Outboard Well

[Dan Maliszewski]

And..

[Dan Maliszewski]

And finally..

[Bill]

Looks like the real thing to me

[marymandara]

I know a fellow who is looking at an Ariel right now...he's an engineless type, and as such won't be using the well as a well. Anyone ever thought about pulling a mold off one of these? I know someone who could use a part...
Dave

[Mike Goodwin]

I have got a mold half pulled, my health is back, just not any time to work. I haven't set foot on #45 in over a week. I may work on it this weekend if the weather co-ops . I need to make 2, one for #45 and one for Commander 105, I might make 5 or 6 extra if I get on a roll and dont have to go to the ER.

[ebb]

Makes alot more sense that the plug is hollow
which could make it useful for other purposes
and easier to store as well.

338s's, being solid foam is therefor not
original, or at least suspect.

[Bill]

Ebb,

Yes, 338's plug is suspect. Factory plugs are "hollow" fiberglass structures.

[Bill]

Best suggestion I have is to find one to copy. All outboard model Ariels and Commanders have them

[ebb]

This is not a How To -- but I spent a bunch of time making molds in that well.

You could say the well itself is the mold, and if you are handy with epoxy anf

fiberglass you can use it to make your plug. I'd plan to line the surface of the

well with, maybe, 1/16" cardboard or 1/8". Then coat it with too much wax.

Hang your strips of cloth fron the top flat (don't worry about the attactment

places yet, you'll scroll them out with a jigsaw) You will also have closed the

bottom off with a piece of waxed doorskin to glass over and create the bottom.

ETC good luick.

[Lucky Dawg]

Hey Rob,
I have one and I am happy to work with you on dimensions to create one. You could work up a box form and go to town with fiberglass.

[Rob Rotondo]

Thanks for the offer! I'm not sure which method would be better. Create a box and go to town or ebb's method of using the actual well to create the plug. By the way I think it's worth asking Does anyone have a plug that I can buy? Also, I am wondering if my deep shaft outboard will fit in the stern locker when the plug is in and/or where do you put the outboard when using it? I know I can find out when I unwrap the boat but just wondering what people do with their outboard when using the plug if it doesn't fit. Seems like it wont.

[Bill]

Should be room for the engine head on port and prop behind the gas tank on starboard. However, when sailing it's recommended that the engine be on the cabin sole with the head in the companion doorway. Otherwise water in the engine can migrate to the bearings below the engine's head when the boat is healed going to weather.

[Rob Rotondo]

Thanks Bill. Just to clarify, the engine laid down on the cabin sole? Not sure what "with the head in the companion doorway" means?

[ebb]

AH H H! Those were the days -- when I crewed for the Admiral
weekend racing. [actually Bill was teaching me how to sail]
There were three of us aboard and the stern ran low to the water,
you could see lapping just below the well.
Bill was invariably in the companionway making sure we started the
race exactly on time and rounded the cans on the proper side. Also
was in charge of when the sandwiches came out, being he is the
skipper of MaiTai, the yellow avenger of the racing fleet.


After we left the estuary and raised the sails, the OB was lifted out of
the well and placed down below with the motor at the steps, the prop
laid pointing forward. The lazaret became quite wet under the hatch.
The motor was a 6-2, I believe, and was manageable even tho it had
to be handed thru the c'way. I don't remember smelling gasoline below.

But I do remember thinking, it's the damnedest thing that the motor
has to come out because it's a drag when it isn't running. It made us
officially an engineless racer. But I don't think it mattered.


The only sailors that always won were Ed Ekers and Ernie Rideout.
Don't know if they were motorless, or where they kept their Ariel, but
they always seemed accompanied by a bevy of angels.


__________________________________________________ _____
Could say consequences led me to cut a slot in the Ariel's transom
to be able to raise the OB shaft out of the water. And given where the
hinge is placed, a good way above the water. Another story, much of
which can be found here in these forums.






'

[Bill]

"head in the doorway" -- the power head of the ob should be facing forward and over the center of the keel. (If you have a Commander, there's no door.) Lay the ob on the side the mfg specifies. As Ebb noted, if left in the ob well while sailing things can get pretty wet.