- Welcome to Ariel & Commander Owners.
Ariel & Commander Owners
Recent posts
#61
General/Off-Topic / Sad News - Bill (Ron) Phelon h...
Last post by Bill II - March 06, 2024, 01:28:59 AMHello Ariel and Commander friends.
Some of you may already know that my dad, Bill Phelon, had been fighting a losing battle with late stage IV colon cancer since his diagnosis around June of 2022.
Unfortunately, after a long fight he died yesterday peacefully and among friends.
He put a lot of time and effort into helping to grow and maintain the Ariel/Commander association and we're hoping there is someone in the community who would be interested in taking things over and continuing the legacy.
Please let me know if you are interested, or if you might know someone who is.
Thank you,
Bill
Some of you may already know that my dad, Bill Phelon, had been fighting a losing battle with late stage IV colon cancer since his diagnosis around June of 2022.
Unfortunately, after a long fight he died yesterday peacefully and among friends.
He put a lot of time and effort into helping to grow and maintain the Ariel/Commander association and we're hoping there is someone in the community who would be interested in taking things over and continuing the legacy.
Please let me know if you are interested, or if you might know someone who is.
Thank you,
Bill
#62
Technical / has anyone ever hung a 9.9 off...
Last post by sinbin - December 07, 2023, 04:27:29 PMHi.
Sorry to take so long to answer. I've never considered it difficult to operate the controls on the outboard. I've taken it out once or twice a month for 29 years now. First in the SF Bay and then in Monterey Bay. Conservatively, I figure I've put over 100NM per year on her. Do the math. In my old age, I turn the motor off, put her in reverse and let her hang in the water for the rest of the sail while I have a nice lunch. I'm mostly a single hander and my crew is a great Nautico tiller pilot.
Sorry to take so long to answer. I've never considered it difficult to operate the controls on the outboard. I've taken it out once or twice a month for 29 years now. First in the SF Bay and then in Monterey Bay. Conservatively, I figure I've put over 100NM per year on her. Do the math. In my old age, I turn the motor off, put her in reverse and let her hang in the water for the rest of the sail while I have a nice lunch. I'm mostly a single hander and my crew is a great Nautico tiller pilot.
#63
Technical / Deck joint-Who, What and When
Last post by Rob Rotondo - October 31, 2023, 07:35:30 PMThank you Scott. I will look up Ebb's stuff. I would post a few pictures but I'm not sure how 
#64
Technical / Deck joint-Who, What and When
Last post by Scott Galloway - October 30, 2023, 10:57:36 PMThe two bulkheads that define the forward end of the main salon and the aft end of the V berth area on my boat (Ariel #330) are both made of plywood. In 2004, I removed the standing rig and the original badly corroded chainplates. Over the years, leaks at the chainplate slots had caused water damage to the deck at the chainplate slots and at the top of the bulkheads and also to the bulkheads where the bolts holes penetrated the bulkheads.
I enlarged the bolt holes in the bulkheads and augured out the bad wood between the upper and lower laminations of the deck, I then filled these areas with epoxy and or fiberglass. I also removed all soft wood in the bulkheads and repaired these areas with fiberglass. I purchased new 306 stainless steel chainplates and bolts and installed them. The new bolt holes were drilled throug the enlarged epoxy or fiberglass filled holes, so there is no plywood to bolt contact. Also, the top of those two bulkheads on my boat were not taped to the underside of the deck, so I did that as well.
With the help of a professional, the strong back beneath the mast on my boat was rebuilt at the same time. I have documented the stong back project elsewhere in this forum. Also, you can visit my webpage on that project. That web page provides photo documentation of the strong back project: http://www.solopublications.com/sailarir.htm.
My strong back upgrade was unpopular with some contributors to this forum, but in my opinion and in the opinion fo the professional who designed and completed the project, it was the right solution for the problem that my boat was experiencing. It has been 19 years since that work was completed, and the reinforced stongback has performed very well in the Monterey Bay and Pacific Ocean environments where I sail my boat.
I have not experienced soft wood in the port or starboard V berth shelves or in the port side storage cabinets, So I can't say for certain what kind of wood those shelve are made of, but I have assumed that are also mode of plywood.
