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The mast beam on my soon paid for A-273 shows no immediate signs of deterioration, but I thought a fun project on an otherwise quiet late afternoon would be to make a door way arch to further strengthen an already strong little ship. This contraption will be bolted on to the vertical members of the doorway, with the ends resting on cut-off pieces of trim. It will also be jacked up snug against the beam, with just a short bronze rod to index it.  

It is made of ash, 17 laminations, and measures 1 5/8 square. Should have been one more layer, but when it was all clamped up I saw number 18 lying over in the firewood pile.. It will lower the headroom in the doorway, but at 6'3" I'm already crawling around in there.

So, what's the glue? The big question, right? Subject of many discussions here and elsewhere. Well, contrary to other folks experiences (friends and internet experts) I used Gorilla Glue. Why? Wanted to do this thing right now and besides epoxy it was all I had. Living 65 miles from the nearest city limits your spontaneity.

Since it is strictly not necessary it can acts as an experiment for Gorilla glue without dire consequences.

It will be shellac'ed.

My son did the tops'l schooner (at least that's what he calls it) when he was 9.

Oh no. Another 10+ page thread I have to read. Will I get anything done this weekend?

Since I started thinking about this Ariel I have basically sat in front of the computer.....

Looks like I'm a new Ariel owner, so it's time to start planning. No bow roller on this one, yet. Dismal ground tackle included in the deal.

Excuse me for rambling on a bit about some thoughts and ideas re turning this classic into what we think is a suitable coastal cruiser. We take long trips up the west coast of British Columbia, anchoring every night. The water is deep, mostly, and the bottom often sandy with weeds and lots of rocks.

I love anchors and all things associated. Maybe a carry over from a life's worth of climbing and mountaineering. The 2500 lbs 20 foot yawl we just sold had 3 anchors: 7.5 kg claw stern hook, 10kg claw working anchor and a 15kg plow storm. All with 50' of chain, 250' rode. Hundreds of pounds of steel and perlon.

Since the money all went to those wonderfully sculpted hunks of metal, we had no electronics save a hand held VHF:(.

Now we're going to a 5500 lbs boat. The cruising grounds will also extend to more remote, desolate and potentially challenging areas. And the Ariel squats her stern easily, I've seen on pictures. All of the above are good reasons to invest in heavy ground tackle.

Still have the 15kg plow, but never really liked it that much. It worked for the 20 footer because of sheer mass vs light boat, but when diving on it, it always just laid there on its side half buried.

Thinking our new working anchor should be one of those new and well advertised Rocnas, size 10 with 50' of 1/4" chain - 250' of 3 strand. Heavier chain and anchor, while ideal, will make it hard for anybody aboard but me weighing anchor. Stepping up to windlass just seems like too much gear, money and clutter, so the balance will be delicate between sleeping soundly and light enough stuff to handle.

People say these spade designs work so good, that I can't think of anything better as a back-up/storm hook. Maybe I'll throw the plow in for a spare, and also have a good length of heavy chain around for those well forecasted blows we seem to get a couple of every summer.

Many spots that we end up in are narrow and confined rocky defiles in a sheer coastline, and has no swinging room. Most often we stern tie to shore, for which we have 800' of retired climbing ropes in about 7/16" diameter. But occasionally a stern anchor is required. Here I think either a 7.5kg claw or 6kg Rocna. These need lots of rode, 300' plus, so one can monkey around without worrying about shortage and scope, and so, god forbid, it can be used to kedge off a grounding. It also needs to be readily available, with convenient line storage.

The bow roller looks to be the URM-3 from Windline. It's sturdy and well made, holds the Rocna fine under way. Have to move the line chocks aft some distance to clear up space.

Stay tuned for pics.

Frenna, check your PM. Would love to chat with a local re haul-out et al.

Thanks, mbd.
 
BTW, just got the word that owner is willing to sell her to me!!!!! Price easily agreed upon, pending haulout. So excited!
 
 
Hope the rudder post is okay and she won't sink before I get to those thru hulls.

Another pic:

Hi Frenna! Actually haven't bought the boat yet, but it looks promising. The owner of the past 45 years, Iver, loves his Ariel, but doesn't sail much anymore. He still wants to hang out on her and do the general messing about that all boat-heads do, so we will keep her in his slip if we get the boat.

It was not for sale. I found the owners phone # via the Ariel Association here, and simply called and asked. Took some courage, as I thought it might not have been the most ethical thing to do. It turned out that they already had talked about maybe selling someday. Now they will decide if that 'someday' is soon and if I qualify as the next caretaker!!

We live far from there, but that has not kept us from sailing quite a bit over the years. Hardly doing any day sailing or weekend trips, but mostly long cruises in the school holidays.

There's also Port Townsend for haul-out.

How big is this Manual? Can it be created as an instant download in PDF format, with PayPal funds transfer? Once set up the workload on the admin side of things ought to be less. For an extra fee the paper version can be had snail mail, if you can't print it out at home.

Now this contraption I have not been able to find info about. My suspicion is that the jib uses a two part sheet arrangement with one tail bow-lined to the eye strap in other pic, then running through the block at the clew and back to the winch....but on second thought that kinda sounds unlikely. Suggestions?

Thanks for all the replies. I now realize that my important and oh so unique questions all have been asked dozens of times by other naive newcomers. Sorry!!

Rico is right. Tank gotta go. Taking apart galley is what it will take, though. Also have an inquiry in at the rigger for a complete replacement.

Anyway, I'm pretty excited. It is not going to be a period correct restoration project with gleaming topsides and mirror varnish. Not my own boats, they are for cruising. I occasionally build the shiny stuff for other people.

We like to go on 1-2 month long trips up the west coast of Canada. So far our vessels have been a little too small for the real exposed places, but maybe the Ariel will make us that much braver.

Deal is not closed yet, but this is the vessel.

A couple of questions to all you long time owners:

What length whisker/spinnaker pole for this boat? Meaning max size for an adjustable stick.

She has a 20 gallon permanently installed GAS tank for the 9.9 Tohatsu where the inboard diesel lives on some models. Practical maybe, but a bit like a bomb under the cockpit! Also the gas may end up getting old with such a big tank. Is old gas less of a concern with 2 stroke motors? No way to drain it. What you all think?

PEACE has been sailed conservatively and gently for her whole life. This may change if we take possession. Trust the 45 years old standing rigging? If not, anybody know what it cost, ballpark, to get new all round?

Is it possible to get the original cowl vent for that fitting in the foredeck, or does any newer units exist with the same thread?

The Ariel WL is 2' shorter than the 20 footer I just sold. And she wasn't a speed demon. Comments?

Is she safe to sail the 12 miles to the haul out with a straight running sink drain hose? Really paranoid about those thru hulls. PEACE haven't seen much action in a decade or so.

Thanks!! Jan

New here, obviously, and excited to take advantage of this fantastic resource.

Might be getting A-273. Will know soon. Have spent the last two days inspecting it from bow to stern. Missing to do the masthead and haul-out, but so far things look good.

PEACE is a one owner boat, basically, as Iver and Terry bought her when she was one year old. It is currently moored on Bainbridge Island, WA.

I have many questions for the experts, soon posted in the tech section.

The pics:


Grab rails are off for varnishing


Beam has 1/16" sag.



Hate the sink and cockpit drains. One rusty hose clamp each end.


New drifter, good spinnaker, decent jib/genoa, and excellent main.


Iver is 83, and sad to let go of her.


2 stroke beast with electric and hand start plus alternator.