Commander #65 "Lucky Dawg"

[Lucky Dawg]

In another 50 I'll be a hundred (as will the Dawg) and I plan to be under sail!

[Lucky Dawg]

Now you have me looking... http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?604-keel-voids

Pic Bill (A231) posted. Holes I drilled are just a smidge fwd and a bit below of the tip of the arrow indicating the keel void. I can't tell you exactly, but I'd guess the bottom of that void is about 5" above the bottom of the keel - solid fiberglass below. You can eyeball it - that fitting is 3 1/8" in diameter, and the bottom of the 1 1/2" hole I drilled is at the very bottom of the void...

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[Lucky Dawg]

part: http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/plug-drain-1.00-pl-brz-1-socket-wrench-type-103383-/4,2236.html (There is another very similar part that is twice the price... ?)

[Lucky Dawg]

Can't believe I missed this last night. A photographer's picture from my home port of Muskegon, Mi. Unfortunately, no alarm sounds when they fire up.

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Daily Aurora Borealis Forecast: http://www.softservenews.com

[Lucky Dawg]

I refinished my hatch boards and companionway brightwork. Commissioned a bag from my canvas lady. Came out nicely! Four pouches and fuzzy on the inside.

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[mbd]

Cozy! The Dawg is looking awesome as always.

[Lucky Dawg]

She doesn't look so hot at the moment! Companionway and hatchrails removed, rubrail removed, topsides paint repairs half done, garboard drain in process. Most of those projects / re-installs are at a bit of standstill waiting for the temp in the warehouse to get above 40* (it's been more like 20*.) Things don't seem to cure below 40*+. Windows are installed, but I'm waiting for a warm up to install the butyl. It'll all come to a head in a couple weeks. I have a huge spreadsheet of projects, materials, and tools to throw in the trunk before each trip to the warehouse for slices of projects. Kyle Williams "Master of the Obvious", but varnishing from bare wood is a time consuming process. The hatch brightwork all looks nice though and was long overdue.

[paulsproesser]

These would roll out prettier in the summer sunshine, but... I'll take some interior next visit.

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Those look great!!! I haven't done mine yet and love those . where did you get them, how much did they cost and did you use butyl tape to seat them ?

[paulsproesser]

Very nice ! send me that template so I can save some time please!! I've wanted to do this also every since I saw mikes job. Just makes sense.

[paulsproesser]

That is a beautiful area up there. I used to deerhunt outside of Florence Wisconsin along the Pine river and traveled home one summer I was up there north through the U.P. And then across the Mackinaw bridge down through Michigan to get home. all the salmon smokehouses along the top of the lake were cool and I saw the Canada border crossing station. Closest I've ever been to Canada.

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Paul,
Do you mean the template for the chain locker cover or the portlights? Pretty sure I still have the template for the the locker in cardboard and 1/8 luan. PM your address and I'll look into sending it to you. The portlight template is rented from Newfound Metals. Info on the portlights is here - http://www.newfoundmetals.com/portlights/stainless-steel-standard/ellipse-stainless-standard

[paulsproesser]

Hey Paul,
Do you mean the template for the chain locker cover or the portlights? Pretty sure I still have the template for the the locker in cardboard and 1/8 luan. PM your address and I'll look into sending it to you. The portlight template is rented from Newfound Metals. Info on the portlights is here - http://www.newfoundmetals.com/portlights/stainless-steel-standard/ellipse-stainless-standard

You can send it COD If you like to:
Paul Sproesser
205 Locust street
Frederick MD. 21703

[Lucky Dawg]

Oh so close! 1) touch up deck paint on rails, 2) reinstall handrails and deck organizers, 3) install rubrail 4) launch 5/29??

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[Commander 147]

Looks like the Dawg is going to launch about the same time as Destiny. She is looking good! What rub rail are you going to use?

[Lucky Dawg]

Same as you, I think - Eagle molding with the original rail and those Taco end caps. Boot stripe, bottom paint and buffed the snot out of her top sides yesterday. Tick tock!

[Lucky Dawg]

Spit shined and ready to splash. She has a date for 8AM Monday 6/8. Hard to see the rub rail in the picture, but I am very pleased with it. Lots of work, but it looks great. That is a challenging one-person job!

