The Pearson Commander, designed by Carl Albert, has a very large cockpit and small(er) cabin (think Santana 22). The Pearson Ariel has a "standard" size cockpit with a full cabin. Both were built on the same hull with a very similar rig. Most Commanders use an outboard in a well. Some Ariels have an inboard (usually a gas Atomic 4), but many use the outboard/well set up. Both boats were SF Bay racers in their day, a step up from a Cal 20 or similar boat. Both are slow by today's standards.
With the semi-full keel, large rudder hung on the aft end of the keel they share Carl Alberg's Triton's, and similar designs, weather helm if the sails are not balanced almost perfectly. They also share Alberg's "wet boat" syndrome when going to weather.
Either would probably make a decent Hawaii direction boat, if you weren't in a hurry. Going downwind the full(ish) keel and large rudder would keep them going in one direction. The Ariel would have more comfortable living quarters with a standard-size cockpit; the Commander a huge, fillable cockpit and sitting headroom in the cabin.
As would be the case with any boat nearly 50 years old, a complete survey and a good going over would be in order. For the hull: keelbolts, chainplates, tabbing, hull/deck joint, rudder fittings, windows, deck fittings, etc. Probably a wholesale replacement of wiring, although it's not very complicated. For the rig: probably new standing rigging, spreader concerns, gooseneck (orignally roller furling), spar condition, chainplates, etc. For sails: Unless it's an unusual older boat, a complete new suite of sails: main, several jibs, spinnaker(s). If it's an Ariel with an inboard, a complete check up.
I crewed on both types in the 1970s. After that experience, when I purchased my first large(r) boat it had a fin keel and spade rudder. If I were looking at boats in that length range today, I'd certainly look at a Cal 2-27 harder than a Commander.
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Originally Posted by svShearwater
