Going to look at a '65 Commander

[nowell]

I'm compromised by two things, time and the wife.  I think she wants to be involved because it's so important to me, but she has very high standards of where she goes to the bathroom and the appearance of the boat. 

My boss just had twins. His wife was very particular about a lot of things. Now it turns out, after cleaning up after babies, she doesn't get phased by much. Apparently what babies can expel kind of changes your "particulars" and grossness factor  ;D

[David_Old_Jersey]

The main problem I see is that the stanchions were removed and the holes left exposed to the elements since at least 2004.  Although I couldn't see, I'm sure the deck is rotting in these areas having been exposed for at least 4 years.

I won't claim to be an expert on these matters, but 4 years of wet (and ice?) inside the deck ain't gonna be an improvement on the original design  :P

IMO after a couple of 1,000 dollars (if not a bit more) and a lot of hard work you will have a slightly nicer $1500 boat. To be honest I would not take the boat for free, certainly not on the basis of an inspection in the deep freeze  :) If you are keen to get afloat, work out what this boat would cost to fix up and then use that money in the spring 2009 to buy one that is already fixed - or at least in useable condition.

What do you all think?  I'm leaning towards no.  I have a fulltime job, wife, baby on the way, and I"m in school to finish my undergrad through an online school.  I just don't think I can take a boat on that needs this much work.  The wife has cleared me to spend a lot more money on a boat in spring 2010 as she knows I'll have more time and we should have recovered from the initial sting of new baby costs.  Ultimately I'd like an Ariel, CD 27, or a Triton in a little nicer shape than this.

I think that is your answer.

[Christopher]

Well, the yard owner is determined to get me a boat now.  Super nice guy and I appreciate his attention.  He's got a Shock Endeavor 26 that he owns personally. http://www.cramermarine.com/br_akros2.html  He said this one is in better condition, but needs the bulkhead replaced.  He said the decks and hull are rock solid, but the bulkhead has some rot where the chainplates bolt in and it either needs to be stiffened or the bulkheads replaced completely.  He vouches for the boat in every other respect as he has sailed it for the last few years.

Anybody know anything about these?

[Cmdr Pete]

Not familiar with the boat, but it looks like a handsome craft. Have you been able to find any line drawings?

The wife might find her a bit "tippy" if she's not a sailor

Maybe you could get the owner to switch the "yard trailer" for the Commander's road trailer.

I wouldn't consider bulkhead replacement to be a particularly difficult project

[AdriftAtSea]

Don't know the boat myself, but looks like a worthy candidate for a longer look. :)

[nowell]

Anybody know anything about these?

I was bored so I got this for you:

http://www.sailboatdata.com/VIEWRECORD.ASP?CLASS_ID=3123

History of W. D. Schock (notice the mispelling in the ad)
http://www.santanasailboats.com/history/family.htm

Seems like it was a racer/cruiser. Originally a William Lapworth design. Probably built by Mr Schock at the request of a club or owner. Looks like 56 were built between 1963-'67.

Hope this helps!

[Christopher]

I was bored so I got this for you:

http://www.sailboatdata.com/VIEWRECORD.ASP?CLASS_ID=3123

History of W. D. Schock (notice the mispelling in the ad)
http://www.santanasailboats.com/history/family.htm

Seems like it was a racer/cruiser. Originally a William Lapworth design. Probably built by Mr Schock at the request of a club or owner. Looks like 56 were built between 1963-'67.

Hope this helps!

Yes it does!  Thanks for the info!

[hearsejr]

 the site you posted a link to has a Cape Dory  in there. they have a good following.
I'm hard pressed to get anything smaller then PRETTY LUCKY. if I do end up losing my boat I'm thinking I want something with a full keel.

Bill

[Christopher]

Got a chance to go see the Commander today in warmer weather.  Walked about her decks a bit.  I've never walked on a deck that was considered "soft" so it is hard for me to say one way or another, but the cockpit sole and the decking all had sort of a springy feeling to it.  None of the glass felt stiff and rigid like the CD 28 I also had the chance to look at today :)

Thought I'd give an update now that we aren't getting snow dumped on us and I could go look at boats unmolested by mother nature.

[Amgine]

Heh, that's not really fair since the CD 28 was a really good build.

One thing about the Schock Endeavor: it is a daysailer. Great fun style of boat, with huge and comfy cockpit, iirc. But not necessarily a great weekender, or even a good deep playpen for someone learning to walk.

The CD 28... well, if you can work out a payment plan for it, it will keep your family happy for a very long time. There's a good community online, too, with great support/resources.

[Christopher]

True, but the sailing center where I sail primarily has about a dozen Pearson Ensigns.  These are pretty comparable in build to the Commander and none of the decks have ever felt this way.  The decks, especially foredecks gave in quite a bit when I stepped on them.  It felt more like a springy action though rather than an "I'm about to fall into the vberth" feeling. 

It doesn't look like there ever were stanchions on it so that rules out my fear of water getting in that way.  It doesn't matter too much to me now as the wife and I have agreed upon the 2010 season and set a price range of around 10 or 12K.  I've got some things to sell in the meantime so I can hopefully push that up a little further to get a CD.

I'd still be interested to know if what I felt aboard the commander was in fact "soft decks" or just the natural result of a 195 lb dude romping around on a fiberglass foredeck...  The cockpit sole felt the same way.. 

[Amgine]

Cockpit sole, but not the side decks? That sounds more like wet/delamed core to me, but I've never personally dealt with the problem.

It might very well be worth your time to go back to the commander with a tool to tap the decks/cabin roof and learn if your suspicions are correct. The experience will come in very handy.

On another hand, you'll be looking at boats with a baby soon enough. We had great luck with a few catboats (deep cockpits, low heeling, good bunks for napping), a Bristol. Not good times on a few bigger boats (too much cabin sole resulted in multiple falling injuries, cockpits too easily climbed out of.) Boats with bridgedecks were great (short legs comfortable sitting on the sill with feet on the companionway ladder, a good place to curl up and nap out of the wind.) A method of affixing a car seat is very very useful, especially below but also on deck.

The hardest thing was allowing baby to cry when you really really need to both be on deck (docking fiascos, reefing, dropping the anchor, etc.)

I think, were I back in that situation again, I wouldn't even think about taking out the bigger boats we tried. Everything bigger than 29 feet had us stressed and one or more of the kids ballistic/injured. But our memories of the smaller boats are much more enjoyable. That may just be memory playing tricks, but then that's part of what we go sailing for - the memories.