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| Specifications Under Current Rules |
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>>
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| Number of crew |
2 (Single Trapeze) |
| LOA |
4370 mm 14 ft 6in |
| Beam |
1420 mm 4 ft 9in |
| Hull weight (with fittings) |
76 kg 170 lb |
| Sail Area of total of Main and Jib |
11.52 m² 124 ft² |
| Sail Area Spinnaker |
10.2 m² 110 ft²
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The Laser 2 is a double-handed version of the popular Laser one-design class of small sailing dinghy It is a quick, planing dinghy that differs from the laser in that it has a jib, symmetric spinnaker and a trapeze for the crew. It was designed by Australian Frank Bethwaite and was first launched as a product in Australia then North America in 1979 and in Europe in 1980. The hull is made of GRP (glass reinforced plastic). The rig is a Bermudian rig sloop with spinnaker. It is designed to be a mid to high performance racer. Its most common current use is at university class in Busa events. A version known as the Laser Fun was available, the same hull but featuring a reefable mainsail and a roller furling jib, and with the option of an asymmetric spinnaker (Laser Fun New Wave).
As a strict one-design boat its sole builder is Vanguard Boats in the US and Laser in the UK. It is not available for amateur construction, but has also been discontinued by Laser. However still available to be imported in from the US. The Laser Vago which features a gennaker and has been designed to be sailed single-handed as well as double-handed, is considered by some as a replacement. Frank Bethwaite's hull design for the Laser 2 was married to a new deck and rig to produce the Laser 3000 in 1996, which has since gone on to form the basis of the 3000 Class.
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