Red Pepper

[mbowman]

I still have some work to do on the bow. The bow light was mounted on a nice piece of wood until Hurricane Katrina. All the wiring is there, I just have to build a platform for the light. I didn't take any pix of the work, but this past spring I removed 7 feet of the starboard deck between the rail and the cockpit. All of my balsa was rotten, wet, and spongy. We had to do that on our 38' Columbia a few years ago, so I wasn't that nervous about it. Still, there is something scary about taking a Skill Saw to your deck. But all is well, my 260 lb frame doesn't make the deck give when I walk on it..... at least not in that area. I'll probably have to do the Port side this year.

[mbowman]

She's still the best looking girl in the Marina. AND the biggest. 26 foot is a big boat on this inland lake.....

[mbowman]

As previously said, I have some extra sails that I would like to sale. here is a pic of 3 storms and 2 Genoa's.
The #1 storm jib has 2 reef points. The 135% Genoa also has a reef point. Some sails are better than others. I would put them in the Fair to Very Good range.
If you want more information i.e. measurments, more pic's etc. just let me know.

[commanderpete]

Nice inventory.

Do you recall what kind of headstay system was on the boat? Maybe a tuff-luff?

If the sails have a #6 luff tape they could be used on most furling units. A sun cover could be added to the sail.

[mbowman]

thanks,
I'm not sure the name of the system. I do know it had 2 tracks for quick change. I wish it didn't get messed up, when it worked right it was great. I just don't have $600 to replace it, or the money for a furling unit.
You asked about a Asy Spinaker? I also have a Drift Sail. Some folks use that as a Asy. we use it just to get "some" breeze moving. Of course I have a 170 that is paper thin, Almost like a Spinaker. I'm going to put hanks on that one and it shoul perform very well in the light wind we have up here.
As far as the Drift, the next time I'm at the boat, I'll get that one and the Spinaker i'm selling and take pics.
Well happy Sailing! hopefully we will get to go Monday.
mike

[mbowman]

this is a poem that my son Scott wrote for a Class he has in school. He also took the photo that is the background. He does love his sailing!

[c_amos]

 
That is great!
 
  We will be bringing Faith back to Pensacola after we return from the Bahamas.  We will practicaly be neighbors.
 
  The boat is looking great, good luck on selling the sails.  I would like a strom jib myself, but don't know when I will be back home to make the arrangements.  Maybe if you still have something left when I get back we can get together.

[mbowman]

Joe, here is the photo's and measurements of the #2 storm jib.

[mbowman]

And here is the # 3 storm jib. All of the stiching is very good on both sails. But there is a few ragged ends as you can see from the photo's. #3 has a few more stains than # 2 but both in very good working order. If you need any more information let me know.
mike

[mbowman]

Just wanted to post some pics of this weekend.....
What do you get when you take a three bass fisherman sailing in 25 knot wind?
The need for speed. The young guy in the Alabama hat said..."now that I've been sailing, does this make me a salesman?"
The older guy got soaking wet when a gust blew in when we had the Spinnaker up. He was sitting on the low side, I looked down and the winch was under water....he was wet from his waist down!
Oh by the way even when these boats are almost knocked over they still want to move!!

[mbowman]

Just curious, how far have you guys had your Ariel heeled over? And do you know what is the optimum heel angle for sailing an Ariel.

[Bill]

And do you know what is the optimum heel angle for sailing an Ariel.

18 to 22 degrees is good, but you can still sail at nearly 90!  More wind, more fun.  Who bothers to reef?  Above 25 kts, maybe.  Keep the weight on the high side.  We've had water running along the big windows while we stood on the bulkhead under opposite cockpit seat.    Probably slowed us a bit, but boy does the adrenalin pump! Of  course, if the ob engine is still in the well, the gas can will be floating  

Just a typical summer afternoon on the SF Bay. :cool:

[mbowman]

Oh you "West Coast" guys make me jealous!!! :rolleyes:we land lubbers only dream of days like we had Saturday.
Oh well but we can still dream:)
Hey I understand the whole floating gas can gig. One of the guys said, "Hey wheres the gas smell coming from!!!!:D Anyway great days!!!

[mbowman]

Well, time has come to pull A-233 out of the water and do a complete Refit.  When I pulled the boat three years ago, I did just enough maint. to get by. Sand and paint the hull and the bottom. I did find many soft spots in the keel and water in the Keel Void. I did as much as my ability and know how could at the time. The main thing is we went sailing for a good three years.  Well now that I'm a little older and wiser "thanks to reading this Forum on a weekly basis", and that I've got some more time to piddle with the project, and the fact that I have some MAJOR reconstruction to be done (like delamination of the decks, a much better bottom job than before, a Refit of the cabin, replacing the cabin floor, etc.....) It was time to pull it out and get busy. I'll be posting weekly and I'm sure asking lots of questions. I'll try and post photos when I can.
So "Here I go again!"

[Rico]

Good luck and keep us posted with pics! You'll be glad you took care of all the bits & pieces when you are back in the water!