The boat is manufactured by ILCA and World Sailing approved builders.

The bottom mast section is pre-bent which effectively reduces the power of the rig, and the sail is only 4.7 square meters, as opposed to 7 for the Laser Standard or 5.7 for the Laser Radial.

In some areas it is less popular than the Byte dinghy, a very similar class also designed as a youth single-handed racing trainer, but the interchangeability of the rigs of the Laser series has always made them popular.

It is popular among youth sailors graduating from the Optimist sailing dinghy and also the Topper (dinghy), and many 4.7 sailors graduate to the Laser Radial (ILCA 6) as they progress their sailing abilitie and size.

The Laser 4.7 is also sailed widely at a club level as the smaller rig suits the more inexperienced sailors.