Commander #5

[commanderpete]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4647290518

The Pearson Commander is a 26' daysailer/overnighter/weekender designed by noted Naval Architect Carl Alberg. Carl Alberg designed many classic sailboats, including: Pearson Triton, Pearson Ensign, Cape Dory Typhoon, and Alberg 30. Alberg designed boats with full keels, narrow beams and classic looks. And his designs were known for their seaworthiness and well-mannered sailing characteristics. (One Commander was sailed all over the world, and Carl Alberg himself also owned and sailed a Commander.)
The Pearson Commander was produced by Pearson Yachts from the early- to late-1960s, and it is the sistership to the Pearson Ariel (which was also produced during that time). The Commander and Ariel shared the same hull, but the Ariel was orientated more to cruising, with a larger cabin and smaller cockpit, while the Commander emphasized a much bigger cockpit and relatively smaller cabin. In fact the Commander's 9' cockpit is one of its best features because it provides ample room for comfortable daysailing. While basic, the cabin has overnight accommodations for up to 4 people, space for a head (under the v-berth), and a galley sink. The Commander can be viewed as a bigger version of the Pearson Ensign, another classic Alberg design.

This Pearson Commander is a 1964 model and is Hull #5 (yes...Hull #5). It might be the earliest Commander currently in existence. Additionally, it was owned by one family continuously from initial purchase until it was donated to our sailing organization.

This Commander comes with mainsail, genoa, jib, spinnaker and full mooring cover. Auxiliary power is provided by a 7.5 hp Johnson outboard. But it is a vintage boat and is in need of some work. (See "Vehicle Condition" below.)

Pearson boats have a strong ownership communities and the Commander is no exception. More info on Pearson Yachts, Carl Alberg and the Commander is available on the web at:

http://www.pearsonvanguard.homestead...es/comandr.htm

http://pearsoninfo.net/commander/commander.htm

http://www.bway.net/~bogle/commander.html

http://www.alberg30.org/collaborate/PearsonCommander

Additionally, a Google search will probably turn up other sites of interest.

This Vessel was a donation to Planet Hope (www.planethopedc.com), a non-profit organization, to benefit our sailing programs for at-risk youth. It will sold to the highest bidder without reserve.

SPECIFICATIONS
Year: 1964
LOA: 25' 6"
LWL: 18' 5"
Beam: 9'
Draft: 3' 8"
Displacement: 5,100 lbs.
Ballast: 2.700 lbs.

EQUIPMENT
Sails and Rigging:
Mainsail
Genoa
Working Jib
Spinnaker
Spinnaker Pole
Cockpit Winches
Mainsail Winch
Traveller
Standing Rigging

Interior:
V-Berth
Port Berth
Starboard Berth
Head Area under V-Berth
Pump Sink
Folding Table
Full Cushions

Other Equipment:
Johnson 7.5 hp Outboard
Outboard Motor Mount
Mooring Cover
Bow Pulpit

VEHICLE CONDITION
This Pearson Commander actively sailed the Chesapeake Bay for many years and often competed in local races. As mentioned before, she was owned by the same man and his family until her donation to Planet Hope. She has been stored on-land for many years and is now in need of some restoration work.

The hull and bottom look to be in decent condition but she needs new bottom paint. You could opt to paint the hull. Three of the four sails (mainsail, jib and spinnaker) are in good condition and the fourth (genoa) is in average condition. The standing rigging is intact but she will need new running lines. The interior cabin is also intact. The Commander was outfitted with a well in the lazarette for the outboard. This boat has an outboard mount on the stern. You could keep the outboard there or put it back into the well. The outboard has been stored indoors. But it has not been run in some time and you should assume it would need maintenance.

There are four main areas of attention:

Foredeck: This boat has soft spots on the foredeck at the bow area. There are also cracks in the deck where the bow pulpit is attached.

Cockpit Coamings and Tiller: The wooden cockpit coamings are intact but have large lateral cracks and should be reinforced and treated. The tiller has completely deteriorated and needs replacement. Additionally, the metal rubrail is loose along the starboard cockpit side and should be reattached.

Cabin: The cabin cushions are dirty and could benefit from new covers. The current covers have some holes. Also, some of the wood access panels on the cabin floor need some support trim reattached.

Cleaning: Lastly, the boat needs to be cleaned. In fact, the boat is dirtier than the pictures show. (I don't know why that is, but it is.)

