Investigator 563 - Teria

The Investigator 563 (18'6") is a small trailer yacht, which can be used as a pocket cruiser. It's a bit heavier than a Princess 18  and displaces about 750 kg's  in the water without crew and supplies aboard. The boat has a shoal draft keel with lead ballast and draws 1'9" (53 cm) with the steel centreplate up. This may make it a tad too deep for easy launching or beaching but it does allow yacht-like self righting ability in the event of a knock down.

A visit to the investigator web site points out the design philosophy. The main problem with trailer sailers up until the mid 1970s (and after) was that they had a centrecase and mast support post which intruded into what was already a small cabin space. Also many lacked a significant ballast keel so could capsize.  The investigators designer Kevin Sheppard found a way around these problems.

Investigator 563 - Plan and layout.

The centrecase and centreboard are housed within the shoal draft keel below the cabin sole. This opens up the saloon area in the cabin. Additionally the traditional mast support post is replaced by an arched mast support half bulkhead. These feature allow unfettered internal access down the centreline of the boat.

The broad transom also adds extra room where its most needed in the cockpit area. There are 2 large quarter lockers with big hatches. The cabin has 4 bunks. The 2 main saloon berths are long and there is sitting headroom below. The fore peak has 2 smaller berths (which can convert into a double bunk) plus has space for a porta-loo.  I use the forepeak for stowage and now sail solo or with one crew.

The other nice feature is a pop top over the main saloon. When at anchor the headroom can be increased to standing height. It also increases cabin ventilation. The pop-top is lowered for normal sailing and a sliding hatch on the pop top is used for cabin access.

There is good cabin ventilation provided by a motor boat style fore hatch. When open air can flow freely through the cabin. The hatch even acts as a partial shelter for rain. 

The Investigator for sale was an old boat probably mid 1970's and needed some maintenance work, nothing too major seemed apparent.  It had recently replaced standing rigging, good sails which could be reefed in a blow, and a serviceable 10 HP outboard.  The trailer had bearing buddies to keep the grease packed in, was only 30 km from home and the asking price was good. So Teria soon became "The next boat". 

Investigator 563 - #9 "Teria". Shoal draft keel, single axle trailer and forward sloping fore-hatch for good ventilation

The mast support arch and open plan cabin space with centercase below floorboards. The center-plates lifting wire-rope runs in the stainless tube going through the companionway step.

There is no built-in galley area below on Teria. (This would be good for longer trips). The study plans show that slide-out stove and washbasin could be installed under the cockpit decks.  I prefer to keep the foot space over the bunks so use a vintage Trangia alcohol fuel camping stove in the cockpit, a box of cooking stuff and a green plastic bucket function as a simple inexpensive galley. Some investigators have a homemade removable galley module with one burner spirit stove and a basin, an aft railing mounted gas stove-barbeque is also possible.

A single 26 litre esky and plastic box packed with food and cold drink supply keeps a small crew fed for 1-3 days. It stows on the forward cabins floor.

Outboard design power is just 3.5 - 4 HP long-shaft which should push the boat up to hull speed of 5.3 knots in flat calm waters. In Queensland 4HP or less means no annual boat registration to pay, around $200 p.a. saved. This size motor best suits harbour or estuary based sailing conditions though and is easy to lift on and off for trailering. 

 Teria came with a 1970's 9.8 HP long shaft 2 stroke Johnson. It weighed a hefty 37 kg, had more power than needed, was dirty and guzzled fuel. However it had nostalgic value from my Pacific Islands days where we used them but eventually a repair bill quote was it's retirement day.

Replaced the Johnson with a Tohatsu Sailpro 6 HP ultralong shaft. It's a clean 4 stroke but lighter weight at 28kg. It reaches flat calm cruise speed of 5 knots with half throttle and is very economic to run. However if strong wind and waves are on the bow, then the extra horsepower can drive the boat upwind when it's often most needed. It suits coastal cruising conditions.

More specs - Beam (hull width) is 2.1m (7 ft) which makes it only slightly wider than the ute tray, good for getting through a house gate, down the driveway past the house, any more than this would be problems i reckon. The 7ft beam also means that when towing the driver can see past the boat with standard rear view side mirrors. Any more beam than 7ft, say 8ft, would probably mean getting extended side mirrors fitted.

Design Sail area is 178 square feet (16.54m2) The mainsail is 9.4m2 and jib 6.8m2..but i think my working and strong wind jibs are smaller than this..Teria also has a large "drifter" (Gennaker = a cross between a genoa and spinnaker made of lightweight cloth) for use off the wind in light winds. Teria has a modern fully battened mainsail and an old standard main as a spare.

There is a good review by Jeff Toghill at johncrawfordmarine.com.au/advice/trailer-sailer/investigator-563