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Thread: Commander 227

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Commander 227

    My wife and I picked up this Commander in Milwaukee a few weeks ago and are doing a "quick and dirty" make over to get her in the water ASAP.
    The sailing season is way too short here in Minnesota to dally. Over the winter we will give her a proper bottom job, repaint the freeboard and decks, install an Atomic 4 to replace the O.B. and build some cabnets in the cuddy. Until then; The glass under all 4 of the life line stanchions was damaged and the core was rotten. The bow pulpit was loose with minor rot. Sailing on inland lakes the life lines, bow and stern pulpits are not necessary and I think they wreck the pretty lines of the Commander so they will not be going back on. The head pump out and the cowl vent looked like they were never sealed and the core around them was very rotten. The cabin top was also quite soft and I think the forward hatch also wrecks the lines so we have to recore most of the cabin top. As we are going to be repainting the decks over the winter I'm not to concerned with preserving the original nonskid so I am doing most of the repairs from the top. I step drilled and filled nearly all the old hardware holes as We will be replacing most of the original hardware. Amazingly, the core around the chain plates is dry. The cuddy had to be completly sanded down as there was a badly peeling paint job inside. I'll post pics in allittle while.
    Attached Images          
    Last edited by Commander227; 06-17-2008 at 08:11 AM. Reason: add pics

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Some "before" pics

    Some "before" pics
    Attached Images    

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    San Francisco - or Abroad
    Posts
    430
    Congratulations!!

    It is always nice to see more Commanders being rejuvenated!

    I agree with you on the Pushpit, stanchions & lifelines. They are not complementary to Alberg's lines. The Mephisto Cat appears to have been fortunate to come out of the factory without any of these apendages. It does have a nice period pulpit (much like yours) and I do like the look of that...

    Very nice work so far... Looking forward to more pictures. I am interested to see how your elimination of the forward hatch turns out. What will you do for ventilation / Light?
    Last edited by Rico; 06-23-2008 at 08:57 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Asst. Vice Commodore, NorthEast Fleet, Commander Division (Ret.) Brightwaters, N.Y.
    Posts
    1,823
    Very good!

    The Commander goes Commando

    Somebody around here would probably want to buy that pushpit

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Forsyth GA
    Posts
    396
    Commander 227, congratulations on your great find. You are very fortunate to purchase such a nice vessel. I would be very interested in purchasing your pulpit and possibly your pushpit. I'm working on an Ariel. Please keep me in mind if you desire to sell, I'm in no hurry. Thanks. Carl
    My Email address is listed in profile

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    227 gets wet

    We launched 227 yesterday and got in a couple of sails. Love the look and feel of her underway. I thought I could get by this season with the old main sail as it looked pretty good on the lawn, but it is pretty blown out and illshaped. The boat has more weather helm than I would like but I think its just the old sails draft being so far aft. I guess I gotta order one up. I have a new roller furling head sail but have not had a chance to build the furler yet. I'm not much of a fan of the outboard in the motor well, without being able to turn the outboard you really don't have any rudder in reverse. Can't wait till I can install the inboard.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Coach roof

    Heres the hatchless coach roof with new balsa core. I'm not sure if I want to reinstall the grab rails, I think I prefer the clean look.Name:  phpYCJSVVAM.jpg
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Camden, NC
    Posts
    283
    Commander 227,
    Thank you for your prompt reply and for offering up your original clamshell vents and any of the rubber seal that you can salvage. That would be great if you would include the hinge sets too. One of my hinges has a break in it, but is serviceable. Both of them are a bit worn and loose, perhaps needing a larger pin?....., but if yours are in decent shape, I'll find them a new home on Ceili, #256. Here's my address: Chance Smith, 472 N. Trotman Road, Camden, NC, 27921. Thank you much for your assistance. Understand the wood screws will work for the winch base onto the wood islands, how about attaching the base of the islands to the deck? Would you do the same, use wood screws up from the underside of the deck, into the base? The only other way I see in doing it, would be to epoxy studs into the base, but then that would make hole alignment and drilling very tricky. Also wanted to mention, your work is remarkable, not to mention the berthing slips at your marina! I have already identified your aft profile of the coamings that you did, and will be doing much the same, much more shapely than the standard round down profile. Did you use teak or genuine mahogany? Where you able to find a single board that was wide enough to accomodate the height that is unique to Commanders?

    EBB,
    Yes, Capt. Bill did mention the Pearson seals, but said that an order would have to be made, and for that to happen, there would have to be enough interest from the association / members to justify the cost. I'm only (1), and I think the minimum order from who ever the supplier, is quite large. I have seen the other seal that you mention and that was identified by others but I really want to use that which Pearson utilized. The alternative, IMHO is not really a decent replacement.
    Thanks for your input and motivation. The two of you are incredible classic plastic owners with outstanding talent!
    Respectfully,
    Chance
    Respectfully,
    Chance Smith
    (Formerly) Sea Sprite 23 #760 (Heritage)
    (Formerly) Commander #256 (Ceili)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Camden, NC
    Posts
    283

    Many Thanks!