Here is the accomplished winter list: (BTW - Lucky Dawg took a beating over the last season with a storm breaking her dock lines one night - chaos ensuing.... Hence "damage" references below)

Install new, opening Newfound Metals windows
Install Garboard Drain
Fabricate Chain locker cover
Refinish companionway, hatch boards
Repair damaged topsides
Repair damaged toe rail / deck paint
Repair damaged aft chocks
Refurbish stainless rub rail
Install Eagle molding under stainless rub rail
Reinstall cabin top grab rails
Install Whale Urchin manual bilge pump
Replace interior cushion fabric
Upgrade to all-rope halyards
Install mast plate, deck organizers, mast blocks, cam cleat
Repair cockpit cushion wear
Fabricate hatch board bag
Reinstall fwd hatch gasket
Replace tiller head bushing
Repaint boot stripe / Bottom Paint
Replace gas line
New dock lines with leather chafe wraps and snubbers

As I have told scores of people: "If you don't enjoy this kind of work, don't buy a 50 year old boat!" Hard work, but lots of satisfaction!

I'll take some pictures Monday outside of the warehouse. Should be a better representation of the old girl.

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[Commander 147]

Looking good Kyle!


Yes the rub rail is a challenging one person job. I tied sections of it up so they would hang approx. in place and installed from one end working to the other. But very time consuming and slow work. But in my opinion very much worth it.


Fix on and then sail on Kyle!

[mbd]

Enjoy all your hard work!

[Lucky Dawg]

I know there is nothing earth-shattering here, but I like these handy milk crate adaptations. Had some 1/8" luan ply and varnished the pieces to make shiny bottoms for these storage crates.

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[Lucky Dawg]

Lucky Dawg is back! A couple shots from today - launch this AM, and a nice sail this afternoon. Sunny day with steady 12kts on Muskegon Lake. A fat fog bank kept us there - Lake Michigan was pea soup thick in fog. Uber chilly water from our frigid-er than average winter + warm air = frequent fog banks....

Pix below: in the travelift, stepping the mast, secured in her slip.

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[Lucky Dawg]

A couple pix from today: Interior, bow pic, y El Capitán

(Note the interior view of her new windows.)

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[mbd]

Sweeeeeeeeeet! Those portlights are gorgeous and the crew looks like it approves too.

[Commander 147]

Kyle


It's great to see the kids having fun on the Dawg! Saturday I had my granddaughter Kiera out and at one point she said "this is my best day ever!" And Sunday I had my two grandsons Nathan and Jacob out sailing and they were arguing who was going to get to steer when and for how long. I think it is important for us to expose kids to sailing. They are our future and some day it will be their turn to keep these good old boats sailing. It is really nice to see you doing your part to keep it going! Sail on!!!!

[Commander227]

Looking good Kyle! She's prettier every year.

[Lucky Dawg]

Well, I didn't expect this! Client cancelled today and I went up to Lucky Dawg's slip to just noodle around. Had noticed some water pooling under the stbd bunk inspection port for a year or so. Figured it was just finding its way in - water is tricky like that. When I got there today, there was a good bit more water. Side stays were dusty dry, couldn't find any other intrusion points. Checked the sink seacock and YIKES! Water bubbling in at a pretty good clip. Yaddayaddayadda, Torresen's pulled her with the Travelift.

With some direction from the Torresen's guys, I pulled the thru hull, pulled the seacock, sanded down the mahogany spacer, disassembled, cleaned, and greased all of the seacock parts, and put it all back together. Hopefully, I can loosely reinstall on Saturday with some 4200, tighten down on Sunday.... and hopefully relaunch on Monday.

Had I not had a cancellation today, who knows how deep she would have sunk before Monday when I planned to return!!! Holy Moley!

[Lucky Dawg]

photos... You can see where the lower, forward through bolt was leaking - greenish drip line.

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[Lucky Dawg]

and...

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Scary to see sunlight through your hull! 9603

[Commander 147]

The only through hulls Destiny has left are the scupper drains and the sink. I'm not a fan of holes in a hull and these kinds of issues are why. Really glad you caught a break and a leak before it was too late!

[mbd]

Be sure and thank that client of yours! Whew!

[ebb]

Feel like this nutcase in the end of the bar we need to avoid because he's got
an opinion on everything....

If we must have a few thruhulls, why not install them as a maintenance item,
make them easy to 'service'.

Make sure the hole itself is in good shape, it can be restructured with epoxy.
Consider a large backing block permanent. If you do, you can epoxy it into
place and drill the thruhull hole cleanly thru it as well as the hull. The backing
block can be wood or plywood, but better if fiberglass sheet or G-10.

