I'm the new caretaker of Ariel-109

[Ariel 109]

Hi Bill,

The bronze frames are from an old boat. Maybe an early Triton? Got a good deal on them from Trader John's Chandlery on City Island. They were chrome plated originally, still are on the backside. Since I only have the outer bronze frames I need to reuse my existing aluminum inner frames. So I have a little welding and machining to do to match up the bolt holes between the frames.

Ben

[Bill]

See post #24 in the following thread for the source of the large port light frames:

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussi...e&daysprune=-1

[Ariel 109]

Two years of care-taking Ariel 109 Noesis. I've got a list of projects to attempt this upcoming winter. Everything takes time.

[mbd]

I can feel her smiling. That's one happy, well-sailed little boat! Looking forward to seeing your bronze frames installed...

[ebb]

And from that, it is obvious that this boat is alive in the water - something breathing and animal about her.

All modern sailboats, all modern boats are impositions upon the water, about 99% testosterone proof. 100% artifice and pretense.

There's none of that in an Ariel and Commander. The pleasure comes with being one with the water and the wind. Not slamming around on it with intent to overcome and possess.

Looking at the pics as an 'elevation' view of an Ariel fuselage: (Grew up with mock dogfights overhead on LongIsland by Thunderbolts and Navy Hellcats. Boy, was that cool! But a little later discovered a really sexy looking killer called the P51 Mustang. Could see myself (10 years old) inside that cockpit bubble! These spiffy sharks of the skies with all the right curves were still napalming and strafing humans in Korea - my war. If truth be told, talked my way into USArmy Harbor Craft Repair, and just missed lugging BARs up PorkChopHill.. by a hair of my chinnychinchin.)

Looking at those two photos of the A109, imagining wings on that dynamic body, her rudder and ailerons in take-off position? Easy to imagine what Alberg airplane wings could look like.
Yes? Just fantasy. Imco there isn't a bit of a suggestion of a warbird in any Alberg. Gull, maybe.
Or Canvasback.

Infact there's very little of anything mechanical to that Ariel.
It looks alive. It's not a burden on the water. Real and inviting.
And promises of good times.

Lucky we are!

[paulsproesser]

Two years of care-taking Ariel 109 Noesis. I've got a list of projects to attempt this upcoming winter. Everything takes time.

Ben, I see how she rides higher from the waterline obviously this is partly from the removal of the lead. Oh and I got the plate thanks again just haven't had a chance to get it to the plater

[paulsproesser]

Ben, I see how she rides higher from the waterline obviously this is partly from the removal of the lead. Oh and I got the plate thanks again just haven't had a chance to get it to the plater

Oh btw you could benefit from the solar yard light being on the mooring ball it would let other boats see you better at night

[Ariel 109]

Hi Paul,

Glad you got the builder's plate safe and sound. I've been so busy with work I haven't made any progress on getting cast another plate for 109 out of copper. But I did enjoy working on your plate.

109 does float high. Not only is she missing the 200 pounds of external ballast. But also she missing the weight of an outboard motor, stanchions, bow pulpit, cushions, and water in her water tank. So she might now be 400 pounds lighter than a typical Ariel. I think that for the kind of sailing I do, day-sailing on Long Island Sound, the added speed and responsiveness of the lighter boat is more fun.

I have a nice Johnson 8hp Sailmaster outboard that came with 109 but it's heavy and a pain to place into and out of the lazarette, you need take the control arm off to articulate it into place. I really don't want to drag the motor through the water while sailing. Borrowed an old light weight British Seagull several times on 109 and while primitive, no gearbox, you can easily install the motor in the lazarette well to get back to the mooring if the wind dies. But I do prefer sailing without a engine aboard. I know it's old fashion to get becalmed but with good company, food and refreshments it can be a pleasure.

Ben

[Ariel 109]

The strong west winds of the past few days gave us some very low tides at City Island. My old friend Hans took this shot of Noesis stuck in the mud with the top of her rudder showing.



