The Laser is a very easy boat to transport by road. The hull is light so most cars can manage a trailer without any difficulty. If you have a sturdy roofrack you can put the hull upside down on the roof. The trailer and spars can then be stowed on top of the inverted hull.
Before a long journey check a few things before departure:
Tyres: ensure your tyres (on your car as well as the trailer) have sufficient tread to be legal, and if there are cracks in the tyre rubber they may need to be replaced. Inspect wheels for corrosion, a corroded wheel can result in a flat tyre or might collapse under load. Check tyre pressure, typical pressures required are 30 psi or 2.0 bar but should be marked on the tyre. For a long journey a spare wheel is well worthwhile.
Loading: The standard Laser trailer supports the hull along the gunwhale. On a long drive this can damage the hull, particularly if the hull is loaded up with sailing gear. Rooster Sailing make a hull support strap which takes some of the load off the hull. It is best to carry heavy items and any loose items inside the car.
Spars: ensure spars are well secured and adequately padded to avoid damage. Dedicated spar carriers can be bought or fashioned from wood.
Undercover: Driving a long distance can result in nasty stone chips, use an undercover to help prevent damage to the hull.
Suspension: Lift each side of the trailer and rotate the wheels by hand, do they feel secure and rotate smoothly? If not they may need some work. The wheel bearings should be removed, cleaned and greased on occasion. How often is very much dependent on how much use the trailer gets and how it is stored. If in doubt get wheel bearings checked at a garage once a year, or before a long journey. It is also worthwhile to check the trailer and trolley for rust and damage.
Rooftop transport: Make sure the roof rack is well secured before lifting the hull in place. Tie down the hull and then load the launching trolley and spars. Check the load after a few miles in case anything has started to come loose.
Driving with a trailer: A normal full driving license will allow a driver to tow a load up to 750kgs. The combined weight of a fully loaded Laser along with trailer and launching trolley should be less than 200kgs. If in doubt check. Take care at corners, use the wing mirrors to check the trailer is not cutting corners. Drive at a safe speed, don’t exceed 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph for dual carriageway and motorway.
Lighting: use a lighting board, check all the lamps work correctly. A lighting board can normally be tied to the traveller eyes. The lighting board should display the correct number plate for the towing vehicle.
Planning: Make a rough plan for your journey, where you will stop overnight and for fuel.
Orkney Laser Sailing 