Consider bolting the seacock on butyl tape. Get it off latter, any time.
Threads running into the seacock can be brushed with lanocote.
{Lanocote is a sheepwax product sold inexpensively by the jar, produced by
Forspar. They, being foreigners, call it corrosion inhibiting lubricant...
but it actually is a very sticky, non-runny, marine grease extracted from
sheep's wool. Smells important, too!}

Prefer first to have the seacock solidly fastened in place, with shut-off handle
and hose lead where destined to live forever. Seacock cinched up strong as
if structurally part of the hull. Butyl stays active as a sealant squeezed into
a thin film. But before assembly, you can lay into the tape a circle or two of
10# nylon leader, to assure glue-line after fasteners are tightened home.
Apply lanocote to bolt threads, and into the drilled holes with a small stiff
art brush, or mini bottle brush.

Run a bead of rubber sealant like 4200 on the inside of the thru-hull flange....
The curmudgeon, at the end of the bar, wiping foam off his mustache from
a fresh drought of ale, sez, he don't advise this... if the assembly is shipshape
no water will get in, and if it does it can't get by the seacock.
Should lanocote get up into the valve chamber: there is no better lube for the
valve ball. The fitting will be able to back out without becoming a federal case.
Lanocote also acts as a galvanic barrier between dis-similar metals.
Will not harden. Why glue the thruhull rim to the hull?

As the clincher here, from outside, screw the thruhull into the seacock. If it's
a new one, and you forgot to dry fit the assembly, you can still back it out
and cut it shorter until the flange seats flush with the hull.*

Thread the thruhull deep as possible in the seacock.
Back the flange at the hull with tube rubber sealant if you must. But really, a
home- made EPDM foam gasket, or O-ring, or just lanoline is mo'betta.

If the hole the thruhull goes into is waterproof -- it should be, using a method
like this -- then the thruhull fitting doesn't need to be bonded in place - because
the finely-fitted seacock you bedded and bolted to the hull is protecting it.

Thus, with the seacock closed, you can remove the thruhull fitting underwater
- scrape it into pieces on a rock-- or sail around the world without it -- not a
drop getting inside the boat. {we do sail with seacocks closed...right?}
Thruhulls that can be unscrewed, maybe hard to get it started. Recall it's
not bonded, it can be undone. And the !@#$%! PITA seavalve stays intact .

It's ready to be disassembled, without insulting the gods, a decade from now.:D
imco
.................................................. .................................................. .................
* If we have, under the seacock, a substantial backing plate permanently
bonded with the hull, we can then use a chamfered flange thru-hull fitting.
Arguably, this requires a more picky and less substantial chamfered hole in the
hull. (Mushroom requires a much easier straight through with the protective
flange capped over it.) But it eliminates the mushroom hickey. It looks right,
hole less pronounced. Haulout prep easier, and the hull has way more 'ing'.

[Lucky Dawg]

Thanks for the guidance ebb! I wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am-ed the seacock back in with the original mahogany spacer setup and a generous amount of 4200. I put some newspaper in / below it to keep an eye on seepage and to date, it is dry as a bone. I'll do a nicer job over the winter. I had looked at Chance's seacock creations and that looks similar to what you're suggesting.

Yes, the sink seacock is always closed. I open and close it occasionally just to keep it operational, but never really using the sink, it doesn't serve much of a purpose. I keep the cockpit drain seacocks open.

[Lucky Dawg]

Nice to be wing on wing - not sinking-ing!

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[Bill]

Good to see the ACYA burgee flying :D

[Lucky Dawg]

Aww Yeah.... 18kts with friendly seas and good sailors

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[Commander 147]

aww yeah.... 18kts with friendly seas and good sailors

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life is good!

[mbd]

18 kts and not reefed?? I'm such a wimp... :o

[Lucky Dawg]

Had the jib up rather than my big genny... Slapped the traveler to leeward and we were good to go. Cruised at hull speed most of the day. Super fun!

[Rico]

Awesome day out with good crew!

[paulsproesser]

Kyle, my envelope with the money order was returned a couple weeks ago. It was stamped non existent address. Can you send me a good address so I can reimburse you . sorry for the delay, very busy. Oh I saw your post about your sink drain ,scary! That's something I'm worried about also.

[Fritz]

Hello Kyle,

I'm interested in a Commander mast step. Is this something your C&C guy can help me with since he already has the set up? Thanks in advance for your help.

