A Good Investment

[Ozzie]

I have started this season very much enjoying my 563 . Last year due to family issues we sailed rarely . Now that my wife is on LSL prior to retirement we are sailing twice a week in all winds and lake conditions which is a change to our normal fairweather sailing.

Other factors than more use and experience have contributed to our willingness to push the boats limits (and ours )
# New standing rigging all round double swaged, done over two yearly haulouts .
# Extra forestay to act as a redundancy in the event of problems with the furler stay, with its 7 possible failure points .
# Replacement of shackles with clips to allow quick disconnect of rigging bits if problems occur.
# New stronger storm boards , (one piece) and improved front hatch lock.

But the best improvement I personally think, that has improved the sailability of the boat has been the addition of the raised aluminium toerail. Spritzig II came with no trim on the gunnel. During my first few years of sailing I only had some plastic trim protecting the rough join while I decided what to do here, timber, aluminum or toerail . I ultimately picked up some cheap secondhand rail for I think $60 . A bit of work to fit but worth the effort .

I am not infirm ...yet but at 57 with a stuffed back I'm noticing my agility is slipping a bit lately and the toerail has given me confidence to clamber around on my deck when healed and wet and in rough water . I've sailed on a few larger vessels and some only have a bump in the deck on the egde ....scary at heel. My mates Court 750 has sloped side decks and it's scary even on the mooring .

Not expecting people will toss their varnished timber toerail as I would have gone that way had I not found my cheap aluminium but if anyone fitting or refitting their boat is tossing up what to use , its worth considering.


Rail is shown on the pic is on first post on this thread.

http://www.investigator563.com/forum/vi ... st+raising

[snoopebj]

Good on ya Ozzie - We are at a similar stage with wife retiring soon and the whole of the East Coast to explore in our beaut little boat. Spent the last few days with some Careel friends on the Port Hacking river and sailing on Yowie Bay. Even the howling westerlies did'nt spoil the fun and the Investigator handles it well BBQing and sleeping at sheltered SW Arm on public mooring for a couple of nights.
You seem to have completed a thorough overhaul of the standing rigging and deck fittings, rails etc - I must do the same soon, especially after loosing the pushpit at Port Hacking.
Happy sailing

[Steve]

Hi Ozzie,
My 563 desperately needs some sort of toerail, along with an anti-slip surface on the deck, I'm a bit tied of slipping over and bashing myself up when going out for a sail on it, when the deck gets wet it is like ice and it usually gets wet when seas get rough. It takes all my effort just to stay on my feet so It becomes difficult to do the deck work, it gets real frustrating. I use my 563 just as a day sailer because I can't handle crawling around inside it. It kills my knees and back,
Next task on the agenda is to fit toerails and paint a non-slip on the deck.
Steve

[Ozzie]

Steve, try advertising in the wanted section of gumtree or local trader , any other free mags (cost of ads adds up ) also bung a "wanted" on the notice board at the local marina or yacht club . Boaters are notorious for storing old boat bits . I got mine from an add in the local trader, came off a Farr I think and the guy had it in his garage for years he told me. Guess my ad allowed him to convert it into a couple of slabs of VB for xmas . New toerail can be bought from Guile marine but they want your first born and an arm for it. Also put an alert on eBay . It would turn up stuff eventually . It does not really deteriorate. Mine is natural but if I were not moored I'd paint it black . ALLways looks good painted black. Adds 10 k to the resale

I have a post somewhere on here or tsp on a few tips for fitting . I'll see if I can find the link

Also a pair of shoes with grip soles help . I just bought my second pair of Bourke wet suit boots . They are derided by the Tsp crowd for making your feet stink but they do improve grip in the wet and keep your feet warm . More stylish and exotics grip shoes can be had of course. Good luck.


Found link on fitting but no pics , must be elsewhere.

http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au/ph ... it=Toerail