Hope you and your family have a lot of good times on that boat. You certainly put a lot of work into it. Thanks for sharing. I learned a lot from your video.
Great video ,we bought one last year ,did 3 weeks sailing around Port Stephens and have it at Paynesville now,stay on it for a week or two at a time(before lockdown)great boat ,we bumped into the Sonata Association cruising on the Gippsland Lakes,they have been a great source of info and are great to sail with
Yeah they are a great boat and we have so many excellent waterways to explore in this part of world. If you liked Port Stephens make sure you try the channel area on Lake Macquarie.
Thanks. Yes the boys and I spent the most time out exploring. The trailer sailers are so good for cheap weekends away and no need to book in. I really like the designs that have berths that run below the rear deck like where I sleep in this one. If I was looking for another one Id definetly look for a boat that has two berths running below the rear cockpit. That way we could have 4 berths without the need to lower the dining table. Good luck on the hunt for a boat.
Hi I have just come across your video of Melody Maker, the original owners where as you guessed roger and Shirley, they did indeed hail from Geelong, they moved up to the Lake Macquarie area in the late 80,s early 90,s they were active members of the Newcastle and Hunter Trailable Yacht Association who are based around the Styles point area on Lake Macquarie, they sold the boat some time ago and got involved with the volunteer coast guard at Swansea, from what I know of them they have moved to Tasmania and I have had no contact with them for years, the photo on your bulkhead was taken on a cruise to the Whitsundays, hope this helps some with the history of your Sonata 7, if you live in the Hunter area look up the NHTYA website and maybe turn up on a club cruise or race weekend, cheers Chris
Looks great. Seem like nice down to earth people too. (Refreshing for you tube videos). I could watch you talking about used boats etc more. Thanks for the education. May I ask How much you spent on the boat fixing it up?
Bought one because the price was unable to refuse. Lot of heavy work putting around 1200$ into it 1 sail was bad expecting to be 200$-400$... Trailer is a 7/10, but hay picked it up for 500$ sale get gawn fast is good. 23 foot pop top.
Oh good luck Im sure you will have heaps of fun. They are such a great boat. It was awesome being able to take the family boat camping at such a reasonable price compared to a caravan with park fees and the need to booking spots.
You can make an push rod. Make it long enough to reach the back rail when the rudder is down then you can pull it back up. I have seen on a few ts. I owen a tc. A hood 23. the rudder on mine is a fixed rudder underrneath. Ilive on my boat so i keep it in a marina. not expensive at all. Gerard.
If you are wanting to contact the previous owners I suggest the Geelong Trailable Yacht Club, they have a website with contact details or even the Sonata Association. It doesn't surprise me that RGYC has not responded they don't give a rats about trailer sailors.
Something ive always been interested in is owning a yacht. Even better is the fact you live in Newcastle! I live local to you so it would be great to get involved in the TS scene
Thanks. Yes it was a great boat. We sold it to help fund our big adventure. Theres a few videos there that might tickle your fancy. I hope you enjoy them.
I have enjoyed your videos. I am the new owner of your old boat, great to see you sailing it, I can pick up a few tips, I am brand new to sailing. We will be enjoying some family trips like you did. :)
@@penhdog2207 she sails nice, it’s our first boat so learning along the way. Haven’t had it in the water much, but soon will be doing some family adventures and over night trips
Re your rudder lowering setup send me an email to cotteestrades@gmail.com and ill do you a short video on how it should work. Ive just purchased a sonata 7 myself but its a fairly generic system ive used on most boats ive owned with swing rudders.
lovely boat, good down-to-earth comments. Achievement stuff. Subd
This is brilliant, thank you. So much help to see how people organise their family in a boat!
Hope you and your family have a lot of good times on that boat. You certainly put a lot of work into it. Thanks for sharing. I learned a lot from your video.
Really nice boat - thanks for sharing! I hope your family enjoys it.
Thank You very much, I'm thinking of buying a TS, and am about to look at a Sonata 7, so this was a great and timely intro for me.
Great video ,we bought one last year ,did 3 weeks sailing around Port Stephens and have it at Paynesville now,stay on it for a week or two at a time(before lockdown)great boat ,we bumped into the Sonata Association cruising on the Gippsland Lakes,they have been a great source of info and are great to sail with
Yeah they are a great boat and we have so many excellent waterways to explore in this part of world. If you liked Port Stephens make sure you try the channel area on Lake Macquarie.
Awesome little sailboat ☺ must be good fun to use so convenient to be able to trail it home!! Saves so much with Marina fees!!