By the way, I have taken photos beneath the deck of cabin sole, which demonstrate that the plywood used in that area is labeled as AC plywood and not as marine plywood. (Please see attached photo.) When I removed some of the formica covering the bulkhead at the forward end of the main salon, I discovered prominent voids in the plywood, So if the top edges of your bulkheads are not sealed in some way, water entering that area may find its way down through the voids in the plywood. This could result in more than cosmetic damage to the bulkheads.
I also removed and re-bedded the the rub rail and re-bedded the hull desk joint in 2002 shortly after purchasing the boat. That was a major project that took a number of weeks. A prior owner had removed the original caulk and replaced it with what appeared to be silicon caulk. I had to remove that material from the seam, and then clean the joint with solvent. My hull/deck seam is now bedded with 3M 5200. The hull deck joint is gassed over with roving and mat on the inside of the boat. The joint itself was not leaking into the cabin on my boat, however, a prior owner had re-fastened the rub rail with long screws that penetrated the seam, and the roving and mat as well. The protruding screws were rusted, and rust stains ran down there inside of the hull, I filled all of those screw holes with epoxy from both the cabin side and from the outside of the hull. I then rebedded the hull deck seam with 3M 5200. I used 3M 4200 to bed the rub rail, which I also fastened with shorter screws that did not permit water intrusion.
Even with a sound and well sealed hull to deck joint, you may and probably will experience some puddling of rain water on the V Berth shelves near the chainplates. The key to stopping that problem (at least temporarily) is an annual or semiannual re-bedding of the chain plate covers to prevent rain water from entering the chainplate slots. I use a polysulfide caulk for this purpose.
As far as removing the shelves in the V Berth area, I do not know whether those shelves are designed to stiffen the hull, but they probably do provide some structural reinforcement. You might write to Ebb. Ebb has done seem extensive redesign and rebuilding of the interior of his Ariel, which is well documented on this forum.
I enlarged the bolt holes in the bulkheads and augured out the bad wood between the upper and lower laminations of the deck, I then filled these areas with epoxy and or fiberglass. I also removed all soft wood in the bulkheads and repaired these areas with fiberglass. I purchased new 306 stainless steel chainplates and bolts and installed them. The new bolt holes were drilled throug the enlarged epoxy or fiberglass filled holes, so there is no plywood to bolt contact. Also, the top of those two bulkheads on my boat were not taped to the underside of the deck, so I did that as well.
With the help of a professional, the strong back beneath the mast on my boat was rebuilt at the same time. I have documented the stong back project elsewhere in this forum. Also, you can visit my webpage on that project. That web page provides photo documentation of the strong back project: http://www.solopublications.com/sailarir.htm.
My strong back upgrade was unpopular with some contributors to this forum, but in my opinion and in the opinion fo the professional who designed and completed the project, it was the right solution for the problem that my boat was experiencing. It has been 19 years since that work was completed, and the reinforced stongback has performed very well in the Monterey Bay and Pacific Ocean environments where I sail my boat.
I have not experienced soft wood in the port or starboard V berth shelves or in the port side storage cabinets, So I can't say for certain what kind of wood those shelve are made of, but I have assumed that are also mode of plywood.
By the way, I have taken photos beneath the deck of cabin sole, which demonstrate that the plywood used in that area is labeled as AC plywood and not as marine plywood. (Please see attached photo.) When I removed some of the formica covering the bulkhead at the forward end of the main salon, I discovered prominent voids in the plywood, So if the top edges of your bulkheads are not sealed in some way, water entering that area may find its way down through the voids in the plywood. This could result in more than cosmetic damage to the bulkheads.
I also removed and re-bedded the the rub rail and re-bedded the hull desk joint in 2002 shortly after purchasing the boat. That was a major project that took a number of weeks. A prior owner had removed the original caulk and replaced it with what appeared to be silicon caulk. I had to remove that material from the seam, and then clean the joint with solvent. My hull/deck seam is now bedded with 3M 5200. The hull deck joint is gassed over with roving and mat on the inside of the boat. The joint itself was not leaking into the cabin on my boat, however, a prior owner had re-fastened the rub rail with long screws that penetrated the seam, and the roving and mat as well. The protruding screws were rusted, and rust stains ran down there inside of the hull, I filled all of those screw holes with epoxy from both the cabin side and from the outside of the hull. I then rebedded the hull deck seam with 3M 5200. I used 3M 4200 to bed the rub rail, which I also fastened with shorter screws that did not permit water intrusion.
