As I research ever more into specifics on the re/construction of an Ariel, I am continually amazed at the content available through the Search function here. Type in a word like "core" or "outboard", and it is easy to stay up into the wee hours of the morning reading others ramblings, thoughts, and digressions.

One such session last night kept me awake until 3AM, and it pushed into my head an idea which allowed me several more sleepless minutes as I lay there trying my best to forget what being awake was. Eventually I was successful at that, but first this older idea of mine came to me that I wanted to share with ya'll for feedback and general discussion.

One of the threads I ran across was regarding the Ariels large, non-opening portlights. Some said away with the fixed portlights, give me opening ports, while others posited that to remove the large window structures would be to take away from the very essence of Albergs design. I agree with both, and, being a democratic man, decided to toss out for review an idea I have kept in the back of my mind since I had narrowed The Search down to the Ariel, Triton, or B27 - all lovely boats with large greenhouse windows on their upper flanks.

Here then is a quick photo manipulation which demonstrates not only the idea, but the look of it, and how little or much it affects the overall look of the boat.

The solution can be described simply as adding in a vertical member at a point which allows for bisecting the portlight shape into a rectangle on one side, and a manyangle on the other. The larger, rectangular side would, of course, be the opening half. The reasoning for the division is to have a shape which makes the rest of the construction as straightforward as possible, for our ports must open when needed, but also be able to shut tightly and stay that way in the event of a wave seeking to join us below in our snug, warm, dry cabin. Dealing with 90* angles would make the hinging, dogging, and sealing requirments easier to meet. The rectangularization (new word?) also stengthens the portlight somewhat, providing support where there was none previously.

I think it might still be a good idea to have exterior-mountable "storm shutters" in the event of an enormous offshore blow to protect these large openings in the cabin sides, but for day-to-day use in more sheltered, calmer waters, this idea might just be workable. Feel free to add comments, ideas, and input on the feasability of this. I never said it would be easy, just doable.