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Thanks for the reassurance and the tip about the safety line.  We will be lifting her out this Friday.  So I'll post a picture of the operation.  I keep Esperanza at the Oklahoma City Boat Club on Lake Hefner.  We have 18 foot long straps and 24 foot long straps, I plan to use the 18 strap under the stern and the longer strap forward.  We have a spreader with a single point lift. I hope that this arrangement will pick her sufficiently level.
Grady
A205 Esperanza

Thanks for the reply.  Lifting from just above the rudder will certainly make the boat easier to balance.  I'm glad to know that the boat's structure will support the weight.
Grady
A-205 Esperanza

Does anyone have a suggestion?  Yesterday I pulled the mast from Ariel 205, Esperanza and attempted to lift the boat out of the water using straps and a pedestal crane.  I used a 24 foot strap under the stern forward of the rudder and an 18 foot long strap a few inched forward of the forward chain plates.  Lifting from these positions the boat was too stern heavy and lifting out of the water and onto the trailer did appear safe.  Has anyone lifted an Ariel with a strap behind the rudder?  I don't know if the construction of the boat will provide support.  By the way the boat still has the 14 HP diesel engine that was installed during her major overhaul in 2012.

Grady

Chris the mast step has an 8 inch outside diameter.  The aft end of the step is 13/16 inch thick and it tapers to 1 inch thick on the forward end.  The side that sits on top of the cabin roof (v-birth) has a 64 inch radius to match the roof. A 4 inch by 1.125 inch slot is centrally located and two 11/32 diameter holes are counter sunk .25 inches deep.  The holes are centered and straddle the perpendicular center by 1.5 inched.

I hope this helps, but I really recommend buying the manual from the Ariel Association.  It's full of great information,

Grady

Here's an update on Esperanza aka Sirocco (A-205), she's moving to Oklahoma City from the Tulsa area.  The three hour drive made it difficult to enjoy her as we want. We have made the most of this beautiful old boat.  EBB it turns out the fused vertebra in the neck really don't get in the way of sailing.  We spent a lot of our time in Spring seeing to some neglected maintenance.  I'm afraid that she was ignored a bit after Jon sold her a few years ago.  Here's a picture of A338's hatch boards, they look good and serve well.

While we have the mast down for moving we are replacing the spreader castings, one was cracked and broken and the other had been welded back together.  And I've replaced the wooden mast step with an aluminum made to the dimensions found in the Ariel manual.  New lights on the mast, fresh bottom paint along with a bit of polish and wax round out the project.

We are eager to get her back in the water.

My wife and I recently discovered the Pearson Ariel.  We fell in love with number A - 205 currently name Sirocco.  She became ours a few weeks ago and we've been cleaning and polishing ever since.  She's in great shape thanks to the extensive refurbishment carried out by Jon Keary in 2011.  She has had one owner since Jon sold her in 2013.  I believe that Jon acquired her from a man named Joe who bought this lovely boat from Steve Airing.  Joe brought the Sirocco to Oklahoma.  My wife and I would love to know more of her history, so if anyone knows about her past please let us know.


We plan on enjoying time on Lake Oologah with our vintage sailboat.  Please indulge us as we intend to change her name from Sirocco to Esperanza.  My future posts will refer to our boat as the Esperanza.  This sailboat represents our HOPE (Esperanza in Spanish) as my wife and I recover from a serious auto accident that left her with a repaired aorta and a paralyzed vocal cord and diaphragm.  For my part I've got to have four cervical vertebra fused before I'm back to full strength.  That's scheduled for next Monday, November 7.  We HOPE to be on the lake this Spring as members of the local sailing club.


We are happy to be a new member of the Ariel/Commander Association.