SailRC RC Laser User manual

LOA: 41.5" (105.41cm)
LWL: 37.75" (95.88cm)
DSPL : 9 lbs (3.4kg)
BEAM: 13.125" (33.33cm)
MAIN HOIST: 52" (132.08cm)
DRAFT: 16" (40.64cm)
SAIL AREA: 710 sq "
(4580.63sqcm)
R
R A D I O C O N T R O L L E D
a u s e r ' s m a n u al
R A D I O C O N T R O L L E D
R
©2003 Out There Technologies
Laser is a registered trademark of
Vanguard, Inc., Performance Sailcraft,
and Performance Sailcraft, Pty
DESIGNED BY BRUCE KIRBY
DEVELOPED BY JON ELMALEH

warranty
There is a six-month limited warranty on parts damaged during normal use
(While sailing and does not included hitting other boats or obstructions). You
must register by mailing the warranty card within 10 days of purchase to be
eligible for the warranty.

preface
Message from Bruce Kirby, Designer of the Laser
It has been a great pleasure to work with world model yacht champion Jon
Elmaleh in the development of this radio-controlled miniature Laser. The
basic hull shape is a one-quarter scale Laser, but of course to make the boat
work at the much smaller size and with no crew aboard to act as ballast, we
had to develop a model yacht-type keel and rudder and slightly reduce the
sail plan.
I have been overjoyed at the result. The boat sails and handles exceptionally
well over a broad range of wind and sea conditions and is faster than I ever
expected it could be. We have kept the rig and control systems simple so
that, as with any good one-design, success on the race course depends on
the sailor, not the boat. And as a purely recreational sailing model it is quick
to launch and easy to operate.
So climb aboard with your imagination. You will find that the thrill is there, but
your muscles won’t get sore and if you don’t sail in the rain you will stay dry.
Rowayton, Connecticut - January, 1995
--------
Message from the Manufacturer:
Congratulations on your purchase. We hope the RC Laser will fulfill all your
expectations. We have worked hard to make this product the best RC
sailboat on the market today, and we believe the RC Laser is the one-design
sailboat that sailors are looking for.
OUT THERE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
www.outthere.com
Please note: Out There Technologies, LLC no longer deals directly
with the public. Sales and service is handled by area distributors. Please
contact your local RC Laser retailer with questions and requests.
--------
May the wind be with you!

contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The RC Laser and Components .............................................. 1
Parts Layout ............................................................................ 2
Assembly:
Overview ............................................................................ 3
Details:
Sail and Mast ............................................................................ 4
Keel ............................................................................ 5
Rudder ........................................................................ 5
Batteries ...................................................................... 6
Antenna ...................................................................... 6
Rig .............................................................................. 7
Sheet Line .................................................................... 7
Transmitter .................................................................. 8
Rudder Control ............................................................ 8
Sail Control .................................................................. 9
Radio Frequencies .................................................................... 10
Boat Care / Radio Care / Batteries ........................................... 11
Sail and Boat Numbers ............................................................. 12
Decoration ............................................................................ 13
How to Sail ............................................................................ 14
Racing your RC Laser .............................................................. 15
Five Basic Rules ....................................................................... 15
Port Tack - Starboard Tack Rule .......................... 15
Buoy Room Rule ..................................................... 16
Contact with Buoy Rule .............................. 17
Luffing Rights Rule ..................................................... 18
Collision Rule ............................................................. 19
The Race Course ....................................................................... 20
Model Sailing Organizations ...................................................... 21
Information about Full Size Lasers ............................................. 22
Warranty Information .................................................................. 23

1
The RC Laser
was designed to be a strict “one-design” sailboat. The fundamental principle
behind a one-design sailboat is that sailors may not alter their boats. This
ensures that racing is a competition among sailors, not boats. If you intend to
race your RC Laser, you may not change your boat in any other way other
than to decorate it as explained in this manual. All replacement parts must be
genuine RC Laser parts. The only exceptions are the transmitter and
receiver, which may be replaced with any compatible equipment.
Your RC Laser has the following components:
Sail and tell tale Mast
Rudder Rudder bracket
Gooseneck Rudder linkages (2)
Rudder servo Boom
Boom sliders (3) Antenna mount
Antenna tube Sheet line
Screw eye Sail control servo
Hull Transmitter
Receiver Hatch cover
Battery holder Switch
Manual
If you need to purchase replacement parts, you can contact the retailer
where you purchased your RC Laser, or your local distributor. A list of RC
Laser distributors can be found in the back of this manual.

