glass approach makes the boat heavier than an all-sandwich counterpart, but it scores on durability, and a pre-production prototype looked very much like new after many weeks of hard sailing. The equalisation system of adjustable racks and corrector weights removed crew physique from the winning formula to a large degree, with combined crew weights between 130 and 170 kg accommodated by a linear rule swapping 1 kg of lead for 1 kg of crew weight.
Rig and Sail Plan
Proctor supplies the rig and Hyde makes the sails, with the mainsail in heavy Dacron/Mylar carrying five full-length battens and the jib in 5.5-ounce Dacron on a Harken roller unit. The spinnaker uses a long-lived Polyant Elastic cloth, and the vast crocodile of a spinnaker bag with a boom-mounted elastic opener takes some getting used to. Control is superb: mainsheet, cunningham, and kicking strap fall easily to hand, while Stay-lok adjusters on the lower shrouds permit mast-rake changes before departure. The 2:1 jib sheet proved easily adjustable even if highly loaded, though a purchase on the front of the mast makes afloat rig-tension adjustment awkward, and the under-boom outhaul is nearly non-adjustable.
Handling and Performance
With a vast sail plan the 5000 performs in light winds, achieving full upwind planing in just five or six knots of breeze. A well-balanced rudder gives fingertip control, and test sailors found things never out of control even in 22 knots. Upwind in a straight line she is relatively easy to sail, and getting out onto the racks is no problem for sailors of average height, but turning corners and tacking demand confidence and coordination from both crew, and the boat is intimidating given its huge rig, massive acceleration, and wide wings. Static stability is more than adequate with no shortcomings at speed, yet this is not a boat for the weak or feeble.
Known Issues
The lower rudder fitting on the test boat failed while sailing after the standard fasteners on the lower gudgeon gave way, a problem the reviewer expected resolved by production. The daggerboard sits concealed beneath the kite storage sack and is all but impossible to adjust afloat, and on the review boat it buzzed loudly when full-on reaching. The strings in the back of the boat tended to look like a bird's nest if not well organised, and hoisting the kite in any breeze requires bearing away onto a run.
Ownership and Refits
The 5000 is essentially a simple craft with few frills, and maintenance should be minimal and limited in quantity. Aside from rig and foils, all major components transport in a fully assembled state, and stepping the tall mast is eased by pinning the heel fitting to the step with the spar lying out over the stern. The manufacturer-sponsored race circuit, aided by Audi, further defined the modern manufacturer one-design model that the boat helped establish in the UK dinghy scene.
The Verdict
The Laser 5000 is a serious high-performance skiff that democratized twin-trapeze racing through clever weight equalisation and one-design discipline, yet it asks for athletic, coordinated crew and tolerates no casual ownership. The prototype-to-production switch took some edge off performance, and a slightly lighter hull could have made it definitive, but its durability and controlled rig still reward committed teams.
Pros
- Twin-trapeze performance made accessible via adjustable rack and lead corrector equalisation
- Strong, secure Proctor rig and durable Hyde sails with easy-to-hand controls
- Solid laminate hull and foam-cored deck built for longevity over pure weight saving
Cons
- Requires confident, coordinated crew; not suitable for the weak or feeble
- Daggerboard hidden under spinnaker bag and hardly adjustable; afloat rig-tension purchase awkward
- Lower rudder fitting failure on test boat; daggerboard buzz and cockpit string clutter noted
