I'm the proud new owner of "Unholey" Pearson Commander Hull #93. I picked this up in February with no mast for $800 in Bermuda. I have no experience sailing but went in on it with a long-time sailor so I could learn the ropes. While I'm clueless when it comes to sailing I'm pretty good with my hands so hoping to get this baby in the water soon.
Background to the name - last year it came off its mooring and the transom was used as a battering ram in to the side of the rocks and had a nice big hole in it. After some serious fibreglassing she floated again and became known as Unholey. No without a mast and being Canadian I was thinking No-mast-EH?
I've done some minor stuff to it (refinished some of hte wood) and put some paint on the cabin and cockpit. See before and after pictures.
Now the next step is to do the whole mast replacement with no experience with rigging, this should be fun!
My pictures are apparently too big to post here but I'll figure it out.
Bermuda, pretty cool. How did you end up there? How did your boat end up there? Do you hang out with Mike Bloomberg on weekends?
Replacing the mast is going to be a challenge. I'm sure everyone here is interested in trying to help you. What parts of the Commander standing rigging do you have and are going to try and use, sails, boom, etc....?
But first lets see some pictures! You can re-size them free on-line using a service like http://photobucket.com/ .
Yes,, finding a mast is going to take some luck.
Maybe the same kind of luck ole 93 seems to have in finding the likes of you and your partrner.
I think shipping a mast from the states is out of the question.
So imco you have to search in the islands. There must be plenty of marinas.
Maybe there are boats being parted out, masts and rigging are often saved. There may be a collection
of them in the back of the lot anywhere they repair boats.
The mast is a approx 3.5 X 6 oval 1/8" wall almag extrusion about 30' long. Weighs about 100lbs. A substantial extrusion.
Pearson used the same extrusion imco on a number of their models. Notably the Pearson Triton. You might consider the same by finding a longer mast and cutting it to length.
Keep in mind where the spreaders are in the substitute, maybe they can be used also.
It's easy enough to fabricate a mast base. But the masthead fitting is also a challenge you have to put into your calculations.
My A-338 had a new one professionally fabricated by a spar maker out of aluminum $$$.
The discussion pages here will help you get a visual fix on what is needed. You need be patient with the SEARCH feature.
I sometimes have had better luck using google to find something in our archives here.
Any sail rags in Bermuda? Another place to look and find phone numbers.
Welcome UNHOLEY!! I have a source for used mast, sail and etc. in Georgia. Many containers move out of Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL to the islands. You may have to beat feet to find a business in Bermuda that would let your mast hop a ride from GA to Bermuda. I think if you could something local you would dollars ahead. The Ariel / Commander carry a hefty mast for a 26ft boat so even if you found a slightly smaller extrusion you would be fine, it makes little difference to a rigger what the length of new wire is, the expense really is the fittings and labor. When making the new rigging be sure to record the lengths so you will have a record since it may end up being a custom rig. With the price of scrap metal up I would began searching in earnest for a replacement as the supply for used is shrinking. Many yards are cleaning up their old junk since the price is up.
How does the rudder look since I assume it took a beating as well, may be a good time to inspect the shaft, pins and bolts, as well the fiberglass tube.
Looks like I've found a replacement mast. Measures 29 feet 10 inches (without the masthead/mast step) with a cross section of 5 inches by 3 1/4 inches. I think its a bit light but we're only doing some light crusing with the thing so we're hoping it will work and comes for the low low price of free as well. I've attached some pictures of the work so far. The rudder looked to be in good shape, had one of my welder friends refab the tiller base. The mast comes with the masthead and maststep.
I've sent all the measurements in to riggingonly.com and they said they'll work on a quote for me. I've asked my mathematician friend to calculate what the proper spreader length should be and he said I could use the old ones on there as they pretty well bisect the angle for the upper shroud to where the spreader attaches and goes to the deck which is I think the most important part. Its just missing the spreader bracket/base so I'm trying to figure out where to get one of those made/bought. I'll post pictures of the mast/spreaders.
Today I spent most of the day trying to put together a shopping list for the standing rigging. I imagine this would be a lot quicker for a seasoned sailor who knows what everything is called . But I'm definitely making progress after reading a lot of the forums. I'm assuming that Riggingonly.com or westmarine.com will end up coming up with the same shopping list but I just wanted to research what I needed and why (which eventually led me to saving money by realising what a Sta-lok terminal is and that it can be reused).
In the interest of saving money there were some old Sta-Lok fittings that I'm positive I can reuse (they all have a 3/8th pin diameter and have 3/16ths wire). Unfortunately took the measurements of the wire and although it looks brand new its a bit too short for my purposes, I'm assuming the boat the mast came off of didn't have as high of a cabin as the Commander has but seems to be short by a few feet. But atleast I can save some money on using some of the old turnbuckles and sta-lok eye and fork terminals. Can also cut down some of the old upper shrouds and use them as lowers and may get lucky enough to use the old backstay wires for the forestay (I think just barely long enough).
I went to a few boat yards but haven't been able to locate a pair of spreader bases or spreaders themselves. I've had a look at Mephisto Cat's posts (his gallery specificlly #87 & 88 I think) and that's exactly what I need (even a little bit less complicated because the the mast sides don't have the curve). I've searched all over the forums but couldn't find anything in regards to the length or diameter of the spreaders. I know that the proper length will depend on the height of the mast but I've had a friend do the math and he said that even 2-4 inches won't make a huge difference in terms of bisecting the angle (a change of no more than +/- 2 degrees) where the outer shroud connects to the spreader so recommended just using the length of what was used on other Commanders. I'm not sure if you could point me in the direction of the post that goes over the spreader lengths/diameters? Or even better if you could point me to a place to get replacement base/spreaders. Or would you recommend me trying to find a welder on the island to do this for me?