There are other dings and scratches from usage that may not show up in the pictures. And you would certainly find other things to work on. For example, the running lights, battery wiring, etc.

In conclusion, this is a 1964 Pearson Commander...perhaps the earliest Commander in existence. And it is interesting to note that this boat was owner by the same person from her purchase in 1964 until her donation last year.

She comes with a nice suite of sails, including spinnaker, outboard, and a full mooring cover. But she is in need of work. You could opt to work on her enough to get her back in the water, or go for a restoration. Either way, she deserves someone who can provide good care.

The Pearson Commander is a classic full-keel daysailer/overnighter/weekender from the draft board of Carl Alberg. With a 9' cockpit, she has lots of space yet still has accommodations for overnights. This boat would be suitable for someone who is looking for a classic and who can provide the care and restoration she needs and deserves. If this does describe you, please do not bid.

All pictures are recent and were taken on May 5, 2006 where the boat is presently located. There are also about 70 pictures for your review posted on the internet at:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mhunsicker1/my_photos

[commanderpete]

This inclinometer allows you to calculate angle of heel to within 1/2 a degree.

[tha3rdman]

Add says earliest hull still in existance

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pears...QQcmdZViewItem

[Commander#5]

Hello everyone, my name is David and I am the proud new owner of this 1964 Commander Hull #5. I couldn't be happier. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading many of your posts and especially lookin at all those photos of your boats.

Thank you all for all for your pictures and for your enthusiam and appreciation for these great classic Alberg designed-Pearson built boats, which truthfully in part inspired me to buy her. I hope I prove to be worthy to join your ranks as new owner and steward to Hull #5.

A special hello here to commanderpete - hope to meet you someday - really enjoy your posts. Best regards to all, I'll keep you all updated on my progress. - David

[c_amos]

Welcome Aboard David!


I was almost afraid when I saw how cheap itr went, that it had gone to be parted out.

Really gald to see you post here, you really did get a great boat.

I would recommend you consider joining the association and buying the manual.

.... oh yea,...... and using the search button....

[Commander#5]

THANK YOU FOR THE WELCOME!! I really feel like the new kid in school here, and it is really nice to be greeted with an instant and friendly welcome. I am still going through all the past posts, gleaning ideas and experiences and advice, and getting a good laugh here too. Love it, and can't get enough! Thanks again for the warm welcome, David

[commanderpete]

Well done. It'll be nice to see #5 come back to life.

We're always happy to tell people how to fix things.

Much easier than working on our own boats

[tha3rdman]

Glad you had got it, I was considering, purchasing it myself and doing the unthinkable, For the price, thats the spinaker pole, the rest is gravy. But thankfully someone else, who has a heart, got her.

[Commander#5]

Hello friends,
Well, I've been silent for a few months, but for a good reason - I've been busy at the boat. Presently I am still working on the interior. True to form, I agonized over the paint colors and layout, and ended up doing my same old signature trial-and-error-takes-4-coats-and-then-some method of coming up with a suitable scheme that was aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

I swore to myself when I started this project that I was NOT going to waste my time and money by OVER thinking and second guessing my every move, but alas, a leopard cannot change his spots. Anyway, the interior is now wrapping up very nicely. I have painted every square inch of it, and also have a few coats of varnish on all the teak after much needed sanding and resealing.
Seems like every floor and settee hatch's sills have popped loose and not one can be trusted to walk or sit on without falling in. I have purposely left all repairs until after I had at least one coat of paint on everything just so I would make myself be more careful when going about the repairs at the risk of messing up two projects at a time. On my first boat, I had to learn the hard lesson that decently finished is for the most part better than "perfect".

I have, however, resigned myself to the fact that I won't be going sailing this year, so my plan now is to take the winter to order and replace the long lead-time items. These include new couchins for the interior, a new custom made tiller, refurbishing the sails (being sent to Sail Care up in PA for thorough reconditioning), and of course the usual new lexans for the portlights (all four are shot).

