OK, looked through some pictures of the last year and I'm posting this sequence to give ebb and others a shot in the arm as to what their boats are going to look like when they finish with them. Actually, theirs will look a lot better than this! This first pic is "as is" after haulout in Pensacola and delilvery to Houston.
Getting there! Removed the bottom paint and a little gel coat, reinstalled new wood and hardware, and got the TX registration numbers on. Inside, everything repainted, rewired, new sole, mast step support installed, and new portlights. UGH!!
About ready to relaunch (see first photo in thread). Solar panel installed on stern rail, bottom coated with vinylester and paint. Heck, this looks like one of those reality TV series ----- a makeover show starring an Ariel! What will the friends and family say???
Wow, Kent!
There isn't a bad shot in the whole bunch. Sweet, fine looking boat. I envy you. I hope, I mean I really hope 113 looks as nice as 376 when we're done here.
These hulls might look even better out of the water than in it! Congratulations to you are in order when just recently on this very board we heard of one of these beauties going to the scrap heap.
We're talking bare bones stock Ariel restoration here. No bulkhead rot anywhere, so decided to try the stainless plate strong back support fix as outlined in Bill's manual. Worked like a charm. The door replacement was vinyl covered board from Home Depot-- the old one was warping into a strange shape.
Someone wanted a picture of my sea swing in action. I forgot who. Had my camera at Clear Lake today and snapped a few shots. I store the propane bottles in a cut off plastic pipe with end caps.
After 18 months, these cheap $10 3" computer fans from Radio Shack still work. I leave them on all the time (except in this photo). This one pushes out into the cockpit. One under the front cowl vent draws air in. They keep the air moving through so I don't show up to a stuffy, smelly boat. Heck of a lot cheaper than those $100+ jobs that WM sells. Can seal off the cockpit vent---- in foul weather. Lots of water could come in here in a big blow if you're pooped. This hole is where the old mechanical knot meter was located.