Gladstone Narrows
Gladstone Narrows
Brian Finlayson writes in the latest Cruising Helmsman that he is about to sail his I 563 through the strait between Curtis Island and the mainland. Are you one of our members Brian? If so please tell us about your planned trip.
Ian B
Ex Investigator 563 #50 Yara
Ex Investigator 563 #50 Yara
Re: Gladstone Narrows
over the next few years i am planing to sail from moreton bay QLD to whitsundays 
but need to get in some more sea time first
but need to get in some more sea time first
atles
Investigator #133 sky bird
brisbane
Investigator #133 sky bird
brisbane
Re: Gladstone Narrows
Hi Ian,
I've just bought an Investigator from a guy in Milmerran and have towed it up to Zilzie, near Emu Park. I have a Sunmaid in Melbourne and have been towing it between Melbourne and Zilzie and decided life would be easier if I had a boat up there and save all the towing. I'm about to start some refurbishment before I head off down the Narrows and other places. As I go along I'm sure I will have lots of questions to ask of people who know about Investigators so you'll be hearing more from me.
Brian
I've just bought an Investigator from a guy in Milmerran and have towed it up to Zilzie, near Emu Park. I have a Sunmaid in Melbourne and have been towing it between Melbourne and Zilzie and decided life would be easier if I had a boat up there and save all the towing. I'm about to start some refurbishment before I head off down the Narrows and other places. As I go along I'm sure I will have lots of questions to ask of people who know about Investigators so you'll be hearing more from me.
Brian
Re: Gladstone Narrows
HI Brian!! welcome
your in Gladstone i will have to come up one day with my boat
being in brisbane i am not to far away.
your doing a refurbishment
i am just about to finish my boat
i think it Nealy killed me lol
two more weeks and i have her back in the water i took it down to just a shell
post photos soon . again welcome their are lots of people on here to help
your in Gladstone i will have to come up one day with my boat
being in brisbane i am not to far away.
your doing a refurbishment
i am just about to finish my boat i think it Nealy killed me lol
two more weeks and i have her back in the water i took it down to just a shell
post photos soon . again welcome their are lots of people on here to help
atles
Investigator #133 sky bird
brisbane
Investigator #133 sky bird
brisbane
Re: Gladstone Narrows
I would be interested to know more about the history of this boat. The guy I bought it from only had it a short time and he bought it from someone in NSW. It has sail number 119 and once carried the name "Star Trader" on the transom but that has been removed. The hull outside is in very good condition but the topsides fibreglass has lots of those radial cracks. The interior also needs some tlc. However it has a main, two rolling jibs and a spinnaker all made by Lee Sails in Sydney and they are all in near perfect condition. I can't imagine that they would be the original sails on a boat of this age.
The motor is a 1996 OMC 3.5 hp. I haven't had it on the water yet and I'm wondering if a 3.5 hp motor will push this boat OK. My Sunmaid has a 9.8 hp motor that will only push it at about 4-5 knots.
Any tips you have for new Investigator sailors are welcome.
Brian
The motor is a 1996 OMC 3.5 hp. I haven't had it on the water yet and I'm wondering if a 3.5 hp motor will push this boat OK. My Sunmaid has a 9.8 hp motor that will only push it at about 4-5 knots.
Any tips you have for new Investigator sailors are welcome.
Brian
Re: Gladstone Narrows
Welcome Brian.
Reference the motor, the standard size is 5 hp. In calm conditions she will zip along nicely with 3.5 hp, but if you are going to hit strong headwinds or rough seas, I would recommend at least the 5hp and maybe a 6 if you can get a lightweight one. Longshaft is essential, and a "sailboat" high thrust, low pitch prop also is a great help to get the power from the motor into the water.
Reference the motor, the standard size is 5 hp. In calm conditions she will zip along nicely with 3.5 hp, but if you are going to hit strong headwinds or rough seas, I would recommend at least the 5hp and maybe a 6 if you can get a lightweight one. Longshaft is essential, and a "sailboat" high thrust, low pitch prop also is a great help to get the power from the motor into the water.
Ian B
Ex Investigator 563 #50 Yara
Ex Investigator 563 #50 Yara
Re: Gladstone Narrows
Thanks Ian,
I'm expecting only to need this to get off the launching ramp to get the sails up. I'll try it and see how I go.
Brian
I'm expecting only to need this to get off the launching ramp to get the sails up. I'll try it and see how I go.
Brian
-
Ozzie
- Posts: 1728
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 1:07 pm
- Investigator Boat Name: Spritzig II
- Location: Lake Macquarie
- Contact:
Re: Gladstone Narrows
Welcome Brian.
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures. Although I only sail in enclosed waters other investigator owners I've spoken to rate the boat as quite capable of coastal work. See some of our posts on hatchways as one of the very few shortcomings of this great little yacht. Easily fixed for the most part.
Cheers
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures. Although I only sail in enclosed waters other investigator owners I've spoken to rate the boat as quite capable of coastal work. See some of our posts on hatchways as one of the very few shortcomings of this great little yacht. Easily fixed for the most part.
Cheers
Ozzie
Investigator #143 "SPRITZIG II"
The Mariner - “It’s too strange here. It doesn’t move right." ...
Enola - “Helen said that it’s only land sickness."
Waterworld (1995)
Investigator #143 "SPRITZIG II"
The Mariner - “It’s too strange here. It doesn’t move right." ...
Enola - “Helen said that it’s only land sickness."
Waterworld (1995)
Re: Gladstone Narrows
Brian,
last year I met a sailor that had single handed his small (aprox 22') yacht from Fremantle to Albany. I was down at the Marina in Albany when he sailed in early one morning in a 30 knot N/Easter. He sailed into the marina, circled a few times, doused his jib, headed up and perfectly coasted up to a dock, stepped off his yacht and tied up. I quickly realized that he had no motor and what a wonderful job of sailing his boat he had done. Also the passage around the Capes and on to Albany can be quite a mission, even for hardened circumnavigators. I had a look at his yacht, he had no windvane or tiller pilot. I see him sailing around Albany allot , still no motor always sailing. He has sort of inspired me to give motorless a go on the Investigator, I recon if I leave the motor in the shed I will have no choice but to sail, but being becalmed would be a pain. I would suppose then a 3 hp motor would be more than adequate seeing that you have stopped due to no wind. Or may be a sculling oar
Steve
last year I met a sailor that had single handed his small (aprox 22') yacht from Fremantle to Albany. I was down at the Marina in Albany when he sailed in early one morning in a 30 knot N/Easter. He sailed into the marina, circled a few times, doused his jib, headed up and perfectly coasted up to a dock, stepped off his yacht and tied up. I quickly realized that he had no motor and what a wonderful job of sailing his boat he had done. Also the passage around the Capes and on to Albany can be quite a mission, even for hardened circumnavigators. I had a look at his yacht, he had no windvane or tiller pilot. I see him sailing around Albany allot , still no motor always sailing. He has sort of inspired me to give motorless a go on the Investigator, I recon if I leave the motor in the shed I will have no choice but to sail, but being becalmed would be a pain. I would suppose then a 3 hp motor would be more than adequate seeing that you have stopped due to no wind. Or may be a sculling oar
Steve
Re: Gladstone Narrows
On the other hand, another real sailor from Albany "who I hold the utmost respect for", Whilst giving me a tour of his new sailboat, mentioned the amount of fuel he carried on his trip across the Bight back to Albany. He said you should always carry as much as you can comfortably because if you slip and break your leg, you wont really feel like hoisting up sails or long tacks just to get to help.
Steve
Steve