    Michael,
    Received the parcel this evening. Thank you kindly for your assistance in my efforts to bring "Ceili" back to life. If you ever venture down to this area, please give me a shout, your welcome to stay with us.
    Respectfully,
    Chance Smith
    (Formerly) Sea Sprite 23 #760 (Heritage)
    (Formerly) Commander #256 (Ceili)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Orinda, California
    Posts
    2,311

    Post SolidNav Electric Outboard

    SolidNav has a line of electric motors for boats. Svend's in Alameda, CA has the "Traveler" model on display . . . an outboard. Stats in the owner's manual indicate an equivalent 4-hp from 3.0 kw. Here's the pitch:

    "SolidNav proudly announces a real electric option for sailboats without an existing inboard, pontoon boats and for small craft that require reliable outboard performance. Our long shaft and remote engine controls make docking enjoyable without the dread of lethal oil sheens and clouds of foul smelling fumes. Actual outboard construction and solid frame construction position the traveler as the only choice for real world applications.

    $2,499*"


    http://www.solidnav.com/traveler.html

    From my limited observation, the shaft and head should fit in the A-C well. Not sure, however, about the clearance distance from the aft bulkhead in the lazarette, as I did not have access to a measuring device.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Mars PMAC Motor

    Bill,
    I believe this has the same electric motor as I am planning to install as an Inboard, the Mars PMAC. the controller is smaller (150 amp) than I am planning on using (250 amp) . I have seen similar models that have the Mars motor bolted to the Tohatsu 6hp lower unit and cowl. The SolidNav Explorer model is also the same motor with a smaller controller as the ThunderStruck kit and is a neat little package, but over $3.000. more expensive.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    San Rafael, CA
    Posts
    3,621

    solidnav OB travelor

    For me there has to be more than a web site and hype to become interested in an electric outboard. There is no spread to their presentation. Curious lack of testimonial, photo and video support. This being a three years in development American product where are the long legs, installation and spray shots? Where's the action?

    At least the price is comparable to gas OBs. How about the wear and tear.
    How about a demo on a particular market target sailboat? Weight issue (batteries) might keep the motor out of the race crowd. It's not for extended cruising unless you can make juice as you use it. I'd like to see it demoed in more water than marina parking.

    It's unavoidable that the electric OB will be compared to the gas OB on more than the green factor and the price.
    You have to incude the dedicated battery bank in the cost comparison. The battery issue, weight and room and CHARGING, has to be addressed realistically by the company. imco

    Or do we have to wait for Practical Sailor to rate it?
    (Practical Sailor now features unrated untested new products. Being a cynic - and certain there must be hundreds of new products coming on market every week - I wonder if the featured manufacturer is paying a fee for the privilege of the exposure. It's good to know of new products but not with an implied approval stamp from a product testing "we take no advertising" magazine.) P.S. should be doing a comparison test soon.

    There needs to be third party feedback.
    Last edited by ebb; 12-10-2008 at 08:38 AM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Brooksville, FL
    Posts
    720

    Thumbs up Excellent, serious progress is being made

    Commander 227 can you post some close up pictures of the keel where you cut out for the prop and both ends of the prop shaft tube? I'm very interested in seeing what that area looks like.

    Have you decided on all of the components for the elec. drive yet? I assume you are still going with the Mars brushless motor, Sevcon PMAC 48 volt controller, Sevcon DC/DC converter to power the boat's 12 volt systems. And what about the charging system? Do you plan to incorporate solar cells or wind generator to help with charging or will you use just shore power. If shore power what charger are you using? Did you decide on a throttle mechanisim?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Plugging away

    Pic#1. White oak header and upper bulkheads glassed in. (Wow, did the boys @ Pearson know how to make Formica stick to bulkheads!! It took forever to chip that stuff off.)
    Pic#2&3. Pretty bulkheads ready to glass in.
    Pic#4. Bored hole in keel for stern tube.
    Pic#5. Outboard well glassed on inside.
    Attached Images          

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Excelsior, Minnesota
    Posts
    326

    Stock piling parts

    The goodies are starting to arrive!
    Pic # 1. (clockwise) 15a, 48v electronic charger, Mars motor, Contactor switch, Sevcon Millipak controller, 200a fuse and 48v-12v converter.
    pic #2. Shaft log, G-10 for a stern tube and timing belt pulleys for the reduction drive.
    Attached Images    

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