Commander #65 "Lucky Dawg"

[Commander 147]

Newfoundmetals portlights going in. No more freakin' leaks. Small mod to the current openings to accommodate the 5x15 ellipses. http://www.newfoundmetals.com/portli...nless-standard In a perfect world, they would manufacture a Commander match, (they make a 5x12 oval that would be perfect... if it was 3" longer. Regardless, I am really pleased with these masterpieces of sturdy, stainless beauty!

The heavy duty template makes it a cake walk to drill precisely and cut perfect openings. Itching to install, but I am epifanes-ing the teak spacers, so it will be in the next week or two to show the final product.

Okay Kyle


I am 100% envious now of your new port lights!!!!! Those are going to add a major upgrade to your boats appearance. Not to mention the huge improvement in function.


I really wanted to do those on Destiny but when I though about all of the other work I still needed to do on her I decided not to do it. After all I really want to sail my boat and not just restore her!


Kudos Kyle, I can't wait to see them installed.

[Lucky Dawg]

Cover installed. Nice upgrade over body, er, sandbags in the forepeak.

Also, I have the cardboard and 1/8" luan templates for this piece if anyone wants 'em.

[Commander 147]

Very nice!

What I find amazing is how much time a project like this takes. But it not only looks good it also serves a useful purpose.

[mbd]

Looks great Kyle! Awesome! How did you end up attaching the cutout to the main piece?

[Lucky Dawg]

Thanks! Stainless latch, and a cleat at the bottom. (Back is not as fancy smooth as the front!)

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Elliot,
They are there to balance the boat on her lines. Check this thread: http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussi...vice-and-input

I wouldn't have noticed visually, but apparently Lucky Dawg used to squat aft a bit. What I did notice was that under sail, the lazarette was constantly awash with about 5 gallons of water and at rest, water pooled at the aft toe rails rather than flowing to / going down the scuppers. I experimented with adding more and more until finally I had 240 lbs of tube sand (about 20 bucks at Home Depot) in the forepeak. That eliminated both of those issues. Since they are used for winter pick-up truck traction (I presume) they are triple wrapped and less likely to spring a leak than construction sandbags. It doesn't happen often, but on occasion, Lucky Dawg can time waves so she wallops the water with her bow pretty joltingly. The sandbags are heavy, but snuggled in there very gently - if you can say that of 240lbs of mass. I would worry about the cinder blocks only because they have sharp corners - points of contact with the hull being more concentrated vs. over a long smooth sandbag line.

[elliotr]

My thoughts exactly. I'm going to be removing those cinderblocks asap and replacing them with sandbags. I was in 6 foot waves last September in Lake Michgian. I didn't think about it at the time but my god, the though of those cinderblocks coming loose and jumping around scares the hell out of me now.

[Lucky Dawg]

So my stainless rub rail got abused this past season when a bow line hopped out of a chock and my rub rail r u b b e d on metal dock parts to an ugly degree. Let's just say that the affixing screw heads were rubbed completely flat. Not quite done with the rehab yet, but these videos have been great for getting abused stainless back to a mirror finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTxR8LB9iek part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc1iY08HU7w part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWy9awGv6so part 3

[Lucky Dawg]

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

[Commander 147]

[QUOTE=Lucky Dawg;26987]These would roll out prettier in the summer sunshine, but... I'll take some interior next visit.


Kyle


Man you make me wish I had bit the bullet and put those in Destiny. That looks fabulous and no more leaks is only a minor plus when you consider how young that makes her look!!!! Your mistress has a whole new sexiness about her!

[paulsproesser]

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

Attachment 9436 Attachment 9437 Attachment 9438 Attachment 9439

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 ?

[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??

[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.