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Ahoy! I spent some of the past weekend reading the rudder thread in the forum. It is a treasure trove of helpful information and my first major restoration job will be repairing the rudder on my Commander. I'm 79 days from my early launch date and Old Glory needs quite a bit of TLC.

I purchased Commander #274 (Old Glory) 2 days ago after having a thorough marine survey conducted. The rudder has a fiberglass layer over the wood core. The fiberglass layer is visibly damaged and the wood exposed. Looks like she struck something at the bottom of Lake Michigan. In any case, after reading every post on this thread today and exchanging comments with an Ariel owner at the same yard, I'm torn on whether to simply remove the glass and refinish the wood underneath (ok, I choose to be an optimist here) or replace the fiberglass layer after drying/refinishing the wood core. Everything I've read, including Don Casey's book on sailboat repair suggests a wet rudder of wood in the water provides better "neutral buoyancy" than one covered with fiberglass and thus improves performance. But the same sources suggest wet wood is an invitation to problems. So what to do? Our sailing season is seven months and the boat will be in a cradle in indoor heated storage during the cold months.

Greetings to the group. My name is Karl Kuhrman. I am the proud new owner of a 1966 Pearson Commander, Hull # 274, "Old Glory". She is in storage now at Crowley's boat yard in Chicago, IL but will be moored in Montrose Harbor, Chicago, after May 1, 2020.


I have quite a bit of work to do before the sailing season starts. Old Glory did not receive the love she deserves, according to one previous owner. Well, I love old boats and I love a challenge.


I hope to learn from the forum about the nuances of the Ariel's and Commanders. For example, I read trying to fix the coaming can present the DiY-er with a nasty surprise and I've got a coaming separated from the hull. But that's the least of my worries in a rather long list of repairs ahead of this Skipper.


Apart from being Old Glory's new Skipper, I'm father of four little sailors, husband to a loveable land lubber, and best friend to a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever named, Oliver. I'm also handy with building things and repairs.


Happy Sailing!



Karl