F.S. Ariel #3, "Ariel Spirit"

[mrgnstrn]

Any takers at ....$6500?

[ebb]

A savvy buyer would get it now.
But it is in the spring our fancy turns to sailing.

[mbd]

Savvy indeed. I'll second that Ebb!

These improvements alone cost about as much as one of our boats!
- 2003 Main by Scott (used maybe 12 times)
- 2003 150% Roller Furling Genoa by Scott (maybe 12 uses)
- 2x Lewmar self tailers in cockpit
- Pushpit

Save the upgrade expenses and maintenance expenses and go sailing!

...not to mention, he's sailed the boat last summer with his baby on board, so you know she's been looked after properly!

[mrgnstrn]

...Don't forget that the boat is 100% re-wired in 2003 (AC and DC systems)

...or that the bottom has been stripped to the gelcoat and barrier coat rolled on for longterm prevention of blisters (ounce of prevention vs pound of cure)

...or that the rudder & shaft are *brand new*

...or that the cushions are new as of 2003

...etc, etc, etc

Also consider this.... you can get a decent new 75hp outboard for that price, but still have to buy the powerboat to go with it!

[John L. Giulietti]

Dear Sir/Madam, Seller of the Ariel #3:
I am in the market for a 24 to 27-foot fibreglass sailboat with and outboard motor. One think could my eye regarding Ariel #3, i.e. the replacement of the rudder and rudder shaft!.

Could you please tell me what was involved in the replacement of the rudder and rudder shaft, including the approximate costs involved?

I owned a 1967 Pearson Triton 28-1/2 foot which had a mahagony rudder with an approximate 3/4 inch bronze shaft (according to my memory).

Did your Ariel #3 have a bronze rudder shaft? What was its diameter? Did you replace it? If you replaced it, did you replace it with bronz or stanless steel? What diameter shaft did you replace it with? Did you also replace the "shoe" at the bottom of the shaft?

What was the approximate cost of this work? Thank you, /s/John L Giulietti in Vernon, Connecticut

[Bill]

I owned a 1967 Pearson Triton 28-1/2 foot which had a mahagony rudder with an approximate 3/4 inch bronze shaft (according to my memory).

John,

The Ariel's rudder shaft / shoe assembly is nearly identical to the one found on the Triton. Shafts are one inch in diameter.

[mrgnstrn]

The rudder was replaced with the following materials:

1" diameter bronze shaft (total cost ~$300 including material and machining)

two sheets (each 2' x 4' of marine grade plywood) for ~$100 total

The six bronze bolts to attach the rudder to shaft ~$100 total

Then there was my labor to shape the plywood, fit he shaft, epoxy the whole works together, fiberglass the whole thing, and put a sufficient number of epoxy barrier coats to prevent water intrusion. (priceless?)

I did not replace the shoe, but did take the pintle in the shoe and expand it from ~3/4" diameter (and out of round from years of use) to perfectly round and ~1" diameter so that the bearing area on the shaft/shoe interface was larger.

p.s., and the boat is still for sale.

[mrgnstrn]

I was at the marina this weekend, so I took some more-better pictures.
The first one is a little bit of an action shot, but with no action, really.

[mrgnstrn]

part two, slightly different vantage point.

[mrgnstrn]

what a fine looking bow!

[mrgnstrn]

Now without the "action" part.

[mrgnstrn]

another vantange point

[mrgnstrn]

yet another shot
(boy it sure is easy to get carried away when you aren't paying for developing!)

[mrgnstrn]

last shot, just to prove that she has a port side as well!

[mrgnstrn]

....still for sale.....
Now located on the hard in Deale, MD.