Ariel #414

[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]

For comparison to the earlier post here: http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/a...1&d=1180709190

This is how the frames look now:

[dasein668]

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?

I hope they hold up for you too. That said, touching up the paint every year wouldn't be the end of the world. Tim does it (with his clear laquer).

My frames are holding up very well so far. I used the Awlgrip system including etching and chromate priming with an LPU topcoat. After two full seasons I haven't noticed any issues at all.

Your boat looks great, Mike. Looking forward to seeing her out on Casco Bay this summer!