As far as width and thickness, I went off of what the Ariel already had. The original chainplates still look fine after 40 years, and many, many folks are still sailing around on their originals. Also, the rig on the Ariel is the same as that of the Triton, a 30+% heavier boat - so I know that it is plenty strong enough, overbuilt even. That was one of my attractions to the Ariel originally.
As far as length, I looked around at what other Ariel owners had chosen, as well as what was designed on a number of other boats. I've gone longer than the originals and what most other Ariel owners have chosen, partly to spread the stresses out as far as possible, and partly for aesthetic reasons.
As far as material, I've gone with stainless. I'm no metallurgist, so I just figured that I would follow in what
The Mighty Alberg decided to use in the original design of the boat.
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