Ariel #414

[Tony G]

Ooo! Drool, drool, slobber,slobber.

She does look very nice. Being #414, she's probably still 'warm out of the oven'. Danged near brand new! The modifications look really good too. Very fitting, not out of place. The boom craddle looks like it was conceived by someone with some miles under their keel. It would be fun to take an inagural sail with some Caribbean cruisers. Brain pickin'? You bet!

Gawd, I'd be nervous cutting into such nice looking decks. Is she in well enough shape that you could sail her for the season and decide if there are any other changes you'd like to make so you could do them all at one time?

Maybe you just wanna give her to me...

[mbd]

- CP, she was absolutely worth the wait! BTW, have you got pictures of that newly painted mast yet? Or have you been too busy with your new gal?

- "Tony G", that was my reaction when I first saw her too!

- And "thanks" for posting the Uncle Heny's ad David S.!

Now, just to get the boat...

[CapnK]

Wow, Mike - She's a beaut! And only 8 hulls later, Katie Marie was born.

Good things do come to those who wait!!!

Love those companionway steps, the anchor locker, and the slat-separated cockpit lockers - all things I'll be doing before long.

Also, I see you have the same teak countertop galley organizer Katie had. Yes, "had" - I took it out a little while ago, and am loving the space it freed up. Until I saw your pics, I figured it was an aftermarket thing, but I guess it is an OEM Pearson Ariel piece o' stuff. (Anyone need one?)

Again, Congrats! You'll have a blast sailing her down.

[mbd]

Thanks Kurt!

Hey, does Katie Marie have cast aluminum deck hardware instead of the chromed bronze too? If so, I wonder when Pearson decided to cut costs that way.

[mbd]

After waiting a day because of this, then finally leaving Belfast, Maine in this on Friday we set out. (GPS is a wondrous thing!)

[Bill]

Thanks Kurt!

Hey, does Katie Marie have cast aluminum deck hardware instead of the chromed bronze too? If so, I wonder when Pearson decided to cut costs that way.

When they began building their yachts . . .

[mbd]

Steaming for twelve hours with prevailing winds on the nose and seeing stuff like this...

[mbd]

..and this.

[mbd]

Then another 8 hours, sailing the last three... A-414 has arrived at her new home in South Portland for the season! Woo hoo!!!

[frank durant]

Congrats on making it 'home'.....looks GREAT @ the dock !!

[CapnK]

WOW! Way to go, Mike! Congrats!!!

I know how you feel - I pat Katie's hull every night as I go to sleep, and dream good seafaring dreams.

PS - We, too, are members of the cast aluminum deck hardware crowd. Whatever works!

[mbd]

The need for better access to the leaking stern tube hurried this project along. As I've never cut a hole in a cockpit before, and because he is such a nice guy, I was able to secure the services of the master himself, Mr. Tim Lackey to install the access hatch.

I bought a Bomar L-Profile Slam Hatch, 16x20 (I think - the picture and dimensions online don't seem to match the hatch), part number Bom-17621-w for $61.99 from Hamilton Marine. It seemed like a good fit for the area and felt and looked as though it had plenty of support.

[mbd]

The cockpit BEFORE...

[mbd]

Tim drilling...

[mbd]

Tim sawing...