I've uploaded some photos of the mast/mast step/masthead on photobucket (still haven't figured out how to shrink the size of the photos so I can post here
Nice looking boat! Even without her original rig she seems a good find. Your new mast surely will work out for you. Looks like you will be sailing soon.
To post a photo from Photobucket copy and paste the IMG code from the "Share this Photo" box on Photobucket. Here, I give it a try.
Commander 93, That is a pretty hefty looking mast, I'm sure it will be plenty strong. The spreader brackets are really no big deal. If you have the spreaders which are only aluminum pipe your halfway there. Take them to a welding shop and have them make a socket type tube that the pipe will slip into about 3 inches long would be good, have that welded to some flat stock with ears on it so that it can be thru bolted to your mast and your done. Of course drill a hole to pin the pipe in the socket. 1/4" plate would be plenty and .125 wall pipe for the socket piece. Have them made from stainless steel. You might try searching spreaders or spreader bases here, someone made a nice set from stainless here, try Ariel 109 thread, Also try Rico thread I think he did this as well, also think about using a sleeve to put into the mast to keep it from crushing when you tighten the bolts as well as pressure that the spreaders will put on the flat sided mast, also done on this site In the photo posted that appears to be a Triton your "parked" next to, that is the basic design on that boat. If the measure would make you feel better I have two mast down that I can pull measurements for you if needed.
As a note shrouds and stays aren't really a place to cut corners on, one bad and you risk the whole rig in the drink. Reuse of ends are fine if they check out good but on the cable that is used for who knows how long I would replace all of it. it's money well spent IMHO. Cheers
overall spreader length is: 33.25" X 1.25" Aluminum pipe .125 wall. spreader base has a 2" socket for the pipe. spr. base is 6" x 3" and uses 1/2" bolts to mount. The mast is 30 feet and the spreader height is 14 feet
I'm glad Carl beat me to the mast / spreader dimensions... And it all sounds familiar! He is also right on with his insight into the brackets. If you can do Stainless great - but welded aluminum plate / tube should be more than adecquate - much better than the original aluminum CASTINGS...
The spreader pipe can be simple off-the-shelf material. There is no need for anything fancy. (You'll be better off if you paint it...) Another bit you'll need is to do something at the ends in order to secure the wire (but allow for a bit of up/down movement) a short plug of aluminum (as original) or hard plastic rod to plug the end and shaped for the purpose will be fine.
As far as the spreader brackets - you can fabricate some locally (probably cheaper), or look here for some castings (Currently listed at $68 each): http://www.drmarine.com/products.asp?cat=431
Ph 508 644-3001
With the original stout mast extrusion there have been no issues with mast weakness at the attachment points. Depending on how light your extrusion is may want to include a compression sleeve at least at the lower bracket bolt where the lower shouds are bolted... But having looked at your pictures - it seems that you should be fine...
Thanks Rico - I'm sure I'll never get as far as you did with your beauty, but I'm happy with where she's at right now. I'm just going over the math for the spreader lengths and just have a question on the concept of how the upper shrouds come down to the chainplate from the spreader.
If I were to drop a plumb line from the end of the spreader to the deck (based on the math I've done) there would be about 5 3/4" distance from where the plumb hits the deck to the centre of the upper shroud chainplate attached to the deck. Does that sound about right?
The reason I ask is because based on the research I've done they say the angle above and below the end of the spreader should be the same but if I use the 33.25" spreaders that means the angle above the spreader is 79 degrees and the angle below is about 92 degrees.
When you look at your upper shroud coming down from the edge of the spreader to the deck does it angle slightly outwards when it meets the deck. If that's the case then I think I'll just go with 33.25"? I'm not sure if I'm over thinking this (I'm sure I am ). Thanks again to you both for all your help. I think after I sort the length I won't be bothering you all anymore!
No bother with the questions... Sometimes it is that last question that you almost did NOT ask which saves you the biggest hedaches!
If I were to drop a plumb line from the end of the spreader to the deck (based on the math I've done) there would be about 5 3/4" distance from where the plumb hits the deck to the centre of the upper shroud chainplate attached to the deck. Does that sound about right?
Sounds right... (I think...) - The upper shrouds are 'almost' vertical below the spreaders with the end of the spreaders being INBOARD of the toe rail. I'd say that your 92 degree angle between the horizontal spreader and the shroud as it goes to the deck would look about right... but we need to be thinking about the same angles - and we may not be...
Consistent with the above; If you measured the angle from a horizontal surface (imaginary) on deck, the wire would make an 88 deg angle as it rose (getting closer) to the tip of the spreader...
I make the distinction because I think I understand you up to the point where you say: When you look at your upper shroud coming down from the edge of the spreader to the deck does it angle slightly outwards when it meets the deck.
To that I'd say: no. It angles inwards slightly towards the mast top as it rises... Does this make sense?
Anyway - maybe thi picture will help... ?
Note that the angle between the spreader as it heads to the masthead is definitely much more acute (has to be) as the shroud attaches to the mast iself... I do not see how these could be the same. Maybe I'm missing something?
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