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If you do get the chance to get pictures, I'd love to see them.

Does your boat have an Atomic 4 or has she been upgraded to a diesel? I may have someone who's interested once the lockdown has ended.

Regarding the rigging, the rigging on my 30 foot Pearson Wanderer is 7/32nd for all the stays. I think 1/4 would be way oversize for your boat and as long as you are replacing with new I would keep the original size. As already suggested, take a good look at all the fittings on the mast. Anything that looks as if it could be corroded should be looked at very closely and possibly replaced. Take a good look at the masthead and also the spreaders. On my last boat, they were quite badly corroded (galvanic corrosion at both ends) and had to be replaced. The wood ones on my current boat came off a few days ago for replacement due to rot.

Partially restored Commander with tons of work and extras for sale for a song in Shady Side, Maryland.

http://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa/4218292918.html

Not my boat, but thought others might have an interest.

Is she located in NH? What's the price with the diesel?

Looks like Ithaca too. I got so tired of the late spring this year that I'm moving back to Maryland this summer, and I have sworn never to live north of the Mason-Dixon line again. Good to hear from you.

I will be the voice of dissent and say you should keep the A4. I would recommend replacing it with a Moyer Marine factory rebuilt unit if you're unsure about the engine you have in the boat. The A4 is very reliable, and most importantly when  it does break down it is easy and cheap to fix. The diesel will be reliable but much fussier and more expensive to fix when it does break down (and it will) whereas with the A4 I guarantee you any issue you run into you can take care of yourself. That is partly just because of the simplicity of the engine and in part due to the depth of support available to A4 owners through Moyer Marine and the associated online forums.

On the other hand, I do not disagree it is too much motor (although it does not produce the reputed 30 hp) and to each his own. It sounds like you have the resources to pay someone else to take care of the motor, so maybe that is not an issue for you. Diesels are certainly very popular these days. I would NOT under ANY circumstances put an outboard on it if you can afford not to. I hate the things, they are extremely fussy (ethanol makes this much worse) and will give you more trouble than anyone wants to deal with. Especially avoid four strokes. They will last you a couple years at best before they start to have issues, and once they start having problems, they do not stop.

I absolutely understand the impulse to try and fit an enclosed head. I came very close to buying an Ariel twice(!) but the lack of a private head was one of the issues I couldn't get past. I still think they're the prettiest boats on the water (next to the Triton.)

Avery

I don't want to discourage  you, so please consider this a list of items to consider, not a list of reasons why it can't be done.

As I recall, someone either here or on another forum was considering enclosing the head using the Flicka as a basis for the idea. The issues that came up were that the Flicka carries a wider beam further aft, the Ariel's large salon ports tended to get in the way of the forward bulkhead, and that the Ariel has a slack bilge relative to the Flicka (which is built more like a modern production boat, though she is full keel.) If you were willing to do an, in my opinion, inordinate amount of work to offset the companionway you could get more space to work with although that would create issues of its own. Again, I stress that I'm not try to discourage you, I'm just offering information based on previous efforts by others. I'm sure you can do it, it's just a matter of how many compromises will be made in the process.

I look forward to seeing progress on the boat, you are undertaking a worthy and noble task. I chickened out (I just couldn't afford it) on a full restoration but I still enjoy puttering around on my "new to me" Pearson. Projects like this let me live vicariously.

Take care,

Avery
Pearson Wanderer #102 "Loon"

Eh, I don't know about the intake becoming clogged. I had, over the summer, a Sea Sprite 23 with a 5hp Evinrude (REAL old one) and I would routinely leave it for a month or so when I was moving it up the Hudson and through the Erie Canal. I never had a problem with overheating until I screwed up the oil mixture and toasted the engine. It's amazing how fast that can happen! I left the boat for six weeks in brackish water in Newburgh, NY and when I came back to it, the thing started right up and chugged along for another 200 or so miles. I did have to clean the prop and lower unit but the intake wasn't clogged and she pumped water fine. It's possible that you might get more growth in the Chesapeake but the conditions seem  similar to me. I dunno, I'd definitely get more opinions before you sell the boat. And certainly don't take mine as the gospel truth!

Out of curiosity, do you own an Ariel or a Commander? I know there was an Ariel in the DC area with a Seahorse Outboard that was for sale last spring. Red hull. Is she now yours?

Hi Kendall, sorry I never replied. It sounds like the trailer wouldn't really be up for any kind of extensive journey, anyway. Good luck, hope you find her a loving home.

I have found that when dealing with power boats, especially in confined spaces, it helps to assume that they will turn towards you ("try to hit you" just sounded a bit too harsh...) and give them enough space to do so and still miss. With alarming frequency, when I turned to avoid a boat, the other guy would turn in the same direction! It's just like driving, assume the worst, hope for the best.

Hi Kendall, do you have a truck that can move the boat? If so, contact me off list: averyboyer168 AT gmail dot com.

Hope you told the would-be scrapper exactly what you thought of that idea!!!

Is this her? I almost bought her last year but the owner seemed to lose interest in selling her. But here she is again, someone will be getting a good deal.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/3040108651.html

I looked at that boat in CT. I didn't buy it and I've regretted it ever since. I had to buy two boats to make up for it, a Triton and a Sea Sprite 23. Keep looking, something will show up in good time. They're out there.