Laser VAGO Quick start guide
RIGGING MANUAL
Safety Afloat
This instruction manual is not a guide to sailing your craft and it
should not be considered suitable for the task of learning to sail a
boat. Please read the manual before rigging and sailing your Laser
Vago.
Before you go sailing:
o Check you are wearing suitable clothing and safety
equipment for the conditions and time of year.
o Always wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket
o Make sure a third party knows where you are sailing and
how many there are of you.
o Check the weather forecast
o Check the time of high and low tides if applicable.
o Seek advise of local conditions if sailing in a new area.
o Always check the condition of your craft before setting off.
o A sailor’s safety knife should be carried on board.
o Check for overhead cables when rigging, launching
and recovering.
On the water:
o Conform to the sailing rules of the road.
o Look out for changing weather conditions.
o Never sail beyond your ability or that of your crew. Ensure
that you and your crew can cope with any changes in the wind
conditions
o Understand and be competent in the sailing skills and righting
techniques.
2
Important information
There are three hatches and one transom drain bung on the Vago, these
must all be checked to ensure tightness and correct fitment prior to
every time you sail:
1. Under the gennaker sock on
the port side
2. On thestarboard foredeck
3. On the aft deck
NB: Also check that the
rear bung is hand tight.
Example of INCORRECT hatch
fitment:
3
Vago Rigging Instructions
The Vago rigging instructions are a guide to rigging your boat. Due
to production supplies certain parts may be different from those
shown in description, colour, and specification. Performance
Sailcraft Europe reserves the right to change specifications without
prior notification.
LASER CENTRE
Options, accessories and spares are available from Laser Direct +44
(0) 1327 841610
www.lasersailing.com
The Laser Centre
Station Works
Long Buckby
Northampton
NN6 7PF
UK
Contents
1. Glossary
2. Useful boat terminology
3. Maintenance and service
4. Sail number positioning
5. Rigging and raising the mast
6. Boom & GNAV
7. Sails:
a. Jib
b. Lower shroud tensioning
c. Gennaker
d. Mainsail
e. Single line reefing
8. Rudder
9. Launching & basic safety on the water
Customer Help Line: Please contact Customer Services on Tel: 00 44
(0) 1327 841608.
4
Glossary
Bow: Front of the boat
Stern: Back of the boat
Fore: Forward
Aft: Rearward
Clew: Back lower corner of a sail
Tack: Forward lower corner of sail
Head: Top corner of sail
Luff: Forward edge of the sail
Foot: Bottom edge of the sail
Leech: Rear edge of the sail
Burgee: Wind direction indicator (usually a small flag)
Batten: A thin stiffening strip in the sail to support the leech
Mast: Main vertical spar supporting the rig/sails
Boom: Spar at the Bottom of the mainsail
Gennaker pole: the Pole, which extends to fly the gennaker tack from.
Cleat: A fitting used for holding /securing ropes
Forestay: The wire supporting the mast at the bow of the boat
Shrouds: Wires that hold mast in boat and supporting the mast from ¾ up and
out to hull side. Attached with shroud adjuster to shroud anchor point
Lower shrouds: Wires that tie off ¼ up mast and shackle to shroud anchor
points
Jib: Front sail
Sheet: Rope for controlling the inward/outward position of the sail
Gennaker: Isometric sail hoisted when sailing downwind
Gunwale: The outermost edge of the boat
Gudgeon: Fitting on the transom and rudder used to hang rudder
Cunningham: Purchase system for tightening the forward edge/luff of the sail
Gnav: Purchase system for tightening the rear edge/leach of the sail
Vang: Otherwise known as the Kicking strap, Gnav
Outhaul: Purchase system for tightening the bottom edge/foot of the sail
Halyard: A rope or wire used to lower or hoist sails
Mast Heel: Fitting on the bottom edge/foot of the mast
Mast step: Fitting on the boat where the mast heel/foot of the mast is located
Spreaders: Metal struts placed in pairs to support the mast side ways and
control the bend in the mast
Stem fitting: Stainless fitting at the bow which the forestay attaches
Rudder: Blade and attachments used for steering the boat
5
Useful Boat Terminology
Head
Mast
Battens
Leech
Gennake
r
Spreaders
Boom
Clew
Foot
Gennaker
Pole
Tack of sail
6
Maintenance and Service
x Keep the equipment clean by frequently flushing with fresh water. In
corrosive atmospheres stainless parts may show discoloration/brown
staining around screw holes and rivets, this is not serious and can be
removed with a fine abrasive.