The boat came with a full size cover, and I will wrap her up tightly in late November I suppose. I hope to have the interior done completely so that I can start to work on the exterior hull next spring. I was originally going to have it professionally sprayed, but I have since seen a few very nice brush jobs using two-part poly. Any recommendations? As always, much thanks to you all for all your inspiration and help. Keep posting your pictures - I really love seeing your success stories! - Dave F

[Commander#5]

Hello again. I've managed to make it over to the boat several evenings this week. The painting on the interior is going very well now. After some experimentation, I've come up with a scheme that looks great and really highlights the curves. For the coachroof ceilings, I am using Interlux single-part poly Brightside Off White, flattened out 3-to-1 with Brightside Flattener. The reason I opted for a flat finish is because the many imperfections of the glasswork stick out like sore thumbs after my first finish coat with the straight-out-of-the-can gloss. The flat white is still plenty reflective and that is de rigeur for such a small cabin. For the topsides between the ceilings and the longitudinal shelves, I've used a contrasting Brightside Grand Banks Beige. Using both brush and roller, it is amazing what a great satin effect can be had with even my meagre painting skills and these otherwise unforgiving and messy paints. Below the shelves and for the settee horizontals, back to Off White. The forepeak lockers, chain locker, sole flanks, settee verticals, the two cabin bulkheads, cockpit lockers and bilges, were all finished in the flat Grand Banks Beige. For the formica faux-wood surfaces, I took the advice of a few of you and scuffed them up real good and painted them all. Finally, the fold-down table top and the small galley top, I used an unflattened Gloss White. When I reinstall the newly varnished teak, its all going to look great. I can't wait and I really enjoy taking my time and doing a nice job. I can't think of anything else I would rather do - except go sailing! I'll get some pics up soon.

[Commander#5]

HI, Another weekend gone, another few coats of paint on the interior. She's looking fine. As usual, (whenever you get into your work in a marina) I had a stranger stop to admire my little Commander and ask what I was doing. This time though, he was a true admirer of our little boats, and he said he had a 35' wooden Shields sloop. He gave me a few tips, one of which was to eighty-six the rotted original built-up wood winch pedestals and replace them with some bronze pedestals from Spartan or the like. I rather think that is a good idea, and I notice from some of you-all's pics that pearson went to this arrangement not long after '64 when #5 was built. Any chance anyone knows anybody with a set of those later original metal pedestals from a Commander or Ariel for sale? Please let me know!

The other good tip was that after he saw my interior painted in the Grand Banks Beige, we were talking about the old traditional colors we both liked. When I told him that I had a fondness for Buff colors but was unable to find exactly the right tint, he referred me to Kriby Paints; a small New England company that makes marine paints and has a great Buff color. Anyone heard of these guys or bought from them?

One last question...the metal nose chainplate/tang for the forestay on my boat is badly pitted and could use re-chroming. Is this worthwhile, or am I opening up a can of worms unstepping the mast and having the peice redone? Chances are the rig needs an overhaul too (or at least a good inspection). What kind of problems do we typically have with the rig that I should be aware of? Thanks for your help guys. David on C-005.

[Bill]

David, Please post some photos. This is the "Gallery" forum, not the "Technical" forum

[ebb]

David, Try 'Search' top of page here.
Kirby Paint was mentioned by Rester and Goodwin back in March of '05 but nothing substancial. It is a small privately owned company that makes traditional paint that people like, which is reason enough to try them out.

Don't know that 'pitting' is solved by rechroming. To my limited knowledge the stem fitting can wear badly, the holes elongate, but you don't hear of the bronze. corroding. Bristol Bronze will cast you a new one if necessary.

There's a new outfit doing repros that Bill mentioned here but I cannot bring them up with the Search button. And I'm unsure they make stem fittings. See you over on the tech page.

[Bill]

There's a new outfit doing repros that Bill mentioned here but I cannot bring them up with the Search button. And I'm unsure they make stem fittings. See you over on the tech page.

No, they don't make that hardware. Prue Foundry in MA was the place (once upon a time . . .).

The "new outfit" is Historical Arts and Castings. They are producing the hardware that Rostand made for Pearson. In fact, they are using the Rostand name in their advertisments. See the thread "Original Pearson Hardware:"

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussi...ead.php?t=1269

[commanderpete]

Keep plugging away there Dave.

Don't think its worthwhile to mess with the stem head fitting. Check if the holes are elongated, as ebb mentioned.

I wouldn't pull the mast either, unless you plan to change the rigging or add lights, etc. Might want to have somebody haul you up to check the spreader brackets for cracks.

Winch bases. Some Commanders had no winches/bases at all. Most had molded fiberglass bases. Page 108 of the Manual shows a drawing with wooden bases. Maybe only the early Commanders had them. Don't think I've seen pictures of any.