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July 06, 2020 3 min read
The Laser Hiking Strap is a high wear area of your Laser and you should be checking it every so often. Our experience tells us that the highest wear is close to the ratchet block end where the strap is likely to start to tear after time.
We've put this article and step by step guide together to explain how to change your Laser hiking or toe strap on your Laser sailing dinghy.
At Sailing Chandlery we sell two types of Laser Hiking Strap, the standard Laser XD hiking strap, and the Zhik Grip II Laser Hiking strap.
Before you start, here is a list of what you are going to need:
Clear the deck and cockpit of your Laser so you have plenty of room to work.
Un tie the hiking strap at the back end of the boat so it is no longer connected to the boat.
Clear the spring that sits underneath the ratchet so it is not sitting over the top of the screws.
Unscrew the screws one by one.
Put the eye strap, spring and ratchet block in the bottom of the boat so parts don't go missing.
Remove the current hiking strap.
You may have some residue left from previous silicone, you can clear this away carefully with a stanley knife blade to clean up the area for new silicone sealant.
You may also notice slight cracks around the hole, these are there on most boats as the initial pilot holes are smaller than the screw being used.
Line up the new hiking strap against the screws and eye strap you took off. In some cases the pre heat sealed holes on the Laser hiking strap may not match the width of your eye strap, if this is the case you will need to put the screw through the hiking strap in a different location.
Attach the hiking strap to the bottom of the eye strap and and ratchet block checking everything sits as it should.
At this point you should also check you have the hiking strap up the right way too. And make sure the loop is towards the back of the cockpit, not at the end being screwed into the deck.
Add new silicone sealant to the holes on the deck making sure you get some in the holes and around them. You can never have too much in our opinion.
You can also add silicone sealant to your screws too.
Check the spring is sitting on top of the screws, you don't want it getting stuck underneath as you tighten up the screws into the hull.
Hold everything in place with the ends of the screws inside the holes.
Start to gently tighten the screws, we usually tighten one half way, then do the other, and then go back and forth to evening tighten them up. Make sure they are tight.
Tidy up any silicone sealant which may have leaked out under the pressure of the hiking strap screws being tightened.
Tie on your toe strap adjustment rope at the end of the hiking strap.
You're finished!
If you have any questions about fitting a new hiking strap, or anything else Laser then please do get in touch.
Slides easily through the blocks whilst providing firm grip
Item has brilliant bounce back ability, thanks
Simple to fit and makes launching and recovery simple. Well worth the investment
Quality material and design enables my lug sail to be stowed securely on it's spars
Great wide and grippy tyres for a shingle/sharp launching area and compound for an RS400.
Receive fantastic service couldn’t help any more if they tried. Arranged for me to collect my order at a time that suited even when it was outside of working hours. Much appreciated, thank you sailing Chandlery.
Excellent gloves, perhaps the best I have used. The fingers are long enough to provide protection from sheets/halyards and fit nicely so that ropes cannot get between the glove and finger. If the winter gloves are any guide they should also be very durable.
really happy with these! the thick material means that I will be warm whilst sailing, and the 3 finger coverage allows mobility and warmth on the water. the added grip will really help on the heavy wind reaches, can't wait to test them out this weekend. shipping was really quick, with a sweet included in my order thank you.
As always, great stock, quick delivery, perfect, thank you
The footprint of these is much more than standard trolley wheels so they roll on sand much easier.
These Falker Burgees are essential for our training fleet, giving an instant indication of apparent wind direction.
Made of stainless steel they do not corrode, and are easy to fit into the mast bracket.
It is a shame the sail part is not available as a spare as this part does not last forever, unlike the ss frame.
Nice product.
Arrived quickly and fits very well
Fast, efficient service and the lightweight trolley is perfect for my needs.
We needed to change the size and it looks like they will change the Hikers for a size up. Thank you very much
Thank you Sailing Chandlery for delivering my new sailing watch.
An excellent product and decent value.
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