Ariel #414

[Tim Mertinooke]

Ya know, taking a close look at your boat and Bill's (231), I'm thinking A-24 will do the beige non-skid when the time comes. It just looks awesome! Don't get me wrong, the "Alberg Purple" is nice too, but Sea Glass cornered the market on that one...

BTW- Assuming all things go well with A-24, we plan on being up in the Casco Bay area the first or second week of August so pencil us in for a rondezvous at Jewel Island. I have fond memories of hiking all over that island. We also scored a CQR anchor there that someone abandoned after unsuccessful attempts to free it from a mooring chain it was jammed into.

Can you picture it...




An Ariel cousin enjoying Cocktail Cove...


Anyone else game?

[dasein668]

Well, Steve Morse should be putting Mike in today: and of course, its P-O-U-R-I-N-G. Here's hoping for a smooth launch!

[mbd]

Well that was fun...

Thanks Nathan - I can't help but feel our homage to the boat name gods last night paid off. It was a very wet and windy, but thankfully uneventful splash after a year and a half. Here's the latest picture from Tim's website - she's on her mooring now. Woo hoo! Sorry, no action photos of the launch - it was way too wet. I'm going to have a beer or five now.

[bill@ariel231]

Mike

Congrats! Glad she's wet. Hope you have dried out. It's pouring here too...

Did you repaint the portlights sunday? they don't look lavander colored on Tim's site.

Cheers,
Bill

[mbd]

Hey Bill. Yeah, we spent a lot of valuable time yesterday and that little project. Bronze rustolium spray paint was the choice this time around. They came out real nice. Not as nearly as nice as your bronze, of course! It'll be interesting to see how it holds up.

[dasein668]

I'm going to guess that you've got yourself an annual chore, Mike. But maybe not. Did you acid etch and chromate prime those ports before the first coat of paint?

[mbd]

Nope. They were ground and buffed, then I primed them with an aluminum primer, then a gray lavender undercoat , then the bronze spray paint - time and funds were short. So, you're probably right Nathan, but I hope you're wrong. Time will tell...

How have your properly pre-treated frames held up?

[mbd]

BTW- Assuming all things go well with A-24, we plan on being up in the Casco Bay area the first or second week of August so pencil us in for a rondezvous at Jewel Island...

Tim, Jewel Island is a great spot - and, unfortunately, a well-known one. My sailing is mostly on weekends and I don't think you could even get near there on a weekend in the middle of the season! It might be OK during the weekdays, but I'm afraid my vacation time is mostly spoken for this year. Keep me posted on your schedule though, I may be able to find you a mooring in S. Portland. We could have a mini get together on your way up the coast...

[Tim Mertinooke]

[quote=mbd;15617]Tim, Jewel Island is a great spot - and, unfortunately, a well-known one.[quote]

True, but what a sweet spot it is. For me, it's good memories, that's mostly why it came to mind. I am interested in tapping local knowledge to find other spots however. As the summer progresses, we'll chat and figure something out...

[dasein668]

It might be OK during the weekdays,

I tried to go in there on a Wednesday in October two years ago and it was too crowded for my taste. I could likely have found a spot to anchor but there were 5 or 6 other boats in there so I just went back to Cliff Island.

[mbd]

Well, she's coming together, bit by bit. I got the coamings on this weekend. Mast stepping should happen next Sunday. I'm waiting for my lifelines to arrive. Oh, and I suppose I should put some sailing hardware on the decks to...

[mbd]

Sure is nice to be able to putter around on the boat again - in the water, as opposed to the side yard. I'm on a mooring now. It'll be nice too not to have to worry about backing out of a slip...

[ebb]

Varsta Brud!

[Tim Mertinooke]

Looking Good! No one would ever guess she's forty years old.

"I'm on a mooring now"
My preference for sure especially in the river I am in.

You and your family are going to have a great summer on that beauty.