Even with a sound and well sealed hull to deck joint, you may and probably will experience some puddling of rain water on the V Berth shelves near the chainplates. The key to stopping that problem (at least temporarily) is an annual or semiannual re-bedding of the chain plate covers to prevent rain water from entering the chainplate slots. I use a polysulfide caulk for this purpose.
As far as removing the shelves in the V Berth area, I do not know whether those shelves are designed to stiffen the hull, but they probably do provide some structural reinforcement. You might write to Ebb. Ebb has done seem extensive redesign and rebuilding of the interior of his Ariel, which is well documented on this forum.
#65
Gallery / EBB's PHOTO GALLERY THREAD
Last post by Rob Rotondo - October 30, 2023, 11:51:56 AMNovice here. Is the knee solid figerglass or is there an internal material made out of 
I'm considering removing the shelf that is glassed to the knee on both sides and wonder if there would be structural issues.
I'm considering removing the shelf that is glassed to the knee on both sides and wonder if there would be structural issues. #66
Technical / Bulkhead reinforcement/Shelf j...
Last post by Rob Rotondo - October 30, 2023, 10:18:12 AMI recently discovered ponding on the inside shelves on my CP#162 and believe I need to reseal the deck seam. Some of the shelving near the bulkhead is soft and needs replacing. My question is regarding the bulkheads that the chain plates mount to. First, what are they made of? Second, what is the inside rail beneath the shelves made of? and third, Do the bulkheads that the chain plates bolt to (that is glassed to the shelves) need to be glassed to the shelf for further strength or can the shelf be removed under it. (and add length to the bulkhead for added strength?
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
#67
Gallery / Commander #65 "Lucky Dawg"
Last post by Lucky Dawg - August 21, 2023, 08:16:09 PMHey Mike!
Hope you're well. I miss interacting with folks on this site!
Michigan in August is unbeatable. We have some sucky months, but August is so nice.
A ride on an Ensign out of Northport, NY was the impetus for becoming enamored with the Commander and owning Lucky Dawg! Same beautiful Alberg lines. Just a bit more space. Such beautiful boats.
KW
Hope you're well. I miss interacting with folks on this site!
Michigan in August is unbeatable. We have some sucky months, but August is so nice.
A ride on an Ensign out of Northport, NY was the impetus for becoming enamored with the Commander and owning Lucky Dawg! Same beautiful Alberg lines. Just a bit more space. Such beautiful boats.
KW
#68
Gallery / Commander #65 "Lucky Dawg"
Last post by Commander227 - August 21, 2023, 04:25:49 PMHey Kyle, looking good!
I was just up the street from you in Pentwater last week sailing in the Ensign Nationals. Beautiful country out there.
Mike
C221
I was just up the street from you in Pentwater last week sailing in the Ensign Nationals. Beautiful country out there.
Mike
C221
#69
Gallery / Commander #65 "Lucky Dawg"
Last post by Lucky Dawg - August 21, 2023, 09:58:06 AMHoisted the spinnaker for the first time in 17 years of ownership! Spring Lake Yacht Club sailing team friends of my son Lucas (on the tiller) put it up there! Cool. Goosebumps (Lucas has changed a bit since this post - http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?1604-Commander-65-quot-Lucky-Dawg-quot&p=17076#post17076 )
Also a couple pix of Lucky Dawg underway on Saturday. Just me and the dogs - steady 12-14 with gusts to 23!
(Lucas has changed a bit since this post - http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?1604-Commander-65-quot-Lucky-Dawg-quot&p=17076#post17076 )Also a couple pix of Lucky Dawg underway on Saturday. Just me and the dogs - steady 12-14 with gusts to 23!
#70
General/Off-Topic / Commander 131 FRANCINE looking...
Last post by jshisha - May 23, 2023, 10:29:39 PMI am moving to waterfront property too shallow for my Commander and an looking for a new home for FRANCINE who we lovingly restored
We are located on Long Island NY . If intrested please call or text me 201 925-2550
Thanks
Jake
We are located on Long Island NY . If intrested please call or text me 201 925-2550
Thanks
Jake