BoatsLaser 2

Laser 2

Fractional Sloop · Dbrd. Dinghy · 1978–1987

A high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio

Designed by F. Bethwaite, I. Bruce & Bethwaite Design, built by Vanguard Sailboats.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy

See her sail

The Laser 2, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.42 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 77 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 77 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.10 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.37 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.37
LightHeavy

29 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 29
EasygoingPowered-up

64.7 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 64.7

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Narrower than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 384 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Laser 2, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Laser 2 is a 4.4-meter fractional sloop dinghy designed by F. Bethwaite, I. Bruce, and Bethwaite Design, built from 1978 to 1987 by Vanguard Sailboats and Performance Sailcraft.8:27 It has a displacement of 77 kg, a beam of 1.4 meters, and a draft of 1.1 meters. The Laser 2, with its jib and spinnaker, serves as a transitional platform for sailors moving from single-handed dinghies like the Laser to sloop-rigged keelboats.8:52 Variants included the Laser II Fun, Laser II Regatta, and Laser Fun New Wave, the latter adding an asymmetrical spinnaker. All Laser 2 variants were retired before 1990.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
64.7
Displacement / length
28.7
Comfort ratio
2.4
Capsize screening
3.37
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
231
Hull
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1978–1987
Units built
8200
Designer
F. Bethwaite, I. Bruce, Bethwaite Design
Builder
Vanguard Sailboats, Performance Sailcraft

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Our Boat Got Stolen 😡… So We Built a New One (in just ONE Week)from WhiteSpotPirates
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit18:40from SEILmagasinet
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-metre dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
Lewis Boat Works TETRIS 30 Apr 230:02from kentblairl
MacKay Boats Ltd. 49erfx4.88 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA high-performance Olympic skiff featuring the 49er hull paired with a specialised rig tailored for lighter crews
Pia Dahl Andersen and Nora Edland showed strength in the first World Cup of the year.2:03from SEILmagasinet
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.5 m longerAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
From Kayak King to National Team Manager: Eirik Verås Larsen on Peiling på Seiling11:16from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)A Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailorsIlca 7 (Laser-International)A Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Laser 2, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Laser 2

The newsletter

New boats, new stories. Every week, everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analysed. No noise.

Report an issue