2Parts Layout
SAIL
MAST
GOOSENECK
KEEL LOCK
SCREW EYE
ANTENNA TUBE
ANTENNA MOUNT
KEEL
SHEET LINE
BOOM
BOOM SLIDERS
TELL TALE
HATCH COVER
POWER SWITCH
RUDDER
RUDDER BRACKET

22 3
ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW
(See following pages for detailed instructions)
You are now ready to sail!
RC LASER RESOURCES
Distributors
Model Sailing Center
290 Circle Drive
Evergreen CO 80439
USA
Orders only: 800 497 8976
Information line:303 670 4670
[e-mail]
www.modelsailingcenter.com
www.sailrclaser.com
Peterkin (UK) Ltd
85 Commercial Square
Freemens Common, Leicester
LE2 7SR England
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]k
www.rclaser.org.uk
www.peterkin.co.uk
Radio Control Sailing Australia
PO Box 1392
North Sydney NSW
2059 Australia
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.radiosail.com.au
1) Assemble rig by connecting mast
tubes and sliding assembled mast into
sail pocket. Slide boom into gooseneck.
2) Insert keel into slot at
bottom of hull and slide into
place.
3) Place rudder into hole in
bottom of hull and snap
rudder into bracket.
4) Place 4 AA batteries into
battery holder. Place battery
holder into hull and close hatch
cover. Also, remove back of
transmitter and install 9 AA
batteries.
5) Insert antenna tube into
antenna mount.
6) Slide mast into hole on deck.
7) Connect sheet line to slider
by pulling loop at end of sheet
line over slider tang until loop
hangs from slider ring.
8) Turn transmitter on, then turn
boat on by sliding switch forward.

421
Lap 1
1 SAIL AND MAST
Here’s a course that offers a
lot of opportunities to make
ch o ic es a nd t hin k ab ou t
strategy, because there are a
number of different paths
you can take on each lap.
Sail th r o ugh the sta r t i ng
g a t e , t h e n r o u n d t h e
windward buoy and offset
windward buoy. Travel down
to the leeward gate and pass
around it in any direction.
S a i l b a c k t o w a r d s t h e
windward buoy and do one
m o r e l a p , r o u n d i n g t h e
windward and then the offset
b u o y o n c e a g a i n . A f t e r
rounding the leeward gate
one mo r e t i m e, finis h b y
co m ing back through the
starting gate.
Lap 2 and finish
START
Windward buoy
Starting gate
Leeward gate
Offset buoy
START
Windward buoy
Starting gate
Leeward gate
Offset buoy
wind direction
A) Connect mast tubes.
C) Slide boom into gooseneck.
D) Thread outhaul string, attached to the sail,
through the end slider and snap into the next
slider forward (see page 7 for diagram)
B) Insert assembled mast into sail pocket.

20 5
2 KEEL
RACING YOUR RC LASER
There is an infinite number of possible race courses you can
sail - the only limit is your imagination. Here are two of the more
commonly used courses to get you started.
Modified Olympic Course
wind direction
Jockey for the best position
d u r i n g a o n e m i n u t e
countdown. Sail two laps
ar ou nd t he co ur se , no t
rounding the wing buoy on
the second lap.
Wing buoy Start/finish line
Pivot hole
Rotate locking lever 90 degrees
until lever locks in place.
Insert rudder stud into pivot
hole on bottom of hull while
inserting top of rudder into
rudder deck bracket. Snap
rudder into bracket.
3 RUDDER
NOTE:
If the surface of the keel bulb becomes damaged, exposing
the lead core, cover it with tape or paint. Keep away from
exposed lead.

619
A leeward boat that is luffing up cannot sail past head to wind (Figure I).
Head to wind Past head to wind
Your boat is sailing “head to wind” when the bow of the boat is pointed
directly into the wind. If you steer your boat into the wind, past the point
when it is head to wind, you have sailed “past head to wind.” If you
are luffing up, you are not permitted to sail past head to wind. If you do,
you lose the right of way, regardless of which tack you are sailing on. If
there is a collision after the leeward boat is past head to wind, the leeward
boat must do a penalty turn (see Rule 5).
5. Collision rule
Whenever you collide with another boat, or fail to avoid a collision, you
must sail clear of all other boats and complete penalty turns before
continuing the race. Before the start of every race, the race committee or
racers determine whether a penalty will consist of one or two 360 degree
penalty turns. Generally, only one turn is required in light wind conditions.
wind direction
Figure I
4 BATTERIES
5 ANTENNA
Feed excess antenna wire into boat. Insert antenna
tube into antenna mount.
Remove hatch cover. Take out battery holder. Check switch on boat to
make sure it is in the off position. Install four "AA" batteries. Replace
battery holder and hatch cover. Do not put your RC Laser into the
water without its hatch cover. Damage may result.