Laser 28

{{Short description|1980s Canadian recreational keelboat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use Canadian English|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox sailboat specifications |name = Laser 28 |insignia = |insignia size = |insignia alt = |insignia caption = |line drawing = |line size = |line alt = |line caption = |image boat = File:Laser 28 sailboat Fantome 5135.jpg |image size = |image alt = |image caption =

|boats = |crew = |trapeze = |draft = |air draft = |displacement = {{convert|3950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls = |hull type = Monohull |construction = Fibreglass, with a Termanto PVC foam hull and deck |loa = {{convert|28.41|ft|m|abbr=on}} |loh = |lwl = {{convert|23.58|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|9.48|ft|m|abbr=on}} |hull draft = {{convert|4.98|ft|m|abbr=on}} |hull weight = |engine = Bukh 8SME {{convert|8.2|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} diesel engine

|appendages = |keel type = Fin keel |ballast = {{convert|1500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} |rudder type = internally-mounted spade-type rudder

|rigs = Fractional rigged sloop |rig type = |I = {{convert|31.10|ft|m|abbr=on}} |J = {{convert|9.65|ft|m|abbr=on}} |P = {{convert|33.14|ft|m|abbr=on}} |E = {{convert|12.96|ft|m|abbr=on}} |mast length = |rig other =

|sails = |sailplan = |sailarea main = {{convert|214.75|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} |sailarea headsail = {{convert|150.06|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} |lp = |sailarea spin = |sailarea gen = |sails other = |sailarea upwind = |sailarea downwind = |sailarea total = {{convert|364.80 |sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|rating = |d-pn = |rya-pn = |phrf = 123 (average)

|status = |previous = |successor = }}

The '''Laser 28''' is a recreational keelboat built by Performance Sailcraft in Canada from 1984 until 1990.<ref name="DataPS">{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/builder/performance-sailcraft|title = Performance Sailcraft 1970-|accessdate = 29 December 2017|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2017|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220321005830/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/performance-sailcraft|archive-date= 21 March 2022|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =https://sailboatdata.com/designer/farr-bruce|title = Bruce Farr |accessdate = 29 December 2017|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2017|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220321005826/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/farr-bruce|archive-date= 21 March 2022|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Data">{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/laser-28|title = Laser 28 sailboat specifications and details|accessdate = 29 December 2017|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2017|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220321005827/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/laser-28|archive-date= 21 March 2022|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Hist">{{cite web |url=http://laser28.org/Laser28.aspx?selpage=History |title=History of the Laser 28 |accessdate=29 December 2017 |last=Bruce |first=Ian |work=Laser 28 International Class Association |year=1984 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220321005834/http://laser28.org/Laser28.aspx?selpage=History |archive-date=21 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The design goal of the boat was to be a good value high quality advanced one-design, to be independent of any rule structure, such as the IOR.

==Development== thumb|left|Laser 28 The Laser 28's design started in 1978, following the success of the Laser dinghy, with the intention to produce a keelboat equivalent, for the Laser sailors who would outgrow the Laser, just need a keelboat as they aged, or for family cruising and racing.<ref name="way">{{cite web|url = http://laser28.org/pdf/The%20way%20it%20happened.pdf|title = Laser 28 The Way It Happened|accessdate = 29 December 2017|author= Laser 28 International Class Association |work = laser28.org|date = 15 December 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114546/http://laser28.org/pdf/The%20way%20it%20happened.pdf|archive-date= 30 December 2017|url-status= live}}</ref> The company specifically planned that the Laser 28 would be the sole keelboat offered and did not intend to produce a graduated line of boats, unlike other manufacturers at that time.<ref name="Hist" />

In 1980 Ian Bruce, president of Performance Sailcraft decided to take the boat design away from that company to reduce commercial pressures on the design team. He formed Bruce Yacht R&D Inc (BYRD) and teamed with designer Bruce Farr and a group headed up by the president of the International Laser Class Association, Tim Coventry.<ref name="way"/>

The Laser 28 was Farr's 91st boat design. The project development team included Performance Sailcraft's Ian Bruce, Tim Coventry President of the International Laser Class Association, experienced sailor Peter Hicks, Norman Frost as plastics engineer and Piers Phipps as project financial advisor. Hans Fogh designed the sails, as he had done for the Laser dinghy.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="way"/>

