walberts
06-01-2005, 09:03 AM
I bought Haabet (Ariel #133) in 2002. She was listed in Soundings for several months. The owner was asking $12,000 initially, and after 3 months came down to $10,500. I bought her for $9,500.
The boat had been in his family since 1963. In 1999, the son began a restoration project. He had Haabet professionally awlgripped at a yard in Rowayton, CT. ($6,000!) He added Shaeffer roller furling ($3,000) and replaced the lexan in the cabin portlights. He added an Autohelm autopilot and a new North main sail. He added a new Raritan head and plumbed it well. He upgraded the electrical panel and did it simply and well.
He added a bow roller and a Nicro solar vent for the anchor locker. He had all the old chrome fittings re-plated and added well-backed over-sized cleats, bow and stern. He added a new dodger in 2000. A former shop-teacher, he built a new rudder to original specs. He was also into bright work and kept all Haabet's mahogany and teak in pristine condition. He had rebedded the fittings as they needed it over the years, and as a result, the surveyor found no spongy decks, no delamination and no blistering. The hull and decks were completely sound.
Her engine is a 1993 Merc 9.9 with electric start and an alternator. He had records showing that he had the engine professionially winterized each year. He also had records on all maintainance. It worked and still works reliably.
If you ask the obvious question: Why did he sell her? The answer very commonplace: Love. He married a woman with a teen-aged daughter and Haabet was not big enough for them to cruise in as a family. That was important to them and they couldn't justify the time and money necessary to keep two boats. It was a hard decision, but they made it. They bought a brand new Sabre 38 and sold the old family Ariel.
I was inwardly excited about the boat, but there was one thing that I didn't like ... the outboard engine in the well. I had diesel on the brain, and that was holding me back. Then the vibe-factor kicked in.
The summer before, I had had the opportunity to sail from Denmark up the coast of Norway for 5 weeks with 3 excellent, very experienced sailors who also were great shipmates. I got to sail past 70 degrees North and see a beautiful country, learning all the time. To me, being asked to make that trip was like sailing with the Beatles. It was as if John or Paul had said, "Hey kid, do you want to tour with the band for 5 weeks?" I said "yes" before it gave a moment of thought. The boat was "Brendan's Isle." (If you are interested in seeing her, go to myronarms.com and you will get an idea.) Anyway, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will always remember. When we were in Bergen, I bought a canvas cap with a Norwegian flag on it.
Eight months later, when I drove to CT to see Haabet for the first time and to meet her owner, I was wearing that cap. After the test sail, I was talking to the owner at the dock. I asked him what "Haabet" meant. I had wondered about the name ... secretly, I didn't particularly like it. He explained that his father had bought her in 1963 and named her after his Norwegian bride. "Haabet," he explained, "is a common Norwegian name. It means 'Hope'."
He then added, "I was going to ask you why you were wearing a hat with a Norwegian flag on it."
I had spent 4 years searching for a boat. Searching, dreaming and saving. During that time, I had advice from many quarters. Some of that advice is worth sharing. Ben Gray who was one of the crew from the Norwegian trip said: "Buy a boat for what you do four fifths of the time. Don't buy a Westsail 32 if you're going to cruise on the Chesapeake."
Regarding photos of boats on the Internet, John Griffiths, a boat surveyor and owner of "Kestrel," Ariel hull #1 said, "You haven't seen it until you've seen it."
Mike Arms, the owner of "Brendan's Isle" added this comment, (and I think it is the most important): "You don't buy the boat, you buy the owner."
These pieces of advice stood me in good stead. To them I'd add, "Don't discount the vibe-factor."
I bought Haabet.
I've watched the market and it is clear that I paid top dollar for my boat. But, this is also clear ... she was worth every penny.
Bill Alberts
PS
After some discussion, my wife and I decided that we would not change Haabet's name. I thought that her previous owner would want to know that. I emailed him the information. Later, he wrote back and said that when he told his 91 year old father that Haabet's name would not be changed, he wept.