Fritz
Commander #3

[Commander227]

I'm replacing mine this winter and would be interested as well.
Mike

[Lucky Dawg]

I sent my friend a note. He arranged it through someone else. Will advise ASAP.

[SkipperJer]

My mast step is also questionable. Please include me in any feedback. Thanks.

[Lucky Dawg]

My guy is checking on it. It was produced in June of 2011, so I'll hope that his source didn't toss the setup info. No clue on cost.

Here is a link to the aluminum step photos - http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?1604-Commander-65-quot-Lucky-Dawg-quot&p=23283#post23283

[Bill]

The appendix to the manual has a tech drawing of the mast step if you need to recreate the setup data.

[Bisquit]

The drawing in the manual is great. I had to rebuild mine. The manual had all the necessary dimensions. I am sure any CNC shop can make one. I rebuilt mine out of solid G-10 and glassed over it. I had to recore the area anyway so it is solid glass all the way down to the compression post. I also recored with solid glass plate where all the mast base blocks will mount. I am having a thin stainless wear plate fabricated to go over the top to prevent the mast base from digging into the new glass. Here are a couple of pictures. One that shows the basic structure before I laid the outer skin and the other after I glassed it over and primed it.

[Lucky Dawg]

Clean!

I haven't heard back from my mast base source. I'll nudge him later this week and keep y'all posted.

[Fritz]

Thanks, Kyle.

No pressure on my end. My old one is repairable but a new aluminum one would be nice.

Fritz

[Lucky Dawg]

Wow, that season seemed short!! Lucky Dawg is on the hard. :( Only good news about that is she was hauled in time to avoid the strong midwest wind storms of last weekend.
Photo is from Grand Haven where my office is - about 12 miles south of Lucky Dawg
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[ebb]

Golly, how do you keep the floor dry in your office?:D

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Guys,
My friend got back to me, and the CNC shop he used for my mast base is out of business. Since much of the expense is in set up, my only suggestion is that the three of you get together and split the price. Sorry I couldn't hook you up.

[Fritz]

Hi Kyle,

Thanks for your efforts. I'll probably use my old one, which isn't in bad shape. Just needs a little sealing and paint.

Fritz

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Folks! At launch on Thursday, I had a leaking 2" thru hull that was an old speedo / transducer. Hauled it back out and weighing my options. I can just patch that hole, or I was thinking that if in the future I wanted to put in a chartplotter with depth, that that might require a similar transducer... Am I correct in that assumption? I wouldn't be looking for a fishfinder down the road, but I don't know how a chartplotter system works to get depth and water temp.

In chatting online with the WM advisor, apparently transducers are proprietary, so if I went that direction, I'd need to pick a brand in advance!

SO, basic question is filling vs putting new transducer for future use in same hole. Thoughts?

interior of transducer set up in bilge, and hole in hull just above keel with transducer removed.

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[ebb]

Kyle, just chatting here. Don't have an answer. Just questions.

Seems to me a better location for chart plotters would be higher
up in a more horizontal location. And that would be more likely
for other electronics thru-hulls.

Scares me a hole that deep and inaccessible, Maybe it should be
permanently closed off, removed and fiberglassed.

If manufacturers have each proprietary thru-hulls then you should
it seems install the recommended system, rather than jerry an
old hole. Gook luck!

(Also assume that's a metal fitting. You don't know what kind of
bronze or brass it is. Could be weakened, anything. Gives you
an opportunity to put in the kind of thru-hull you trust.)

[Lucky Dawg]

Thanks Ebb. I think it housed an old speedo, so it would make sense in that spot. I have a depth meter transducer somewhere, but I have no clue where - maybe at the rudder shoe? that thru hull is a plastic fitting - I always thought it was metal, but nope. And thanks, below the waterline, you're probably correct that glassing it over is the better course of action.

[ebb]

Plastic connector thru-hull isn't really right for any underwater hole.

Maralon would be OK.

Years ago, the first big purchase for littlegull was a 'forward looking' sounder.

Dug a hole in the stem for the rather large transducer, that entered the hull

right where the curved front of the cabin is on deck. The Interphase must be

obsolete by now, so don't know what I'm to do with that hole. Hope I remember

at splash.

