Laser VAGO XD Buyer's Guide
The Laser Vago XD is the race version of Jo Richards' Vago planing dinghy, first built in 2005 and offered as a one-design racer for crews of one or two. On the used market it appeals to sailors who want an inexpensive, durable rotomolded hull with more sail than the standard boat and a trapeze for speed.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Vago XD shares the same core layout: a 13-foot 9-inch hard-chine hull with flared gunwales, a spacious open cockpit, fractional sloop rig, transom-hung rudder on tiller, and retractable daggerboard. With the daggerboard removed the boat can be beached or transported on a trailer or car roof rack, so most used examples are sold as complete rigs with blade and rudder. The XD is the "race" model, equipped with sails of larger area than the standard Vago and a single trapeze; some boats may also carry an asymmetrical spinnaker flown from a retractable bowsprit.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential buyer items are the sail plan and trapeze gear. The XD's larger-area sails and factory trapeze are the defining upgrades over the standard boat, and a retractable bowsprit with asymmetrical spinnaker is a meaningful downwind addition when present. The Gnav vang mounted atop the boom is standard and defines the open cockpit layout, so confirm it is intact. Beyond those, used buyers should simply verify the rotomolded hull, daggerboard, rudder, and tiller are complete.
What to Inspect
The Vago XD hull is built predominantly of rotational molded polyethylene tri-skin foam sandwich anchor, so inspect the shell for impact damage, deep abrasions, or deformation that would compromise the foam core. Because the flared gunwales provide flotation and righting moment, check that they are sound and not crushed. The hard chine and rocker are central to handling, so look for hull distortion along the chine. Confirm the daggerboard trunk and transom rudder mount are secure, and that the Gnav vang and trapeze hardware are present and serviceable.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Vago was built starting in 2005 by LaserPerformance in the United Kingdom and in the United States, and as of March 2025 Performance Sailcraft became the current manufacturer of the Vago built in the UK. For a shopper, the practical checklist is:
- Verify XD sail area and trapeze gear are present
- Inspect rotomolded hull and flared gunwales for damage
- Confirm daggerboard, rudder, tiller, and Gnav vang complete
- Check for optional asymmetrical spinnaker and bowsprit
- Match boat to intermediate-to-advanced skill rating
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Laser VAGO XD. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $2,000 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $3,493 | +74.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $5,970 | +70.9% |
Where they're listed
Laser VAGO XD listings appear across 2 countries. Switzerland has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Germany.
Country view
2 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $5,970 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Germany | $3,493 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |