Ariel #414

[Tim Mertinooke]

Do we need to remind you to post pictures?

[mbd]

Of course not! I mean, come on, I just posted my purple portlight frames! Launch day will be a joy... hopefully.

[Tim Mertinooke]

Ya know, taking a close look at your boat and Bill's (231), I'm thinking A-24 will do the beige non-skid when the time comes. It just looks awesome! Don't get me wrong, the "Alberg Purple" is nice too, but Sea Glass cornered the market on that one...

BTW- Assuming all things go well with A-24, we plan on being up in the Casco Bay area the first or second week of August so pencil us in for a rondezvous at Jewel Island. I have fond memories of hiking all over that island. We also scored a CQR anchor there that someone abandoned after unsuccessful attempts to free it from a mooring chain it was jammed into.

Can you picture it...




An Ariel cousin enjoying Cocktail Cove...


Anyone else game?

[dasein668]

Well, Steve Morse should be putting Mike in today: and of course, its P-O-U-R-I-N-G. Here's hoping for a smooth launch!

[mbd]

Well that was fun...

Thanks Nathan - I can't help but feel our homage to the boat name gods last night paid off. It was a very wet and windy, but thankfully uneventful splash after a year and a half. Here's the latest picture from Tim's website - she's on her mooring now. Woo hoo! Sorry, no action photos of the launch - it was way too wet. I'm going to have a beer or five now.

[bill@ariel231]

Mike

Congrats! Glad she's wet. Hope you have dried out. It's pouring here too...

Did you repaint the portlights sunday? they don't look lavander colored on Tim's site.

Cheers,
Bill

[mbd]

Hey Bill. Yeah, we spent a lot of valuable time yesterday and that little project. Bronze rustolium spray paint was the choice this time around. They came out real nice. Not as nearly as nice as your bronze, of course! It'll be interesting to see how it holds up.

[dasein668]

I'm going to guess that you've got yourself an annual chore, Mike. But maybe not. Did you acid etch and chromate prime those ports before the first coat of paint?

[mbd]

Nope. They were ground and buffed, then I primed them with an aluminum primer, then a gray lavender undercoat , then the bronze spray paint - time and funds were short. So, you're probably right Nathan, but I hope you're wrong. Time will tell...

How have your properly pre-treated frames held up?

[mbd]

For comparison to the earlier post here: http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/a...1&d=1180709190

This is how the frames look now:

[mbd]

Another shot from this morning. Too bad a topsides job wasn't in the cards! Tim's work had drawn to a close, so yesterday, me and my friend spent all day doing the bottom, boot top, repainting the window frames, applying the new name and whatever else we could to get ready for the launch today.

[mbd]

Here's a BEFORE from Tim's web page.

[mbd]

...and AFTER. What a transformation!

[dasein668]

Nope. They were ground and buffed, then I primed them with an aluminum primer, then a gray lavender undercoat , then the bronze spray paint - time and funds were short. So, you're probably right Nathan, but I hope you're wrong. Time will tell...

How have your properly pre-treated frames held up?

I hope they hold up for you too. That said, touching up the paint every year wouldn't be the end of the world. Tim does it (with his clear laquer).

My frames are holding up very well so far. I used the Awlgrip system including etching and chromate priming with an LPU topcoat. After two full seasons I haven't noticed any issues at all.

Your boat looks great, Mike. Looking forward to seeing her out on Casco Bay this summer!

[mbd]

Thanks Nathan. I'm really pleased with how it all came together.

Good luck with your launch on Wednesday. The weather is looking MUCH nicer! Heck, it might even be pleasant out there!