Thanks for video guys. I'm looking for a trailer sailed my self, also with wife and kids. Well maybe just me and kids at the start haha
Thanks. Yes the boys and I spent the most time out exploring. The trailer sailers are so good for cheap weekends away and no need to book in. I really like the designs that have berths that run below the rear deck like where I sleep in this one. If I was looking for another one Id definetly look for a boat that has two berths running below the rear cockpit. That way we could have 4 berths without the need to lower the dining table. Good luck on the hunt for a boat.
Hi I have just come across your video of Melody Maker, the original owners where as you guessed roger and Shirley, they did indeed hail from Geelong, they moved up to the Lake Macquarie area in the late 80,s early 90,s they were active members of the Newcastle and Hunter Trailable Yacht Association who are based around the Styles point area on Lake Macquarie, they sold the boat some time ago and got involved with the volunteer coast guard at Swansea, from what I know of them they have moved to Tasmania and I have had no contact with them for years, the photo on your bulkhead was taken on a cruise to the Whitsundays, hope this helps some with the history of your Sonata 7, if you live in the Hunter area look up the NHTYA website and maybe turn up on a club cruise or race weekend, cheers Chris
Thanks for the info Chris. Its so interesting to hear about the history of Melody Maker. Amazing to think of the cruising grounds its visited.
Roger is my Dad. He just saw this video. I'll DM you on Facebook David.
Never knew the roof opened. They are a great boat. 🇦🇺👍🍺
Amazing boat!!!!! Covid tax it’s definitely worth more now! I’d absolutely love one……… especially at this price
Looks great. Seem like nice down to earth people too. (Refreshing for you tube videos). I could watch you talking about used boats etc more. Thanks for the education. May I ask How much you spent on the boat fixing it up?
Good information on trailer sailer mate .
Bought one because the price was unable to refuse. Lot of heavy work putting around 1200$ into it 1 sail was bad expecting to be 200$-400$... Trailer is a 7/10, but hay picked it up for 500$ sale get gawn fast is good.
23 foot pop top.
nice people, nice boat, thank you for sharing.
Great overview! We are looking for something similar!
great video mate.. cheers
Thanks for posting this video.
Thanks for the video. I recently bought a Sonata 7 and am about to embark on a similar path. 🖖
Oh good luck Im sure you will have heaps of fun. They are such a great boat. It was awesome being able to take the family boat camping at such a reasonable price compared to a caravan with park fees and the need to booking spots.
PS, You might also find the video on setting up a trailer sailer helpful.
I also have a trailer sailor - i like ur set up
You can make an push rod. Make it long enough to reach the back rail when the rudder is down then you can pull it back up. I have seen on a few ts. I owen a tc. A hood 23. the rudder on mine is a fixed rudder underrneath. Ilive on my boat so i keep it in a marina. not expensive at all.
Gerard.
If you are wanting to contact the previous owners I suggest the Geelong Trailable Yacht Club, they have a website with contact details or even the Sonata Association. It doesn't surprise me that RGYC has not responded they don't give a rats about trailer sailors.
Thanks for the tip Stephen.
That's true about RGYC. Very up themselves.
Love the video, thanks for the information.
Great video mate. Lucky to get a good tinny for in $10k these days
Thanks for the comment. Yeah its harder to find bargains during the pandemic. Prices for everything went crazy.
Something ive always been interested in is owning a yacht. Even better is the fact you live in Newcastle! I live local to you so it would be great to get involved in the TS scene
Hi Alex, yes NSW needs a trailer sailer Facebook page like the other states which is more open to random posts, fav spots and invites.
Why not come straight out and ask if you can go out with them some day instead of beating around the bush and dropping hints?
thanks for the video. i am currently looking for something similar if not the same.
Check with the sonata association ,there are couple of good ones for sale at the moment
set up for cruising.....they put on a flat prop for power over speed.
He’s quite the um ah um man?
Nice video
Did you have previous sailing experience?? Is it hard to learn??
Nice boat, do you still have it? Do you have any other videos?
Thanks. Yes it was a great boat. We sold it to help fund our big adventure. Theres a few videos there that might tickle your fancy. I hope you enjoy them.
I have enjoyed your videos. I am the new owner of your old boat, great to see you sailing it, I can pick up a few tips, I am brand new to sailing. We will be enjoying some family trips like you did. :)
@@redcorvetteguyhow's the boat going nowadays?
@@penhdog2207 she sails nice, it’s our first boat so learning along the way. Haven’t had it in the water much, but soon will be doing some family adventures and over night trips
Re your rudder lowering setup send me an email to cotteestrades@gmail.com and ill do you a short video on how it should work. Ive just purchased a sonata 7 myself but its a fairly generic system ive used on most boats ive owned with swing rudders.