INVESTIGATOR 563

G'day G'day, after many months of pondering I have finally purchased a 563 from a nice bloke down in Bargara. I've done a little sailing from when I was in the navy but have no TS or 563 experience. I was wondering if there are any members in Townsville that wouldn't mind me watching/helping them setting up,launch,retrieve, sail their boat if they are going out before I do it solo. Any help would be much appreciated. Looking forward to getting out on the water, finally!

Welcome and congratulations.
One thing you can be happy about, the Investigator 563 is very forgiving when it comes to sailing. (Just don't fall overboard!)

Don't think there are many Investigator owners in Townsville. Maybe if you post the same question on TSP, http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au/ph ... m.php?f=28 one of the locals can give you some generic help.

My shortlist of suggestions:
Have two people when you hoist the mast for the first time
Be careful not to get tangled in the painter (bow rope) when you launch, as she can shoot off with a lot of energy.
Remember to lift the centreboard if you are in shallow water.
Spend some time reading all our posts- there is a lot of information there.

Hi You can't go wrong in buying a 563 i didn't have much experience in sailing but i did pick up a lot of tips from this forum is the boat you bought from gumtree if it is if its the same boat was $7500 it looks like a well kept boat i looked at it for a while and is a nice boat now you will have years of enjoyment i am loving mine and go out most weekends the tip i give you is to start of in light winds and go and talk to your local yacht club thats what i did and found most yachties keen to help beginners.

Joining a club is a good way to get into the sport/recreation of sailing and even if sailing round the cans isn't your ultimate thing, it is a good way to learn.

Our little club does sailaways, and this is when I get Pip out of the shed. Usually I crew for someone else on race days.

Your timing is great as the season is about to kick off in most places.

I just did a google:

There is a sailing club (mainly OTB - off the beach) called the Townsville Sailing Club they do a whole pathway into sailing.

http://www.tsc.yachting.org.au

There is a yacht club

http://www.townsvilleyachtclub.com.au

There is a cruising yacht club

http://www.tcyc.yachting.org.au

You are spoiled for choice, Newbie. One of the unanticipated benefits of getting into sailing is all the new friends you will make. My advice is - join a club at least until you get confident. Even if you follow the fleet around the course in your investigator there will be people to help you set up, pull down, and there will be safety boats on the course.

Join a club.

Hi Newbie , welcome . DPs club approach is certainly one way to go , however as an alternative, you can just experiment . I took up sailing at the tender age of 49 , eight years ago after a lifetime of power boats up to 21 feet so I had a lot of boat experience but other than some seat of the pants stuff on windsurfers in my twenties no sail experience. With your Navy background I think you will be fine.

As Ian said the 563 s a very stable and forgiving boat and if you can get through the basic rigging with advice from here and the investigator association instructions elsewhere on the site you may find it quite rewarding to teach yourself . Don't worry about even attaching vangs or cunninghams or spinnakers or such to start with . Don't even unfurl the jib till you feel like it

My wife and I had a quick lesson on rigging from a sailing frend and then picked a very light wind day, launched at the local ramp, hoisted the main and we were sailing . Within ten minutes we were itching to get the jib up and get moving .... at two and a half knots.

Also pick an off day if you can arrange it , not many people at the ramp or on the water.

Sail trim ...let your sail out till its luffing and flapping away and then pull it in till it just stops...your trimmed. After a few "seat of the pants" trips you can read stuff on points of sail and trim etc and it makes more sense.


Other tips ...give way to the right ( relevant to the sailing rules) and don't hit stuff, oh and have fun .

I am not knocking clubs but by the time I had started sailing I was a grumpy old man and had been part of too many clubs and organizations to get involved . Sailing to me has been pure pleasure . I have no interest in squeezing the last knot out of the machinery . it spills my glass of Sav Blanc.

You will love your Investigator.

Ozzie makes good points, Newbie. That's why I suggest clubs as just an initial step - if you like them then, super! If not, no real damage done and you have picked up a few skills and bit of experience. However, you have 3 clubs to choose from up there and one of these might be a good fit for you [and your family].

Thanks heaps guys, i've certainly done my trawling through this website for information for the past year which pretty much sold me on the investigator to start with, however i might give the club a go at least to start won't hurt. Thanks very much for all the support!

hi Newbie, I own an Investigator based in Townsville but away until Oct. Haven't launched yet, still fixing a few things up. Rigged mine up at home, its a good way to see if its all there and works. The previous owner also gave me a rigging demo and has offered to show me the ropes on the first launching. I did the Qld boating licence , its good for extra confidence. Also watched people launch retrieve at the coast guard ramp in Townsville. No trailer yachts tho. I m an experienced sailer. Can help with launching next break. Cheers Andrew

G'day Andrew.

Sorry for the delayed reply. Is there any chance I could come and check out your setup when your around next?

Cheers.

I might get a job in Townsville for a couple of days in April, and will try to pop round and check out your boat one evening if that is a help.