Vibe-factor ... There are things you can't buy.
The boat had been in his family since 1963. In 1999, the son began a restoration project. He had Haabet professionally awlgripped at a yard in Rowayton, CT. ($6,000!) He added Shaeffer roller furling ($3,000) and replaced the lexan in the cabin portlights. He added an Autohelm autopilot and a new North main sail. He added a new Raritan head and plumbed it well. He upgraded the electrical panel and did it simply and well.
He added a bow roller and a Nicro solar vent for the anchor locker. He had all the old chrome fittings re-plated and added well-backed over-sized cleats, bow and stern. He added a new dodger in 2000. A former shop-teacher, he built a new rudder to original specs. He was also into bright work and kept all Haabet's mahogany and teak in pristine condition. He had rebedded the fittings as they needed it over the years, and as a result, the surveyor found no spongy decks, no delamination and no blistering. The hull and decks were completely sound.
Her engine is a 1993 Merc 9.9 with electric start and an alternator. He had records showing that he had the engine professionially winterized each year. He also had records on all maintainance. It worked and still works reliably.
If you ask the obvious question: Why did he sell her? The answer very commonplace: Love. He married a woman with a teen-aged daughter and Haabet was not big enough for them to cruise in as a family. That was important to them and they couldn't justify the time and money necessary to keep two boats. It was a hard decision, but they made it. They bought a brand new Sabre 38 and sold the old family Ariel.
I was inwardly excited about the boat, but there was one thing that I didn't like ... the outboard engine in the well. I had diesel on the brain, and that was holding me back. Then the vibe-factor kicked in.
The summer before, I had had the opportunity to sail from Denmark up the coast of Norway for 5 weeks with 3 excellent, very experienced sailors who also were great shipmates. I got to sail past 70 degrees North and see a beautiful country, learning all the time. To me, being asked to make that trip was like sailing with the Beatles. It was as if John or Paul had said, "Hey kid, do you want to tour with the band for 5 weeks?" I said "yes" before it gave a moment of thought. The boat was "Brendan's Isle." (If you are interested in seeing her, go to myronarms.com and you will get an idea.) Anyway, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will always remember. When we were in Bergen, I bought a canvas cap with a Norwegian flag on it.
Eight months later, when I drove to CT to see Haabet for the first time and to meet her owner, I was wearing that cap. After the test sail, I was talking to the owner at the dock. I asked him what "Haabet" meant. I had wondered about the name ... secretly, I didn't particularly like it. He explained that his father had bought her in 1963 and named her after his Norwegian bride. "Haabet," he explained, "is a common Norwegian name. It means 'Hope'."
He then added, "I was going to ask you why you were wearing a hat with a Norwegian flag on it."
I had spent 4 years searching for a boat. Searching, dreaming and saving. During that time, I had advice from many quarters. Some of that advice is worth sharing. Ben Gray who was one of the crew from the Norwegian trip said: "Buy a boat for what you do four fifths of the time. Don't buy a Westsail 32 if you're going to cruise on the Chesapeake."
Regarding photos of boats on the Internet, John Griffiths, a boat surveyor and owner of "Kestrel," Ariel hull #1 said, "You haven't seen it until you've seen it."
Mike Arms, the owner of "Brendan's Isle" added this comment, (and I think it is the most important): "You don't buy the boat, you buy the owner."
These pieces of advice stood me in good stead. To them I'd add, "Don't discount the vibe-factor."
I bought Haabet.
I've watched the market and it is clear that I paid top dollar for my boat. But, this is also clear ... she was worth every penny.
Bill Alberts
PS
After some discussion, my wife and I decided that we would not change Haabet's name. I thought that her previous owner would want to know that. I emailed him the information. Later, he wrote back and said that when he told his 91 year old father that Haabet's name would not be changed, he wept.
Vibe-factor ... There are things you can't buy.