Performance Laser II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design Brief & Intent

The Laser II was designed to fulfill a challenging dual mandate: it needed to be simple and robust enough for youth sailing programs, yet fast and complex enough to keep intermediate and advanced sailors engaged. Frank Bethwaite focused on the hull geometry, drawing on his extensive experience with high-speed Australian development classes. He crafted a hull that departed radically from the rounded, displacement-prone shapes of its contemporaries. The Laser II features a narrow entry to pierce waves, combined with exceptionally flat aft sections and hard runs that encourage early, clean planing.

Ian Bruce engineered the commercial and class framework, ensuring the boat stayed true to the "box-to-beach" philosophy of the original Laser. To keep costs low and maximize durability, the hull was built out of solid glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) with minimalist interior framing, keeping the bare hull weight to a remarkably light 170 pounds 2. The cockpit layout is intentionally sparse, optimizing crew work by keeping sheets and halyards clear of the deck. This minimalist design language stands in sharp contrast to more heavily rigged racing machines like the 470 or International 14, making the Laser II an approachable stepping stone for those learning the art of trapeze and spinnaker handling.

Variations & Configurations 2

Throughout its production run of approximately 8,200 hulls, the Laser II was offered in several distinct configurations to capture different segments of the market.

Laser II Regatta: This is the standard, most widely recognized racing configuration. It features a fractional sloop rig with a total sail area of 124 square feet, a single trapeze for the crew, and a symmetrical spinnaker. Early versions used launch bags mounted on the sides of the cockpit for the spinnaker, while later production units utilized a more efficient bow-mounted spinnaker chute.
Laser II Fun: Designed specifically for recreational, resort, and beginner sailing. This variation stripped away the complex spinnaker and trapeze gear, replacing them with highly durable, brightly colored sails. The Fun model also incorporated practical features such as reef points on the mainsail and a roller-furling jib to make heavy-weather sailing manageable for novices.
Laser II Fun New Wave: A short-lived, late-production variation that sought to modernize the platform by introducing an asymmetric spinnaker flown from a retractable bowsprit.
Laser 3000 Transition: In the mid-1990s, the Laser II’s hull form was recognized as so fundamentally efficient that designer Derek Clark utilized it as the baseline for the Laser 3000. This model paired the classic Laser II hull with an entirely updated, self-draining deck mold and a modern asymmetric gennaker rig, bridging the gap between the original design and modern skiffs.

Sailing Performance & Handling

On the water, the Laser II behaves like a pure thoroughbred, delivering a level of responsiveness that punishes mistakes but rewards proper technique with blistering speed. Lacking the heavy displacement and structural momentum of a Club 420, the Laser II feels incredibly light at the helm. The direct-coupled transom rudder provides instantaneous feedback, requiring a delicate touch to avoid over-steering.

With a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, the boat comes onto a plane effortlessly on a reach or downwind run. Flying the symmetrical spinnaker while the crew is fully extended on the trapeze is a highly dynamic experience 5. However, because the hull is narrow and possesses a relatively low form stability, it is exceptionally sensitive to crew weight placement. In moderate-to-heavy air, the skipper and crew must act as a coordinated unit to keep the boat dead flat. Upwind performance is highly physical, requiring continuous hiking, active mainsheet trim, and precise steering to work through chop without stalling the fine bow.

In light winds, the Laser II can struggle relative to its handicap rating. Its wet surface area and lack of initial stability mean the crew must sit far forward and to leeward to induce heel and lift the transom. Conversely, when the breeze builds, the boat's primary vice is its tendency to invert quickly during a capsize. Because the mast is unsealed and aluminum, it fills with water rapidly, turning a standard capsize into a turtled boat within seconds. Fortunately, the cockpit is designed to drain very quickly via a stern-mounted auto-bailer once the boat is righted and moving forward.

Known Issues & Triage

Given the age of the surviving Laser II fleet—most having been built in the 1980s and early 1990s—prospective buyers and current owners must watch for several documented structural and mechanical weaknesses.

Soft Foredecks: This is the most common structural failure point on older Laser IIs. The flat deck area directly forward of the mast step is a sandwich construction that is prone to fatigue and delamination, particularly if crews step on it while launching or retrieving the boat. Triage involves drilling a pattern of small holes, injecting low-viscosity epoxy into the core, and clamping or weighting the deck to re-bond the fiberglass skins.
Daggerboard Trunk Fracturing: High-speed groundings or heavy lateral loads from the daggerboard can cause stress fractures in the fiberglass laminates at the bottom-aft section of the daggerboard trunk. If left untreated, these hairline cracks will eventually weeping water into the hull's dry double-bottom cavity. Repairs require flipping the hull, grinding back the damaged gelcoat, and reinforcing the joint with multiple layers of fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin.
Mast Step Leaks and Wear: The mast step bucket is subjected to immense downward and lateral pressure. Over time, the fiberglass at the bottom of the mast step can wear thin or crack, allowing water to slowly compromise the hull’s internal buoyancy. Inspecting this area with a flashlight and sealing any hairline cracks is a critical preventative measure.
Mast Inversion and Rig Failure: Because the spars are relatively thin section aluminum, improper rigging or a sudden capsize in shallow water can easily bend or snap the mast. Ensuring the shroud adjusters are pinned securely and checking the mast-tang fittings for corrosion or elongation is essential before sailing in heavy air.

Modernization & Upgrades 9

While the Laser II is no longer actively manufactured, a passionate community of class veterans and recreational racers continues to keep these boats competitive through targeted modernizations.

High-Purchase Vang Systems: The original stock kicking strap (vang) lacked the necessary purchase to shape the mainsail effectively in heavy air, crowding the crew in the forward cockpit. Modern refits frequently replace this system with a high-purchase, cascading vang (such as 12:1 or 15:1 systems utilizing low-friction ball-bearing blocks). This allows the helm to bend the mast and flatten the sail from a comfortable position on the deck.
Dyneema Line Conversions: Replacing heavy, high-stretch polyester lines with modern, low-stretch Dyneema is standard practice. Upgrading the main and jib halyards, the spinnaker halyard, and the trapeze adjustment lines dramatically reduces elasticity, ensuring rig tension and sail shape remain stable.
Simplified Trapeze Systems: Original wire-to-rope trapeze systems are often swapped for lightweight, modern continuous-loop trapeze lines featuring adjustable clam cleats and low-profile rings.
Aftermarket and Upgraded Sails: Since class-legal original sails are increasingly difficult to source, owners frequently turn to local loft conversions or general aftermarket sails. Replacing the traditional cross-cut Dacron sails with modern, slightly stiffer laminates can drastically improve the boat’s handling and longevity, though it may disqualify the boat from strict one-design fleet racing where such fleets still exist.