Odds and Ends

Made a drip tray for the old Homestrand / Kenyon alcohol yacht stove I bought awhile back. Also found some new suction cup feet to keep the stove secure on the Ariel's galley formica counter top, they work great. I really like this stove, didn't cost much, it's simple to use and works great. The burners were made by the Swedish company Svea, easy to find parts.







I salvaged this Sea Swing gimbaled stove off a beached abandon sailboat last spring. Hoping to fit it one day on the S-Boat, make tea between races! Cleaned up nice with my bead blaster. I now await the arrival of a vintage (1930's) Primus 54 kerosene stove I "won" on EBay to complete the workings. These old spirit stoves are beautifully designed and addicting.



I lent my trusty Captain Currey knife to someone on a job site this summer and they promptly lost it, dang! Searching for a worthy replacement has been ongoing. A little shop near my home started selling the venerable Opinel pocket knife. Peeling an apple with one of theses knives makes you feel like a french peasant taking a break from feeding the pigs and milking the cows. The beech wood handle can't be more unpretentious! Next the German made sailor's knife with the brass anchor inlayed into the rosewood handle, blade from Solingen. Nice knife but no way to attached a lanyard! Guess I could drill a hole. Finally the knife I've been lusting after, on EBay with a BIN for half the price of what West Marine is asking, the glow in the dark Wichard sailing knife. If Brancusi designed a sailing knife it would look like the Wichard, a masterpiece!

[goodsteel53]

All fun, wonderful toys! Thank you for posting the pics... eye candy for sailors, and good ideas for many of us!

[paulsproesser]

Hey ben , great stuff ,looks like you don't have any problem at all occupying yourself. We went to check on the boat yesterday and our keel is in the mud too but she's still in an upright positio and the rudder is still underwater but she won't move . Its the lowes I've ever seen it or that I can remember

[Ariel 109]

Here are some pictures of the circa 1946 Primus #54 kerosene burner that I'm trying to fit into Sea Swing stove.



The Primus stove came in this nice pine box, very cracker-barrel.



Along with the stove came these instructions.



Here's the burner in place in the Sea Swing.

[ebb]

Ben, the instant I read 'Brancusi' I had to internet Wichard.
Wichard makes fine fixings out of stainless for sailboats.
I've just become intimate with their eclectic but well made 9510 baby-stay tang that fits into a vertical slot you carve in the mast.

Just wondering if such a fine Deco style riggers knife actually had the designers name attached.
google: World Knives: Nautical Knives
www.worldknives.com/types/nautical-knives-9.html
Boggling array - and so many knives be known by people names.
And that one is special. Can almost feel the heft of it!. Folded it looks like a broach from the twenties we might see on the Road Show.

Seems like a knowledgable site, I'd bet this guy would know, and it would be cool to know, who designed it.
Monsieur Wichard? Jacques Coupant?

Looks like the Glow and the 9510 cost about the same.
Talking about art, that BLUE BOX photo of yours should be framed to hang on the wall!!! That SeaSwing is definitely Brancusi.
That beach handled Optinel (Joseph Optinel) apple peeler might be a Basque pattern, famed in its own right.

[mbd]

I can't wait to see Ben's boat 10 years from now - she'll be a floating antique shop with a library of out of print marine books to match - one of a kind! So very cool!

What's next Ben? Maybe wooden spars and a gaff rig?

[Ariel 109]

Thanks Mike and Ebb,

I am currently getting a small lithograph (circa 1890's) of the USS Brooklyn by the artist Frederic S. Cozzens framed, with the intention to hang in up somewhere in the Ariel's cabin. So I'm going to have an art collection also to go along with all those old books! Anyone have an old Chelsea clock and barometer?

Here's a Cozzens watercolor sketch, these go for some money. I like this one. The Old Print Shoppe here in New York has it for sale currently. Believe it came from the recently defunct Knickerbocker Yacht Club.



The knife page Ebb is wonderful, I think the French make the best pocket knives. Wichard makes nice stuff, if I every need a forged surgical implant I hope it's one of theirs.

http://www.wichard.com/chrome_cobalt...precision.html