Looking to buy - Need Advice

Hi all,

I'm from the Canberra area and I am looking at getting my first sail boat and I'm in need of some advice.

I am looking for a small boat for some weekend cruising that would be reasonably comfortable for two to stay in for 1 maybe 2 nights.

I am currently having a look at a Sonata 6 (1980) vintage on a trailer for $7750. This is the description:

Nav lights, chart plotter GPS, Depth sounder, metho stove, 12 v fridge, pota potti, solar charger, 6 hp johnson with charger, 2 main sails, two 12 volt batteries, spinnaker, no.s 4, 3 AND 2 jibs, as well as a large deck sweeper jib. Sorted for short handed sailing - remote jib downhaul, mast mate mast raising system. All this on a NSW registered trailer, with rego until April 2012. The No 4 and the primary main are 2 years old. The older main is kept as a spare. The swing keel was recently re-set and the hoist wire replaced.

The trailer doesn't have brakes, so I need to see how much it will cost to add brakes (total weight over 750kg). The seller has indicated he is willing to negotiate once I find out how much it would cost to retofit brakes.

Is this a reasonable deal to consider? Are there any things that I should be looking for that may mean there are problem? Any comments on the Sonata 6 suitability for a beginer?

I mainly plan on sailing on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, with the odd trip down to St Georges Basin/Jervis Bay.

I was looking at the Sonata as it will fit in my yard and its a good size to tow to the coast.

The seller mention he is after a bigger boat after going sailing at Jervis Bay, so I guess it was a bit rough.

What's involved in changing the keel wire? Is it an easy job I can do myself?

Thanks for that.

Jervis Bay is probably the best sailing water in Australia. My old yacht is being slipped this week then heading off to its new mooring in Jervis Bay.

The Sonata your looking at is I'm guessing the one on eBay. If you are set on a trailer sailer then perhaps consider the RL24 also on eBay. They are fairly light and one of the better sailing trailer sailers. The Commodore of the JB sailing club races one too. St Georges Basin has a very active trailer sailing fleet and there are still a few trailer sailers active at Port Kembla sailing club but they are the larger variety, one 20 footer the rest 26 foot.

In the mid seventies I visited the Sonata 6 factory in Mona Vale. I was considering a kit version at the time but ended up buying a Status 19 in kit form. My wife could not live with the concept of these small trailer sailers. They were mostly fairly new when we looked at them and still had a styrene smell. Make sure your crew can handle tiny spaces. The Status was open.

My mate has a Hartley TS16 for sale. These are light, quick and can be used for racing or cruising. The boat only weighs about 350-400kg so no need for trailer brakes or a big car.

My mate's boat has 2 sets of sails (one set near new), all the bits except an outboard.

He is asking $4500

Hi John
I just sold Boomerang 20 with similar equp. for 12k. Only difference is my trailer was registered with new brakes. That boat / sonata 6 / is probably good buy, for its size/ equip. I suggest this, is an old boat and you check condition fiberglass especially
prev. repair and crack around stanchions and foot of the mast. Most importandly
sign of leaks. Than make a decision. If you can handle maintainace than it would be good. About the brakes, if you shop around, you find good deals. You buying the boat, trailer is much more easy to fix than the boat. Went through that in last 6 month.
Bough a good boat and trailer needs 2k repairs.

John,
Another point to consider. Most trailer sailors are from an era in IOR yacht racing where the rig was basically large genoas and small mainsails. Unfortunately some trailer sailors rigs are just scaled down versions of the same. This is not a good rig for a trailer sailer where it is better to have large mainsails and small headsails. Its much easier to drop a reef into a main than progressively change down headsails. Also your limited to a maximum beam of 8' 2". A 24' yacht with that beam is much easier and pleasant to sail than a 20' foot with the same beam and of course a lot faster.
Just take your time and visit a few clubs that sail trailer sailers and talk to the owners. There is no rush, those boats for sale today will be hard to move, the market for these vessels is pretty well stagnant. JB sailing club is still racing.

The Noelex 25 is probably the ultimate trailer sailer just in case your a lottery winner. Check it out and look for the same features in the boats in your price range.

Thanks again

Hi Mate,
You could also look at an Investigator.Just over 20 ft.Can sleep 4.Easy to rig.Easy to sail.I recently sold mine for $9000 when I bought my Northshore.800 Kilos.no brakes.

Just downgraded from a $60,000 [ me and the bank ] MAC 26 to my present...wait for it...$500 RED EAGLE...
Are you capable of some refurbishment...
The trailer to suit was bit extra, having only been wet twice before...and fully hot dipped galvanised...
Check ot the photos of what it was and what it is now...
Sailing doles not always have to be EXPENSIVE...
I changed because I wanted to get under those three $#%^^&& bridges at Fremantle. And when you are sailing, does it really matter WHAT you are sailing.