[Lucky Dawg]

All patched up. Glassed a 3 layer sandwich of glass inside the bilge. Cut a <2" round plug from some solid 1/2" fiberglass that Torresen's had laying around and plugged the hole with that plus thickened epoxy. 3 layer glass sandwich over that plug. (pictured) and then epoxy with light fairing beads to make an nice smooth surface on the keel (picture 2) 4 coats of Interlux barrier coat to come tomorrow - a pain to get it up to 10 mils (can says that is 4 coats) because it's 3 hours between coats and each batch has to sit after mixing for 20 minutes before application. Lots of 40 minute round trips to the boat tomorrow. If I can slap some VC17 on it first thing Monday AM, I may be able to relaunch Monday lunchtime. Fingers crossed.

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[Bisquit]

Nicely done. Be sure you coat the 410 with some of that grey 2000.

[Lucky Dawg]

And She's back!

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[ebb]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lucky Dawg]

S/V KidShip, er, Lucky Dawg is back at it. A fun and splashy 16-18kts on Monday for first 2017 sail. Kids were great sports with the occasional blast of cold water over the bow. Easier to swallow given that Captain KW took a couple fat soakings in the process.

[Lucky Dawg]

When you're motoring out of your slip, push the tiller to stbd and hear a big "kerthunk"

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(Tiller head is fine, bolt was just loose)

[Lucky Dawg]

Been a busy summer with great sailing in Michigan and Maine. Big crew today with 6 kids, dog, plus me. (Mine are at R and L, back row) NOT big wind though, so we spent some time at the State Park (43°14'11.58"N 86°19'33.31"W) swimming and climbing dunes. Anchored in 5' of water (all sandy bottom here) I washed the topsides and scrubbed the bootstripe clean-ish. Last Monday 20+ and fun waves for the crew on the Big Lake. Never know what yer gonna get....

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[Lucky Dawg]

New Dawg in the Williams fleet. (Successful Opti classes all summer)

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[Lucky Dawg]

Caught on the NOAA / GLERL web cam (https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//metdata/mkg/): Lucky Dawg returning from Lake Michigan yesterday. Flat with 6-8kts. Just a few weeks left till Halloween haul-out - need a BIG day to cap the season

(Lucky Dawg approaching the inner light)
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[Lucky Dawg]

So, while I have this thread high-jacked... A pic of the old girl from this summer. I think I'm going to pull the coamings off at haulout and refinish. I didn't use any InterStain on them when I finished them several years ago and they don't match the rest of the brightwork - and that color, I prefer. In a perfect world, New Found Metals would have made a portlight that matched the original cut-out, but the upgrade has been worth it for super-dry interior. Someday, she'll get new sails, but it isn't atop the priority list right now. Baggy as they are, the blow her along at hull speed just fine. She'll do...

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(Edit: oops, it looks like I already posted that picture. Well, there she is again)

[Lucky Dawg]

and last, Lucas from this summer. L'il Dawg - who we purchased in late August - got wet for just a couple racing weekends. It was SO cool watching him handle his own boat and go out on the water with his buddies and enjoy some independence. Spring Lake Yacht Club is super active and a terrific teaching organization that has pumped out some collegiate sailors. A couple Opti pix:

In the first pic, impromptu sail with friends - just goofing around in their own boats. Then pix of first and last races at the end of summer. (Sail numbers came with the boat - we'll install over the winter)

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[Lucky Dawg]

Pretty sure this isn't good. I do know that the mahogany swells once in water, but I don't think this kind of play has been in the mix before. Thoughts??

there is a 10 second video here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124380869@N04/40104429140/in/dateposted-ff/

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[Lucky Dawg]

New addition to the Williams' Livery. 1959 Lyman. Originally a runabout - per pic below. PO converted to a launch. Nice bones. Not sure what end result will be. The original midship helm is removed and she steers from the stern. May outfit with a 59'-ish era outboard. Seating is currently parallel to the rails. Might put perpendicular seating back in. TBD. Fun to play with.

p.s. We named "her" Norman. We spend time every year on Squam Lake in N.H. where On Golden Pond was filmed. She looks like a Squam Lake boat. Squam => On Golden Pond => Norman Thayer => "Norman"

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[Lucky Dawg]

Quarentine Project! I'm chagrined by the state of my brightwork! Last varnished these bits in 2011, and it sure shows. I refinished the companionway just a couple years ago. Leaving that in place. I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that this mess will look like fine furniture in a couple weeks.

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[mbd]

Kyle, s/v Lucky Dawg is lucky to have you for an owner. :)

PS. Man, those Commander coamings are looooooooong!

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Mike! Long time! Hope you and yours are staying healthy. Good to hear from you!