x Excess water should be removed from the hull.
x Ropes, rigging and fittings should be checked at regular intervals for wear
and tear.
x All moving parts should be lightly lubricated to avoid jamming, i.e.,
McLube, Dry Teflon or a dry silicone based spray. Do not use Oil.
x Inspect shackles, pins and fittings – tape up to stop snagging, coming
undone.
x When refastening screws do not re – use Nylock nuts more than three
times.
x Damaged or worn parts should be replaced.
x Sails should be thoroughly washed down with fresh water, dried and
stored in a dry place.
x Trailers should be rinsed with fresh water and checked at regular intervals.
It is recommended that the trailer be serviced annually.
x Repairs to the polyethylene hull should be undertaken by people with the
relevant equipment and skills. Contact Laser Centre for advice.
x UV light will cause fading to some components and fittings, a cover is
recommended to reduce the UV degradation.
x Do not leave the rig under tension when not sailing or during
storage.
x Your Vago should only be used in conjunction with the Vago
specific Performance Sailcraft gunwale hung launching trolley. The
use of any other launching trolley may damage the hull and
invalidate your warranty.
x The hull should not be left on a pebble beach, as the polyethylene
could dent.
x Care must be taken to support the hull adequately if storing on
racking or similar. Any sustained point loading could permanently
dent or distort the hull.
7
Sail Number Positioning
It is advised to apply the sail numbers in a dry, clean and wind free environment.
Standard Sail
1. Lay the sail on a flat surface
starboard side up.
2. The numbers on the starboard
side are always higher than the
port side.
3. Measure 60mm down, from the
seam directly below the logo.
4. Mark a line, parallel to the
seam.
5. Measure 100mm in from the
leech on this line.
6. The first number is positioned
100mm in from the leech and
with the top of the number on
the line parallel to the seam.
7. The numbers are 60mm apart.
8. Turn over the sail and position
the port numbers 60mm below
the top seam of the panel
below. The numbers are p
to the seam.
arallel
XD Race Sail
1. Lay the sail on a flat surface
starboard side up.
2. The numbers on the starboard side
are always higher than the port
side.
3. Measure 200mm down, from the
second batten pocket from the
bottom of the sail.
4. Mark a line parallel to the batten
pocket. Use tape
5. Measure 100mm in from the leech
on this line.
6. The first number is positioned
100mm in from the leech and with
the top of the number on this tape
line
7. The numbers are 60mm apart.
8. Turn over the sail and position the
port numbers 60mm below the
starboard numbers and parallel to
them.
8
Rigging And Raising The Mast
1. Unwrap the mast.
2. Ensure all the halyards are led to the
base of the mast and each halyard
rope end has a knot tied in it.
3. Insert blanking plugs, (tight fit to produce
seal) a medium size flat blade screwdriver
maybe required to fit.
4. If applicable, fit trapeze wires and
plugs in the top terminal positions on
the mast. (Note: Trapeze kit is an
option on the standard rig but is
included in the XD rig)
5. Fit spreaders (See next page for diagram)
6. Ensure that all the spreader pins and rings are taped up or serious
damage could occur to the sails.
9
Attachment of Spreader.
Primary Pin:
Fit down through the bracket’s Primary hole and the Forward spreader hole.
Adjuster Pin:
Fit down through bracket adjuster hole 3, and through spreader adjuster hole B.
Spreader Ends
Remove the clevis pin and slide out the spreader end hook.
Slide the hook over the shroud, and slide back into the spreader.
Refit the clevis pin and split ring.
Security
All clevis pins must be fitted with the flat head on top, and locked with a split ring.
Tape all split rings, pins and the outboard end of the spreader extrusion. This will
reduce chafe on the mainsail and prevent flailing sails/halyards becoming damaged.
Self-amalgamating tape is best, but PVC electrical tape is an adequate alternative.
Class Bracket Connection
Pin
Primary Adjuster
Laser Vago Fwd 3B
B
C
D
A
E
Aft
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Primary
10
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