Rob Little
Hello all, great website, and one that I have kept a watchful eye on for a few years now!.
So…for my first ever post;
I have seen a Sonata that sounds like a good boat, and I am planning to go and have a look. However it does have an inboard engine fitted, a Vire 7 I believe. Will this cause me any problems if I ever wish to enter this boat into a Sonata race?
Rob
James Dargie
I’d be interested to know how the engine is fitted etc if you have any pictures.
Neil McLure
Hi Rob,
Welcome to the class.
Ah … the Vire 7. At one time I shared a flat and a quarter tonner and the Vire spent much of its life in the “sitting” room. They don’t like wet boats … many people love them though.
Many people race the Sonata in handicap racing without strict adherence to the full rules so you may be OK for your local racing.
At the main Sonata events most want to encourage participation so a letter to the organisers might allow you a pass on this one. I’m not sure anyone will see it as an advantage to have a vire under the cockpit rather than a 13 kg outboard even in the strongest wind.
The other thing you could do is suggest an amendment to the class rules to allow inboards. My understanding of the rule is that it is to ensure a suitable engine is carried rather than proscribing inboards. Drop an email to the technical rep or come to the AGM.
Neil
“So”
Fife
Rob Little
Well…
Oddly enough, I ended up settling on ANOTHER Sonata with an inboard, but this one has a Yanmar 1GM instead, which I understand is a lot more reliable. So, a delivery sail awaits me…can’t wait. I do intend to mainly cruise, and a diesel ready to go on the button appeals more than an outboard, and I don’t have bags of experience, so I see it as a bit safer. But I would like to think that racing in the future isn’t completely ruled out either. I’ll see if I can take some pictures when I get it out of the water if anyone is interested in the set up. Actually, here’s a couple the previous owner took.
Antony Adshead
Well…Oddly enough, I ended up settling on ANOTHER Sonata with an inboard, but this one has a Yanmar 1GM instead,
Ah, that one. It looks a well-found boat. Is it as good as it looks in the pics?
Rob Little
Ah, that one. It looks a well-found boat. Is it as good as it looks in the pics?
Well, I thought so, enough to buy it!. 🙂 It is uncanny, true pocket cruiser. Feels likes a much bigger boat down below. I’ll see how well it sails shortly, but I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
Antony Adshead
Well, I thought so, enough to buy it!. 🙂 It is uncanny, true pocket cruiser. Feels likes a much bigger boat down below. I’ll see how well it sails shortly, but I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
Well done! I’m on the lookout for a (lift keel?) Sonata as a first boat, and as a cruiser, so I’d be very keen to hear your first impressions
nickdawson
Well…Oddly enough, I ended up settling on ANOTHER Sonata with an inboard, but this one has a Yanmar 1GM instead, which I understand is a lot more reliable. So, a delivery sail awaits me…can’t wait. I do intend to mainly cruise, and a diesel ready to go on the button appeals more than an outboard, and I don’t have bags of experience, so I see it as a bit safer. But I would like to think that racing in the future isn’t completely ruled out either. I’ll see if I can take some pictures when I get it out of the water if anyone is interested in the set up. Actually, here’s a couple the previous owner took.
Just out of interest is it a saildrive installation or a shaft drive?
As said before, while it would technically put you out of class I’m sure that nobody would think it an advantage and I can’t seee anyone objecting.
regards,
Nick
Rob Little
Well, sailed her back from Benleet to Brightlingsea last Saturday…what a great sail. Engine was only on when we came down the creek from Benfleet (thanks Dave for the local pilotage) and a little bit when we briefly went aground on Foulness (give the Whitaker Beacon far more berth than the latest chart suggests!). Did it in six hours, and the boat was a joy all the way. It’s laid up now for the winter, but I’ll post some pics when I can. It’s a shaft drive, I’v pressure washed the bottom, and I really can’t see how they have done it, it looks like it has always been that way!?
nickdawson
Rob, welcome.
As nobody else has replied I thought I’d better have a look for you….
Yes, it will slow you down.
Only by a little bit but Sonata’s are so evenly matched in pace that the little bit could be very frustrating.
Sonata class rules can be found here:
http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/racing/eq…ges/sonata.aspx
The rules say:
C.5.2 NOT FOR USE
(a) MANDATORY
(1) Outboard engine of minimum weight: 13kg. It shall be stowed
securely beneath the cockpit at all times except when intended for or
just subsequent to use.
and there’s no provision for an inboard within the rules that I can see. If you’re racing IRC then it wouldn’t matter at all, but you’d technically be out of class so shoudn’t really race PY or class racing.
The sonata works so well with an outboard that I can’t really see why you’d want one with an inboard. Unless of course you’re sailing strong tidal waters and want to go cruising…
regards,
Nick