My GOD has it been raining. The wet season is supposed to be over by the end of January but it did get a late start this year, and the Gods are determined to drench the hell out of me and my soggy boat!
It is good weather for staying in and working though. I spent the day putting together a news letter which I’m hoping everyone gets by tonight. If you don’t get a news letter please let me know, my database might be a little wonky.
I’ve posted another video in the store which covers the sleepy littlie town of 
Puerto Lindo where Splendid and I live at the moment. I’m going to get more focused with my videos as I want to cover specific things like cooking aboard, provisioning, fishing and so on. I want to teach all you guys out there how to make your own bread, it’s kind of important to the life-style. As far as how much the videos cost I’m going to charge according to how much work I put into them. I’m not doing this to maximize profit but more to motivate myself. You guys cant let me get too fat. If i start eating in restaurants all the time you’ll have to pull the plug.
I went to my friend Claudio’s boat for lunch yesterday and we ended up polishing a bottle of wine. I put a few drops in the sea for Rex. I spoke to my friend Jamie on Skype. There wasn’t really anything anyone could have done. Jamie was 
below cooking when Rex fell overboard. Rex grabbed the toe line but by the time they got the sail down and the boat turned around he was gone. They are thinking maybe he had a heart attack from the stress as he just disappeared. Not so easy for a captain to deal with loosing crew. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen :(
I sold 3 raffle tickets. I’m pretty psyched as I’m going to go and buy a used Scuba tank for $100. I still need to find a BC but for now the main reason for the tank is to paint splendid once the rain is gone for the season. If you want to build a rig like i am to run a sprayer and pneumatic tools off of a SCUBA tank (tools underwater is cool) check out this website: http://saltypig.com/scuba/
If you guys want to buy a raffle ticket for someone now is a good time before the holidays. Also if your want to get sailing books, cruising guides, or videos check out bluesphere books. Its ridiculous how little money i make off of Amazon, i get like a $10.00 deposit every year or so but the selection and prices are good. I’ve also put together a recommended reading page which is the first one you come to.
Cheers.
Sail far and live slowly
Alex
Enjoy Project BlueSphere? Please show your support by downloading my films, or donating today :)
Also check out the BlueSphere Bookstore for recommended reading and cruising guides.
Good news, sunshine today. “They” say when the wet season ends it ends with a vengeance, I’m hoping this was it. Bad news, time to visit the dentist, man i hate the dentist :(
Going to scrape the hull.
Cheers.
Hey Alex,
Just down loaded your video clip. Well worth the $2.79 Canadian. I am really learning so much by watching them. I can’t wait until you set out again across this great Blue Sphere. I am looking forward to seeing video clips on when you are sailing and the dos and don’t while under sail. When do you plan to leave? I hope sooner then later. If you can sell many down laods then i guess it will all happen that much sooner.
Do you plan to put splendid up on the beach to clean the bottom like you did with Namesta? If so I would love to see the video clip.
Alex:
Great clip. Thanks for putting it up and I enjoyed, “Just another day with Alex Dorsey.”
Best of luck and enjoy the moment.
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea
Hi Alex
I just purchased the second download. It looks great. I know you are getting a lot of rain but I am afraid I have to rain on your parade a little. Re the Kabota water pump. I suspect the water pump was not designed to be used with a pulley and the bearings will not handle a side load for very long. Aqua Gen mounts the water pump in front of the fly wheel so it has a direct drive. I also believe the impeller pump is designed to push water and not pull it. Your Kabota installation looks to be above the water line and the pump may not be able to lift the water up. I hope I am wrong on both counts but I thought I should give you a heads up while you are still in the design stage. You can always keep the electric pump setup in reserve just in case.
Bill
Any reason you’re not going to use PVC pipe instead of the SCUBA tank? My friends use them for On-Board Air systems in their Jeeps to fill up tires and run tools. They pressurize them with a York A/C compressor.
Bill,
Dont worry about the rain. I spoke to Sherwood before I bought the pump, it is absolutely is meant to be belt driven and should pull the water just fine. I cant afford to buy things without proper research.
Seafarer,
The biggest plus to this system is i don’t have to listen to a compressor all day and I can use pneumatic tools underwater, diving.
I’m really bummin! I just missed a free jeep through a friend of a friend. An old cruiser that I knew 5 years ago has extreme health issues. He came down here gave his jeep away to a cab driver and is selling his cal 46 for like 20k. My friend is buying the boat. Man it would have been nice to have some wheels, another day :( !Peace out!
I spent thirty bucks on two pulleys and another hundred to a machine shop to make my whole pulley system work. Heading back to Splendid tomorrow night. I hate being away from home!!!
G’day Alex,
just finished watching your second video. Well worth the price.
Thinking about your watermaker project, has anyone tried using a small high pressure water blaster to drive the membrane. They retail in Australia for about $100.00 and you could run it off the inverter thereby having one less pulley and belt, (KISS) and also use it to clean the bottom ?.
Regards
Sharne
Sharne,
the pump needt to run at 800-1000 psi. I could put an elect motor on the cat pump but it is expensive, need a bell housing, and elect motor. I was quoted 600 in parts. For belt driven I need to find an old twelve volt clutch.
I think it is simpler in the end?
I just sent you a little Christmas (early) present via PayPal…
You dont know (or maybe you do) how you folks you impact thru your site.
Happy Holidays Alex !!!
Mark Thomas
Let me try that again…
You dont know (or maybe you do) how many you folks you impact thru your site.
Happy Holidays Alex !!!
Mark Thomas