The boat project had four design goals. First, that the boat should be a strict one-design in the same vein as the Laser dinghy, with all boats produced the same with class rules that prohibited any changes to the boat, so that the competition would be between sailing skills and not the ability to pay for improvements. Second, that the design should have outstanding performance, unhampered by adherence to any rule structure, such as the International Offshore Rule, to ensure a long life as a competitive boat. Third, that the boat be a quality product, using the best of available technology. Fourth, that the boat represent a good value for the monetary outlay, "the intention being to produce a 28 foot yacht with a performance of a 35 foot yacht at the price of a 25 foot yacht."<ref name="way"/>

Two prototypes were built and the first sailed in the early summer of 1981 in Falmouth, England, with the second in the water that autumn. Originally fitted with a large genoa foresail the second prototype used a 108% "lapper" jib, that proved superior in winds over {{convert|5|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and was easier to handle by short-handed crews, as well as cheaper to produce.<ref name="way"/>

The prototypes were tested in severe conditions, including broaching and intentional knockdowns with the spinnaker flying, in {{convert|35|to|40|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} winds that left the cockpit dry and with no equipment failures.<ref name="way"/>

With $1,000,000 invested, to get the design from testing to production, a new firm was created by financial consultant Piers Phipps, Precis Ninety Nine Limited. The design was licensed to Performance Sailcraft to produce.<ref name="way"/>

Early versions were hand-laid, while later ones were produced using a closed-mold process.<ref name="Hist" />

==Design== thumb|Laser 28 The Laser 28 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with a Termanto PVC foam hull and deck. It has an internally-mounted spade-type rudder and a fixed fin keel. It displaces {{convert|3950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|1500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast. The boat has a draft of {{convert|4.98|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the standard fin keel.<ref name="Data"/>

The prototypes were fitted with Honda four-stroke gasoline engines, coupled to a Volvo saildrive, but there was resistance to using gasoline engines in Europe, due to the fire hazard. The production boats were therefore delivered with a Bukh 8SME diesel engine of {{convert|8.2|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Data"/><ref name="way"/>

It has a fractional sloop rig and a spinnaker. Production sails include {{convert|242|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} mainsail, a 106% "lapper" jib of {{convert|162|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, a working jib of {{convert|123|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, a #1 spinnaker of {{convert|610|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, a #2 spinnaker of {{convert|670|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and an optional genoa of {{convert|230|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="way"/>

The boat has a hull speed of {{convert|6.51|kn|km/h|2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Joy">{{cite web|url = http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/524/laser-28|title = Sailboat Specifications for Laser 28 |accessdate = 6 January 2018|work = Sailing Joy|author= InterVisionSoft LLC|year = 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180716111933/http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/524/laser-28|archive-date= 16 July 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> and a PHRF racing average handicap of 123 with a high of 117 and low of 132.<ref name="Hist"/>

==Operational history== thumb|Laser 28 The Laser 28 was not sold though the existing Performance Sailcraft company dealer network, but rather through direct representatives who owned and sailed Laser 28s and organized events for them.<ref name="Hist"/>

Robert Dunkley of Nassau, Bahamas, took delivery of his Laser 28 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and sailed directly to Nassau with a crew of three, the same day. They sailed in {{convert|30|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} north winds in the Gulf Stream and encountered {{convert|10|to|15|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} waves en route, but completed the voyage without incident, although the rigging required tightening at destination.<ref name="Hist"/>

Judy and Frank Button from Vancouver, British Columbia won the IYC winter series in their Laser 28, for the fourth time in a row.<ref name="Hist"/>

The company's San Francisco Bay representative, Paul Kaplan, sailed his Laser 28 single handed on its fourth outing and won first place in the class and first overall in a 38 boat fleet in the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s ''Three Bridge Fiasco Race''. Kaplan's wife, Chris, sailed the boat with an all-female crew to third place in the Women’s Racing Association winter series.<ref name="Hist"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}} Category:1980s sailboat type designs Category:Sailboat type designs by Bruce Farr Category:Sailboat types built by Performance Sailcraft Category:28-foot keelboats