INVESTIGATOR 563

Hi All,

I have received an email from a new forum member and Investigator owner.

(We have an unfortunate but essential rule in place that prevents new members creating new topics until they have posted 3 times to existing topics. These 3 posts require moderator approval before they are visible to anyone. This is to stop spammers/scammers signing up and submitting unmoderated topics that are full of links to porn and viagra sites. As Bart has contacted me via the Contact Us link I have overridden the requirements and given full member permissions. I will see if I can put a small banner up suggesting that legit new members contact us that way to have their permissions expedited.)

Anyway, here is Bart's email to us, verbatim:

Hello,

My name is Bart, I have just joined the forum. I am so impressed with the friendly and cordial discussions on this forum. I wanted to join the group to support the love of our I563's and to let you know there is another one out there still being treasured.

I have sail #138 named "Sailing Scene", and what appears to be the original trailer, all in very good condition (for its age).

When not on the water I have my Investigator under the protection of a carport on our farm on the NSW South Coast. I'm more of a "fair-weather sailor", but have been sailing since the early 1980's when my High School allowed us to do sailing at Middle Harbor Yacht Club in Sydney Harbor. As a teenager, we had a 12ft Maricat that we sailed in Sydneys Narrabeen Lake but my Investigator is the first sailing boat of my own.

I now have 13 year old twins and we usually sail at Callala Bay (In Jervis Bay), and once or twice back where it all began for me in Sydney's Pittwater. The twins (and I) also love to go camping on the boat in the Shoalhaven River at Nowra which is not wide enough to put the sails up but we are still out there loving our Investigator being on the water. It's just a great way to take the kids camping for the weekend, we anchor off the Shoalhaven Zoo and you can hear lions roaring in the night.

While I probably won't be a regular discussion contributor I am happy to have joined your group and to add my support to all of the other Investigator appreciators who have found each other here.

Hi Bart. A warm welcome to the forum. It’s nice to know there are actually people out there who are reading and are hopefully enjoying the banter on here not just google bots bumping up the view numbers. Love the Jervis Bay Area, stayed about 18 months ago.

Great having your twins to share your sailing with. My kids grew up on our boats and I can’t think of a hobby better for keeping families together. I’ve seen blokes I know going off fishing or sailing with mates over the years. My crew and fishing mates have nearly always been my wife and daughters, you won’t ever get those years back again.

Thank you for your kind welcome.
Yes, the twins (13yrs) love our Investigator, especially my little boy who knows everything about setting her up.
We never seem to take any photos when we are actually out sailing.... Who wants to get a mobile phone out when you're able to finally get away from it for a while. In the future I hope to fix that situation with my new WiFi GoPro attached to the cockpit railing !
Anyway, here is a recent photo of #138 at the boat ramp on the Shoalhaven River - the twins and I just wanted a quick weekend camping trip on the water. The Investigator easily navigates the Shoalhaven river as far as we can get (and back) over two days. This part of the Shoalhaven river is actually a designated power craft playground so apart from not really being wide enough to sail - its also not fair or appropriate to get in the way of people "wanting to make waves". We headed out early and slipped past the ski park before anyone with a wakeboard arrived and we had a great camping trip on the river. The entire river isn't a ski park and there are lots of great spots to stop and explore, and there is an easy spot to anchor for the night where you are listening to all the zoo animals chattering away to each other as the sun goes down (and comes up !! ) It is also just about the best boat ramp I have ever used and I highly recommend this spot for anyone in the area just wanting to camp out for a night or to test run an outboard motor etc.
I have owned my Investigator 563 for about 2 years now. She is in very good original condition aside from the fiberglass being a little discolored in places. As far as I can tell there have been no repairs or modifications, and I still have the original cushions and sails (and even the outboard motor owners manual). Only the interior has been re-painted (white), the anti slip areas have been redone, and the window curtains have been changed. As far as I know, I am the fourth owner after she spent about 15 years in the Sutherland area of Sydney and mostly sailing on Botany Bay by the previous passionate and very attentive owner.
I can understand why so many Investigator owners have come together on this specialized forum. It's because we all know how lucky we are

Shoalhaven River Boat Ramp.

Great shot mate. The investigator owners of the future