The album of Ariel #422

[ebb]

Kurt, the mockup looks great! Definitely like the openness of the shelves worked in to the design. And
"A view out the deadlights"
is a catchy future chapter heading if I ever read one.

For my large frame in 338, the only seating available will be the dinette.
I'll have, rather than the tanks, more traditional stowage, deep stowage under the seats, because
looking out the deadlights is absolutely necessary for a cruiser! Especially along a dark and stormy coastline....

And sitting in an Ariel at a level to do that requires a dinette, either a double or single to be remodeled in. And when putting on the dog, with an actual table, we'll be able to dine with guests, rather than cramping a buffet.

Often read fore and aft seating put down by sailers in tippy boats - that settees are better for bracing in a seaway - BUT a couple of pillows can wedge a body pretty good. Not too hard to figure out a way to scooch sideways, Right?


Making lockers 'waterproof' is a good way to think... but how realistic is it actually? Found some nice cheap nylon locker drains with a washered screwin plug for dry lockers. And ply lids are out, so we need large screwin access plates for any lockers around the waterline. But I'm worried about mold and ventilation and such. And will the waterline outside really relate to the 1/2 bulkheads inside?

[CapnK]

Thanks, Ebb.

I'll be able to have, at any point in time, "guest", but not "guests". It is a huge improvement in the 'sociability' of the cabin, I saw that last night with 2 different people at 2 different times. It's also made a huge difference in what it's like to be below when solo, being able to see all around outside while seated.

Have already considered adding some type of foot support which will be easily reachable while seated more-or-less athwartships in the dinette seat. It'll help not just when heeling, but also with shifting the position of your 'bum' every so often.

This dinette is high enough that there really is only room for one set of shoulders per seat. Eye-level is right at the top of the deadlight frame when seated. I need the height to use the counter space for sleeping feet, but with seats mounted a bit lower, and seats just a few inches wider (athwartships), the dinette would have room for 4 good friends.

When I talked to Jim of "Atom" a couple weeks ago, he brought up the fact that many folks talk about mildew in closed lockers, but that he didn't see anywhere near enough for it to be considered a problem. He agreed with me that on a small boat, you go into your lockers often enough that they remain ventilated to the point that mildew worries are over-rated.

AFA waterproof lockers - dividing the wide-open interior of a boat up into many smaller spaces that can be sealed well enough, even if not *totally* waterproof, to slow a leak to a trickle would make a big difference in the case of flooding. Though I am of course shooting for 'waterproof', I'll be content with something that will be at least 'very slow leaking' until I can effect a repair...

I don't think that the bulkheads line up on the actual waterline anywhere, as factory-built. Even if we put them at or above the waterline, they'll be underwater mostly when heeled while sailing, right? I'm trying instead to put in all of my flotation below the line at which the transverse stringer runs along the hull at the shelves. That's as far as I am willing to sink.

[ebb]

I remember that and keep it in mind. If lockers are kept clean and dry. they probably will stay that way.

Naw, about 6 for supper?.. I meant a one seat dinette or a two seat - both single! Possible quests sit maybe on the ladder and in 338 in the open V-berth cove. That's four, everybody more is in the cockpit under the bimini!

The dinette in 338 will have forward facing navigation as another use. And as I visualize it at the moment, about half of the table surface will hinge UP to be hooked on the cabin side for a double berth option. Super quick 'conversion' if the bracing can be worked out. As we've seen in other Ariels, the only true double berth would extend virtually side to side. In port or at anchor alone, I'd like a wider berth - that will be easy if kept within the dinette dimension, no way a double. For a double, it shouldn't be too hard to have extensions and props across the aisle at the dinette seat height. Just as long as the cabin can be returned to normal operation without an engineering degree.
What are you going to do?

I'm a freshaire fiend. I'll be sleeping in the cockpit if at all possible, but the best way to do that?.. that's another bouillabaisse.

[CapnK]

Ebb -

I've figured out already that when I make it for good, the dinette will be widened just a smidge. A couple more inches of width to the seats will be perfect, and will substantially increase their comfort and usability. Not that what I have now is bad - it's working fine - but since I am building it in, I might as well make it that little bit better, right?

I tried an athwartships double for a bit since so many other Arielers here use it and like it. The way I set it up was so that port side was head-end (just an open, usual Ariel port berth), and it narrowed across the middle of the boat to strb'd, the designated foot-end (where there was in an alcove I'd created in the bins I have simulating cabinets there). Kind of like a v-berth shape, but across the boat. I did happen to have some company when she was set up like that, and it worked out well and comfortable.

So with this dinette setup, what I've thought so far is to echo that shape. Have the forward seat have a pull-out area (like the 'pull out shelf' you can see to strb'd in earlier pictures), to be able to widen the forward end of the berth. The table, in it's down position, could be shifted a few inches to strb'd to aid in the widening of the middle parts. This would be an in port/at anchor berth, when needed.

I also still have the option open to make the v-berth a double, up on top of the lockers there. I am undecided about this, because then I'd be toting around all that cushioning, while only rarely (if ever) using it. However, foam floats really well, so more foam might not be a bad thing.

I cut up the berth cushion yesterday eve, into sections appropos of the dinette sections. Sewed up some quicky covers for it at my shop, and it's made setup/takedown of the dinette much easier.

It's difficult to relate just how much more 'homey' and liveable the dinette has made the interior of the boat. Suffice to say that the amount of hominess is now much huge-er than before.

Like you, I too tend to spend more time sleeping in the cockpit when at anchor (and even when hove-to for a long nap, if the weather and seas aren't too bad). Makes it much easier to get a quick visual sweep. Puts a smile on my face to wake up gazing into the sky...

[commanderpete]

Nice!

When you make the seat-backs, they would be more comfy if they are rounded and angled back a bit

[CapnK]

Pete - Your advice is already well-taken. My temporary back support is neither, and not very comfortable at all.

[CapnK]

Well, since Tony G won't post any pictures for us to drool over on this cold wintry night, I'll post some rather drab pics of my own...

Today was, at last, one I have thought of for a long, long time - DeTanking Day.

I followed the manual instructions per the cut-out outline, and, when the plywood was pulled off, all stood revealed...