The album of Ariel #422

[CapnK]

I brought Katie Marie home this weekend. It was a wild trip, I'll write it all up in a day or so. Suffice to say I motored 122 miles in 34.25 hours total time (point to point), and was stopped/not moving for about 8 hours of that. The 6hp Merc 4 stroke worked like a champ, fuel usage was about .25 gallons per hour, the whole trip only took 7 gallons of fuel. The boat handled like a dream, even in 3-4+ foot short-period swells coming upriver under the lash of sustained winds at 25 with gusts to 35. Here's a little eye-candy that tells part of the tale.

This shot I took Monday morning shows the salt buildup from bashing into the Cape Fear River so much on Sunday. The glass to the right has been splashed with freshwater, the left one is still salt-encrusted. I was glad for the tall cabin trunk on Sunday - sort of like a built-in dodger.



And here's Katie Marie tied up here in her new slip. Finally.

[Mike Goodwin]

Twas a fun front that blasted thru this weekend, Huh!
Sorry I couldn't buy you a mug of Arrogant Bastard IPA, I drank yours and mine so it didn't go to waste .

[commanderpete]

Welcome home Kurt.

That boat is cherry.

Now forget those plans to change the ports.


Signed,

The Voice of Reason

[CapnK]

The story is up on my site. A bit rough around the edges yet, and I have more pictures to include, but if you like reading, it's plenty long...

Katie Marie comes Home

PS - LOL at Mike and C'pete! Mike - I had White Russians instead. Pete - no plans on these ports yet, altho' I may swap them for some nice white plastic ones.


Um, not.

[CapnK]

Woke up this morning at 6:30AM for my first full day as a liveaboard onboard an Ariel. That's kind of late for me to sleep onboard, but dawn broke behind the clouds, and it stayed a bit darker than usual. Last night, I got the starboard settee bunk to myself, while the CrewDogs took the V-berth (although Buffett came down sometime in the night for a while - I remember a wet nose in the face early in the AM). They like the new boat, although they need helping up and down the companionway.

It was kind of chilly last night, so I had both hatchboards in while I slept, leaving the sliding hatch cracked back 8 or 10 inches for a light breeze. This morning, I stuffed a drink coozee in between the boards, and it opened up a slit about 4" wide right at eye level. Standing at the companionway, coffee cup in hand, peering out and down the length of Winyah Bay, I felt right at home, and I smiled at my new boat.

Thank you, Mr. Alberg. Your ideas live on, as part of my Dream.

After coffee, I started on The Work. I made up a list of things that needed doing more or less right away, staring into space, down towards the cabin sole, inbetween jotting my tasks down. That's when I realized what I'd do first. I broke out a sheet of 100 grit, got down on hands and knees, and gave the sole a good abrasive cleaning, followed by a couple thick coats of teak oil. While I had the oil out, I went ahead and wiped down all the other teak and mahogany in the main cabin, and now she's just a little bit prettier belowdecks, and I've accomplished my first task in her restoration.

I've some things I'll be asking about soon, I need to take some pics to show you all what it is I'm going to be asking about. Katie's in great shape for a somewhat aged lady, but there is a lot I can do to make her even better. I'm looking forward to it, to seeing her sparkle and shine again, and to feel her come alive under the pull of full sails. Ain't it great?

[c_amos]

Ain't it great?

Yup.

Sure is.

[commanderpete]

Did you teach those pups to sail yet?

Gotta earn their keep