Rig Up a Laser Craft

Sailing is a fun sport, but rigging up a boat is not as easy as you think it may be. Without the correct setting, the boat will not be able to go show its full potential. This guide presents details of how a fully-rigged Laser class sail boat is supposed to be - always.
Check that your boat has no cracks on the hull and that everything else is in good shape.
Take the lower and upper mask and proceed by connecting them together. When connecting, the upper mask has a rivet whereby it has to be in line with the lower mask arrow. If not it will have the tendency to break.
Slide in the sail. This process has to be careful as you don't want to tear the sail. The alignment of the sail has to be in the straight line at the Goose Neck (metal bar thats connects the boom to the lower mask). This is important as you don't want to have a twisted sail when sailing and also tearing the sail.
Bring the sail up to its upright position and place it into the mask well of the boat (this process may need two people as it might injure self or inflict others), don't release the mask when you located the well but instead by lowering the sail slowly until it sit properly. Releasing the mask will cause the well to crack and in such cases, water is most lightly to enter the boat.
Proceed on with the boom. Place the boom into the goose neck and using the outhaul, insert it through the safety clead of the boom until it reaches the end of the boom. Then insert the rope into the ring and going round into the sail ring and tie a bowline or figure of eight to secure the sail.
Make sure that the clew tie down is properly tied so as to make the sail have it double protection and preventing it from coming out.
Proceed on with the Kicker/Boom Vank. This is a device where it might help to keep the sail down when there is too must wind and also to keep the boom in place. Make sure that the pins are will secured and not broken. Then tie a stopper knot to prevent the rope from slipping out.

Go to the the downhaul. The purpose of the downhaul is to hold the masks and the sail down to the boat at all times, it also used to de-power the boat when you feel that it is too fast or too slow. Make sure that this is very well secured as you don't want to have a boat with a missing sail. Also remember to tie a safety knot as if there is any case whereby your boat capsizes, the knot will secure the sail to the boat.
Tie a figure of eight at the end of the rope (mainsheet). Then enter the roller, through the support ring, then into the pulley and making a loop at the traveler pulley and up to the small pulley at the boom. Secure the tip with a figure of eight.
Place the rudder and the dagger board in and you are ready to get wet and sailing.

Before launching the boat, adjust the hiking strap to your liking (an ideal position is your knee must be straight with the boat when hiking out).
Make sure that the boat is empty and not filled with water.
Test your rudder whether it knows on any part of your boat as you don't want your rudder to get stuck.
Always remember to tie the dagger board around the mask of the boat, so as to prevent it from sliding out when there is an event of capsizing.
Remember to also tighten your bunk as you don't want your boat to be sinking in the middle of your sailing expedition.
Check that your rudder has been well fitted in the holes and the pins for the tiller has been properly placed.
Lastly, check that all your ropes are secured and there is no loose rope around.

Things You'll need to do

• Upper mask and Lower mask (Radial or Full rig sail)
  
• Sail with battons
  
• Boom
  
• Dagger Board/Center Board
  
• Rudder with tiller and tiller extension
  
• Outhaul
  
• Downhaul
  
• Boom vank/kicker
  
• Mainsheet
  
• Bunk