Frenna
10-20-2009, 09:10 AM
Hi all,
I am in the process of purchasing Commander #231, currently Astrolabe out of Poulsbo, WA. She will end up a few miles away on Bainbridge Island.
I have previously owned a Cheoy Lee offshore 31, and currently own a Cheoy Lee Rhodes Reliant 40' yawl. Both are similar vintage to the Commander.
The reason for the purchase is the 40' yawl is on the hard awaiting a major overhaul, and has been since I picked her up some years ago. Since then my offspring count has grown from 1 boy to 3 boys, ages 9,5,2.
Since I am in the residential architecture/construction business, and times are, shall we say, sub-prime, I decided that the boys might be in college before I am ready to launch the yawl, so I had better get something in the water to train them in. I have a 470 racing dinghy too, and have had my oldest out on it last summer to good effect, but its not the kind of boat for wife/kids/camping. The family rule is nobody goes on the 470 that cannot pass a swimming test.
The Commander should be perfect. Good looking (a must for me), stable, large cockpit, easy rigging for rest of family to handle. I have sailed on one out of Chebeague Island, Maine in years past (might have been #126, not sure) so I know they sail well.
Attached are a few "as found" snaps. She is currently moored on a buoy. She looks a bit tired in these pictures, and will certainly need a full repaint, but I was surprised to see how sound she was otherwise. Appears never to have had stanchions, and the deck seems to be free of any soft spots or delamination. That was a relief. Minimum of hairline gelcoat cracks around fittings on deck, etc, but previous paintwork may have dealt with them.
The interior was redone at some point in the past by a previous owner (not the current one) and some interesting and well made storage provisions were added. I will post pictures when I can get down there with a wide angle lens. The bilge and other areas are relatively clean and dry, which leads me to hope that things will be fairly sound under the waterline.
My plan is to get her out of the water and under cover on my property. Looking to find a cheap but adequate trailer to modify for the job or build a cradle and flatbed to my house. There is a marine crane near her mooring that will do the lifting out part. I have been scouring the photo threads for ideas.
Once she is secure and close by I will plan the attack. I would love to get her looking fine, but I don't want to miss out on next summer's season to do it. I may settle for just going over the critical stuff until then, such as replacing through-hulls, checking rigging, rudder, etc. Save the pretty stuff for next year.
For the record, #231 does have the bridge deck, and is set up with the outboard well. I have not seen the rudder yet, so cannot comment on the aperture status.
I will post more pics as things progress.
-Frank
I am in the process of purchasing Commander #231, currently Astrolabe out of Poulsbo, WA. She will end up a few miles away on Bainbridge Island.
I have previously owned a Cheoy Lee offshore 31, and currently own a Cheoy Lee Rhodes Reliant 40' yawl. Both are similar vintage to the Commander.
The reason for the purchase is the 40' yawl is on the hard awaiting a major overhaul, and has been since I picked her up some years ago. Since then my offspring count has grown from 1 boy to 3 boys, ages 9,5,2.
Since I am in the residential architecture/construction business, and times are, shall we say, sub-prime, I decided that the boys might be in college before I am ready to launch the yawl, so I had better get something in the water to train them in. I have a 470 racing dinghy too, and have had my oldest out on it last summer to good effect, but its not the kind of boat for wife/kids/camping. The family rule is nobody goes on the 470 that cannot pass a swimming test.
The Commander should be perfect. Good looking (a must for me), stable, large cockpit, easy rigging for rest of family to handle. I have sailed on one out of Chebeague Island, Maine in years past (might have been #126, not sure) so I know they sail well.
Attached are a few "as found" snaps. She is currently moored on a buoy. She looks a bit tired in these pictures, and will certainly need a full repaint, but I was surprised to see how sound she was otherwise. Appears never to have had stanchions, and the deck seems to be free of any soft spots or delamination. That was a relief. Minimum of hairline gelcoat cracks around fittings on deck, etc, but previous paintwork may have dealt with them.
The interior was redone at some point in the past by a previous owner (not the current one) and some interesting and well made storage provisions were added. I will post pictures when I can get down there with a wide angle lens. The bilge and other areas are relatively clean and dry, which leads me to hope that things will be fairly sound under the waterline.
My plan is to get her out of the water and under cover on my property. Looking to find a cheap but adequate trailer to modify for the job or build a cradle and flatbed to my house. There is a marine crane near her mooring that will do the lifting out part. I have been scouring the photo threads for ideas.
Once she is secure and close by I will plan the attack. I would love to get her looking fine, but I don't want to miss out on next summer's season to do it. I may settle for just going over the critical stuff until then, such as replacing through-hulls, checking rigging, rudder, etc. Save the pretty stuff for next year.
For the record, #231 does have the bridge deck, and is set up with the outboard well. I have not seen the rudder yet, so cannot comment on the aperture status.
I will post more pics as things progress.
-Frank