I don't know how lucky she has felt. Stem to stern DIY home renovation over the past two years commanded a lot of my free time and that put some Lucky Dawg upkeep on the back burner. Quarantine is providing necessary refinishing time. I have all the little pieces and all but about 6 feet of those long coamings stripped already. Heat gun + lots of patience and podcasts. I'll update.

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[mbd]

We are all well, thanks. I've been thinking about taking the cover off mine and thought I'd check in on my old friends. :) I hope all is well with you and yours too! Stay safe.

[Lucky Dawg]

A bit of progress. Removed old varnish with heat gun and followed up to remove any residue with Jabsco stripper. Bleached with oxylic acid from Ace Hdwr. Sanded with 40/60/80. Last pic is Interlux InterStain - brown mahogany. Will follow that in a couple days with Interlux InterPrime Clear Sealer and then Epifanes Clear gloss varnish. Tedious work, but looking forward to outcome.

Bleached. Left is sanded to 80. 40 grit to get some of the black streaks out.

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Cool pic! In the bottom right corner, you can see the diagonal seam repair I made 10 years ago with epoxy thickened with mahagany sanding dust. Still holding up and still dark brown - didn't know if it would bleach out somehow.

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All bleached and sanded

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InterStain. 80grit recommended final pass so that the product has adequate tooth to hold on to. "Thick housepaint" consistency that is rubbed across the grain and as much rubbed off in that way as will lift for final appearance. Process of rubbing/removal is pretty quickly underway after application. If you let it flash/dry, it is really difficult to rub down adequately. I used the same process/staining on my companionway brightwork a couple years ago and it looks great.

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[Lucky Dawg]

I needed to bow the 3/8" mahogany plank that goes beneath my traveler. The bow above the lazarette bulkhead is pretty minimal, but I didn't successfully bow it when I created it and the athwartship ends of the piece lifted up a bit off the deck.

So, I successfully used this method - https://youtu.be/--iPQIwSEJM*- making a steam bag out of tarp material and duct tape coupled to a home/laundry steamer.

Because of COVID, the storage shed at my boat yard is closed, so I couldn't get the exact radius off of the top of the bulkhead. By my guess-timation, the radius on the trim piece above our fireplace seemed about right.

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Made a box out of 3/8" plywood and 2x4 scrap to match that radius.

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Steamed it for about an hour clamped to my form. Let it cool in place. It got plenty hot with the laundry steamer.

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Finished product!

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This is a good video on building an actual steam box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMvc2tuVGcQ* Just didn't seem worth the trouble for potentially the only time I will find myself steam-bending wood.

[Lucky Dawg]

Splashed a couple weeks ago. A couple pix of rehabbed brightwork, etc. New sail and tiller covers

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[ebb]

KYLE, Lucky Dawg, Your Commander is absolutely Magnificent !!

And GLORY BE: your cockpit sole is an amazing treat to behold as well!

Just Gorgeous.

[Lucky Dawg]

Thanks Ebb! Labor of love. We were gone for two weeks in New Hampshire/Squam Lake and then Nantucket. Back now and we sailed yesterday in dead-steady NW 13kts. Old girl was flying and looking good in the process.

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[Lucky Dawg]

Been a while. We're still sailing. Crew is growing - kids growing up and added a dog.

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[Lucky Dawg]

Couple underway.

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[Lucky Dawg]

reverse order these pix... from springtime - bottom paint, polishing and fixing a couple dings in the topsides. Shiny!

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[Lucky Dawg]

Hoisted the spinnaker for the first time in 17 years of ownership! Spring Lake Yacht Club sailing team friends of my son Lucas (on the tiller) put it up there! Cool. Goosebumps :) (Lucas has changed a bit since this post - http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?1604-Commander-65-quot-Lucky-Dawg-quot&p=17076#post17076 )

Also a couple pix of Lucky Dawg underway on Saturday. Just me and the dogs - steady 12-14 with gusts to 23!

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[Commander227]

Hey Kyle, looking good!
I was just up the street from you in Pentwater last week sailing in the Ensign Nationals. Beautiful country out there.
Mike
C221

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Mike!
Hope you're well. I miss interacting with folks on this site!
Michigan in August is unbeatable. We have some sucky months, but August is so nice.
​A ride on an Ensign out of Northport, NY was the impetus for becoming enamored with the Commander and owning Lucky Dawg! Same beautiful Alberg lines. Just a bit more space. Such beautiful boats.
KW