Why buy an Investigator 563?

[Ozzie]

As we have cranked over 20 years of ownership last month of Spritzig II I thought I’d bump this thread up to see if anyone who’s acquired a 563 since the last post 11 years ago would like to add to it .

For what it’s worth I can’t add much to what I said then. If your shopping for a boat online this may interest you.

[Andrew]

I knew nothing about Investigators when i bought mine. The first thing i liked was the shape of the hull and keel form, also the shear line, topsides design and cabin/deck shape, it just looked seaworthy and solid to me and looked like a small keel boat. I was looking for a micro-cruising boat that could go "offshore" to some inside barrier reef islands (usually 3-5 foot waves max in 20-25 knot tradewinds). ( I was concerned about stability of more traditional TSers as well)

The keelboat-like cabin arrangement. No centerboard case or mast support post intruding into cabin space, ergonomic layout (from anchor well to stern ladder)

The next thing was how easy the (strong) owner raised the mast singlehandedly by just pushing it up from the cockpit. The wide generous cockpit area with large storage lockers and increased accomodation with standing headroom once the pop top was up. The cabins bunks are also large enough and the sitting headroom is adequate.

Once some restoration was done, i liked the handling characteristics under sail. How the helm could be balanced using the swing centerplate and mainsheet. The wide transom, 20 degree deadrise angle plus encapsulated lead keel results in a fairly stiff TS hullform. She sails fast at a comfortable 10-20 degree heel angle. Ability to reduce sail, reef down to a smaller jib and one reef in main keeps this heel angle and it can handle upto 25 knots upwind. Getting knocked down would be hard to do (has anyone ever been knocked over, mast on water, in an I563?)

The longshaft outboards, first 10hp then 6 hp, allow me to bash upwind, sails stowed, into upto 30 knot headwinds, as long as waves are under 2 foot high (eg In estuary or river mouth) The props rarely cavitated if the boat speed was reduced to tolerable levels. It's nice to know she can get home if bad weather strikes.

Shoal draft. For overnight anchoring, the calmest spot is advisable, so the 2 foot shoal draft usually allow anchoring tucked into the flat calm head of sheltered bays, well inside the deep draft cruising yacht fleet (where more waves are). The rounded hull form has zero "bilge slap" noise, so a sound sleep (constant rhythmic tapping noises at night make sleep almost impossible, Teria is quiet at anchor after the halyards, rudder etc are secured)

Positive Foam floatation under bunks. It's life-insurance for remote cruising. Theres an inbuilt (double hull) like ships have, the bilges could be smashed open on a reef but the inner skin might keep the hull afloat. This is good for more adventurous cruising, far from immediate help. The sandbar grounding dry-out angle is about 30 degrees, which is tolerable and safe to refloat on tide.

Towing and launching. The size of the boat is in the "Sweet spot", not too heavy/big to handle or tow/launch. Not too wide or high to manouver in driveways or sheds etc. But big enough for enough comfort/space/carrying capacity aboard for 3-7 day trips out. To places visited by 2-50 times more expensive boats! Good value. (NB Rego costs about $500 pa, no mooring fees) (maintenance costs are reasonable too) No need to sell the house to go cruising!