Commander 26 Re Build

[Thunder21]

After running the exact boat you are building for 3 years now, the flybridge is essential. At times I’ve got 2 crab traps, 8 prawn traps , a 20lb propane tank and a cooler that doubles as a seat up there . I would never exchange looks for all that storage. They designed these boats this way for a reason .

 

[Sttr]

After running the exact boat you are building for 3 years now, the flybridge is essential. At times I’ve got 2 crab traps, 8 prawn traps , a 20lb propane tank and a cooler that doubles as a seat up there . I would never exchange looks for all that storage. They designed these boats this way for a reason .

The flybridge is staying on for sure!!!
But with the top off she looks fine mmmmm

 

[Rain City]

The flybridge is staying on for sure!!!
But with the top off she looks fine mmmmm

Haha you're such a **** disturber

 

[ship happens]

Very nice pods

Same as PDR, except PDR might be a bit nicer because they hand build each one. Basically the same design though. Rake it up!

 

[Sttr]

Few pics of today, they look the same as yesterday. Ron made a gel coat paste for our 4th layer. This filled in any pores and covered up the mat evenly. Started on the deck, filling in the rod holder box that will be removed.

 

[wildmanyeah]

can really see the improvements thought the steps, looks great

 

[Sttr]

Some more pics of the gel coating today.
I would rather lay down stringers than gel coat everyday, this stuff stinks. I sprayed one layer of gel coat ( plus styrene and air dry) with a splatter gun, on only the parts I know are done, the rest has tabbing left and some carpet. Turned out awesome, thick. Ron did his magic windows up and the rear wall with some prepping and a final spray.

 

[chris73]

Some more pics of the gel coating today.
I would rather lay down stringers than gel coat everyday, this stuff stinks. I sprayed one layer of gel coat ( plus styrene and air dry) with a splatter gun, on only the parts I know are done, the rest has tabbing left and some carpet. Turned out awesome, thick. Ron did his magic windows up and the rear wall with some prepping and a final spray.View attachment 82299View attachment 82300View attachment 82301View attachment 82302View attachment 82303View attachment 82304View attachment 82305View attachment 82306View attachment 82307

Do you spray the gel coat in several layers? And if so do you have the under-layers unwaxed or is every layer with wax?

 

[Sttr]

Do you spray the gel coat in several layers? And if so do you have the under-layers unwaxed or is every layer with wax?

Only the windows up have multiple layers, unwaxed, last layer has a air dryer additive.

 

[chris73]

Only the windows up have multiple layers, unwaxed, last layer has a air dryer additive.

Huh, thanks. I always thought all polyesther resin needs wax to cure fully.

 

[Sttr]

Huh, thanks. I always thought all polyesther resin needs wax to cure fully.

It was a sticky situation after every coat until the last waxed coat

 

[Sttr]

These pin holes finally had to go. 40 grit down to the glass… I can see through my boat. The glass looks awesome, repaired a few spots. Ron is very impressed with the layers from factory. Didn’t take long and we had the side filled in with Ron’s gel coat paste. Ready to sand and spray.
Will see tomorrow how close we are to spraying the exterior. Very close imo….. but I have been off by a few days before. Prepped the transom, that’s ready to go. Also added 6 layers of mat on top of the gel coat on the deck repair.

 

[Sttr]

Seems like it’s back to normal today… I’m starting to complain to my wife that I never get to fish. Spent the morning deciding if it’s worth crossing to thrasher, thanks @Rain City for the morning update, decided today wouldn’t be the best day the pound across the lake….
So we did one side today, deck down to a bit under the water line. Sanded the gel coat paste down and made one pass.

 

[Sttr]

First pass on the starboard side turned out great so we ran 5 passes today on both sides and the transom, gel coat with 15 percent hi gloss additive. Final spray was a nice pass with PVA.
Wiped it off and checked the final product, nice and dry, Ron is happy with it. Here’s a few pics, added a couple of the top…. One final clean and ready to spray.

 

[Buckethead905]

Love that you’re doing it in gel coat, the durability is unmatched and can be wet sanded and polished annually to keep it looking new. Speaking of wetsanding.. who’s blocking out the entire hull and polishing it up? Im assuming 200/400/800/1200 compound and polish?

 

[Sttr]

Love that you’re doing it in gel coat, the durability is unmatched and can be wet sanded and polished annually to keep it looking new. Speaking of wetsanding.. who’s blocking out the entire hull and polishing it up? Im assuming 200/400/800/1200 compound and polish?

Ron keeps on looking at me, smiling and asking me if I’m ready to sand LoL. I’m starting to think this might take longer than I thought.
Ron’s going to polish it up, that’s what he does, I will help him. I’m assuming we will be going higher than 1200.

 

[Sttr]

No pics lately….
But they are coming….
Had to order in more gel coat to make sure we have enough to do all passes at once, will be in soon, top is getting a final touch up before gel and the interior is moving forward.
Rub rail has also arrived!

After we spray, it’s windows, rails, rub rails, cleats oh my

 

[ship happens]

Rub rail... the most unfun thing in the world. Jk it's alot of fun

 

[Sttr]

With the boat ripped apart, rub rails no problem LoL.
But I do need to prep for it, I didn’t like a few spots, the Colour and old hardware, so I took it down and this is what I found… now that’s the last bit of delam found on this boat, Needs to go

 

[Sttr]

Here’s a few pics of todays progress,
Mostly worked the area where the deck meets the hull, few more spots to check out around the bow. Ron also doing a great job prepping the deck, levelling everything out with some gel coat paste