INVESTIGATOR 563

Hi everyone! my first post on the i563 forum. I'm a relatively new i563 owner and currently working on some repairs to get my boat sea worthy.

One of the many things I need to look at repairing / replacing is my rudder gudgeon due to wear around the gudgeon holes... Has anybody here undertaken a similar repair? does anybody know where I'll be able to purchase the right replacement??

Thanks in advance!

Petrus Pretorius

Welcome Petrus
There may be a part code on the gudgeon. They were Riley fittings I think. You can google the number.
Otherwise you may be able to get a bronze sleeve made up.

Petrus,

Welcome from me. (When you get a chance, let the forum know a bit more about your boat.)

The gudgeon fitting is a Ronstan RF 905 which is long out of production. There doesn't appear to be a direct replacement in the current Ronstan range. There was a replacement part, RF 2505, but this part seems to have disappeared as well.

A solution would be to remove the fitting and have it repaired at a fabrication shop. The tubing is S/S so it shouldn't be too hard to weld in a replacement section.

Also welcome from me Petrus . You might give Keely Marine a ring (number is on forum here just search) they may have an equivalent or put you onto somewhere that does. Can't hurt to try.


Good luck .

Hi Ian, Ray and Ozzie - Thanks for the warm welcome

I managed to find a similar part online RM589 on the Riley site. Not a perfect replacement, but with minimum modification of my rudder I think I should be able to make it work.

Thanks for the prompt responses and advise, will let you guys know it goes . As for my boat, I really don't know much about her. I bought her from an elderly couple in Maryborough Qld - her previous owners only had her for a little while, and couldn't give me any information about her history. I've registered her as 'Clever Girl' but after sanding down the stern of the vessel its revealed what I think could be Tarrewa -- but it's impossible to know for sure as the letters are incomplete and faded. My sails are not original and so their numbers don't provide any help in identifying where she falls in the production order. My hull identification plate reads "AU - WWA035399 - AB7" but i can't find out what that actually means...

So far I've taken her out four times, the last being getting caught in a nasty storm south east of Moreton Island - thankfully she stayed upright and held together and I'm currently working on getting her into proper ship shape before taking her out again... currently working on repainting her and replacing deck fittings / repairing and restoring damaged worn parts. Hoping to be out again soon to Whale watch

Here's a few shots of current work

Petrus Pretorius

Clever Girl made an appearance on this forum when she was called Peachy Pie. This is what she looked like then. You can do a search to find the original thread.

Hi Petrus, belated welcome

My investigator is an early one. I had a lower gudgeon develop fatigue cracks, got it TIG welded at a local engineering firm. The engineer thought that the fitting should be stronger for cruising..so next time it cracks up, will probably get a stronger 2mm gudgeon/pintle fabricated.

All the best

Andrew

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd give you an update on the Gudgeon replacement. My order for the Riley RM589 arrived the other day and has turned out to be a perfect replacement. Please see a few photos below of how it compares to the original.

Cost of the Gudgeon (x2) came to around $80+$15 postage. So there you go if anybody has a similar issue in the future - thanks everyone who contributed to solutions.

Happy Sailing

Hi petrus.. we met at bribie, possibly on yor maiden launch. Sounds like you are hooked on the investigator refurbishment program .. a very worthwhile project. Good to hear you are getting out on the water.. maybe we can get out together with rich's " sky bird " and mine sometime. It would be something to see, 3 I 563's out for a sail after all these years ... terry. narangba.. # 126

Hi Terry! I remember! Great to hear from you, once she's back into shape I'll definately be keen