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?