Somebody please shoot me, I’m going mad with technical issues!
What is it “they” say the definition of cruising is? “Fixing your boat in exotic locations”, true-dat! I’ve decided Splendid is just one big work surface!
However I think something is the matter with my brain? I don’t understand why it is I need to make, engineer, figure out everything for myself. I’ve been screwing around with this scuba/spray rig for a while and I cant get it to work the way I want, I’m getting frustrated. What I don’t understand is why I can set the pressure regulator at 40psi, the LP side of the 1st stage puts out 140psi, and I still have a few second refresh on the gun and the air pressure quickly diminishes? Why don’t I get a steady 40psi? Any input would help. Maybe I need a different hi-pressure regulator (3000 PSI) on the HP side of the first stage?
I did hook up my regulator/spray gun to my 12v sea-breathe hookah system and I 
get a really nice, consistent, 25 PSI which I seem to be able to paint with.The sea-breathe has a large inflatable air reservoir and I think this makes all the difference. I’ve never pulled the trigger on a spray gun before so this is all quite new to me. I ran a test on a piece of scrap plywood and it seems to be working well? My friend told me a different gun might be the answer to work with the lower PSI but I’m not spending any more money (can’t), and I’m really quite pleased with the results I got on the test. I can see it all now though, I’m a bit of a messy worker and I think I’m going to get overspray on everything! 95% of this job is fairing and masking and only 5% pulling the trigger.
It’s like my little Kubota project. I’ve put the whole thing on hold but I have all the parts now, and conceptually I know how I want it all to turn out, I just need to make it happen. I tell you, I can be my own worst enemy sometimes. I should have gone out and bought a gas powered air-compressor and spray gun years ago when I bought Splendid but I seem to have this overwhelming urge to do everything the hard way and re-invent the wheel. When I was a kid my mother used to say I was as “stubborn as an ox and had to make all my own mistakes”. It seems this behavior has continued into my 
adulthood.
I did install my new VHF and it seems to be working well, It’s the small things in life that make me happy :)
I’m all amped to fair and spray paint and its cloudy and raining, La vida es aci!
I can always go for a motorcycle ride :) I do need to try and find new brake pads, and soon! Yamaha stopped distributing the DT175 in the USA in the 80’s, but continued to produce and update the design well into the mid-90’s. They seem to be popular in the UK, and Australia. It seems to be the perfect bike for me however I need to make a few modifications. As my buddy Gary pointed out I need to change the sprockets to get a bit more top end out of it. I can also play around with the carb, exhaust system, and eventually I want different tires. I want less of a dirt bike, and more of a mini sport bike that I can carry around on Splendid. I’d like to be able to do a comfortable 65 on the road, I wonder if that is asking too much from my little air cooled 175cc engine? I have this vision of eventually being able to sail to a new country or island, offload my bike, and ride around documenting everything on video and photographs, kinda’ cool :) 
Well my coffee cup is empty and I need to find some rainy day projects to do. I may edit some video but to add to my technical difficulties I’m having some issues importing video from my new (used) flip camera into adobe premiere. It seems I need to wash it through another program first, ARRRG, is nothing easy anymore?
Peace, Love, and motorcycles on sailboats :)
– alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
Sorry you’re having such a tough time with everything. I may be able to help with one thing. I do lots of projects using Adobe Premiere and I found a free converter called Quick Media. It looks a bit cheezy but, it works just fine.
Just Google Quick Media Converter. Hope that’ll help.
Alex,
I use to spray paint planes a long time ago and we always used a pressure pot, meaning we had a pressure reservoir between the mechanism making the compressed air and the spray gun itself. What is happening is your tank is charging your air hose than you pull the trigger and all the air in the air hose is being used up so your gun dies. I suggest you put an air reservoir between your air tank and your spray gun and you should be good to go, hopefully =).
Mike
Maybe just roll/tip?
mike is right, you need a small airtank after the low pressure regulator on the compressor……G
Chris here..follower of you from day one!
Had the same motor bike and yes if you change the sprocket on the gearbox to a smaller one,one less tooth gets about 10mph more at same revs,I changed the sprocket down by two teeth..and was great on highway.. ofcourse it was not as quick off the mark but so what?
Ever get to New Zealand..my house is yours while you stay.
I still don’t “conceptually” understand why the gun wouldnt at least put out the consistent 40psi of the second regulator but perhaps I just need to take it on faith :)
I’m helping a friend with his motor and we have to bring it to Panama city on Monday to be rebuilt. There is a place (Pemco) that specializes in compressors and parts and I think i can buy just a tank. Any idea what size I would need?
What really has my panties in a ruffle is my flip video camera.
B. Hinton, the problem is my Flip records at 60p, why they would do this is beyond me but it is what it is? I don’t see that quick media converts 60p to 29.97fps but will check it out.
Chris, thanks for the invite I might just take you up on your offer :) It would be cool to ride around NZ for a while, not to mention sail :)
Happy Sunday
Hi Alex, been reading about the bike, 65 is kinda pushing the little guy but gearing has to be right,,Chris has made a boo boo, I have been a motorcycle mec for a long time & he is backwards, rear sprocket smaller will give you a taller gear,or less rpm at speed, or BIGGER front, it works out to one tooth on the front is about the same as three on the rear, smaller on the rear & you will not have to replace the chain, maybe you might have to take a link out,maybe not, bigger front is cheeper but then you gotta make sure there is enough chain.. At hwy speed with the little guy,ALWAYS have one or two fingers on the clutch,, just get in that habit because when the engine does have a problem & the piston sticks,the rear will lock up & IF you are quick you can pull in the clutch before the rear wheel locks up long enough to knock you off,, think about it, tire stops when you are not expecting it!!!! Been there at over 100,, long slide,,he he.. Go slow & the little guy will be good to you,, Oh yeah try not to get run over,,duh,, Butch
Butch,
Thanks for the info. I have been riding since I was 14, my first bike was a OSSA (Spanish made) Phantom, bad-ass trials bike. I dont think my fingers are ever off the clutch :)
If I could get another 10ish MPH out of her on the top end I’d be really pleased. If you have any other suggestions this will be an ongoing project. Its a hard bike to find parts for and the best supplier I have found is out of the UK.
http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Yamaha/DT_175_N_T_W_A_B_C_D_E_F_G_H_3TS4/84-96/
I have a question, I need to buy brakes and they offer two types grooved & standard. Would they (both types) be compatible with my bike, or may one, or the other, not work on my bike?
Cheers
b. hinton.
I’m also in a mac environment. I ended up buying ($35) iorgsofts flip video converter and it seems to be working.
http://www.iorgsoft.com/Flip-Video-Converter-for-Mac/
The video in quick movements seems a bit jerky but i think it has something to do with flips propitiatory image stabilization.
On the brake pads,the groove is to help keep water & crap out, they will both work,whatever is cheeper,you can always get the ones that don`t have a groove & then cut one with a hacksaw blade.. Stuff cuts easy,That`s what we did before the grooved stuff came out.. The only time I could ever tell the difference was under very wet condishions the groove helps a little bit..
LOL…yes sorry,your right BIGGER cog!..well hell it was long ago,thanks for fixing my boo boo..
keep the right side up.
No worries mate!! Glade to help. I wanted to say that for a long time, ha ha.. Butch
Hi Alex, Your basically starving your gun for air —its air volume at pressure you need to keep a gun going. Items like nail guns, etc just look for “Pressure” and a short burst–its why you can carry around the whole setup in sometimes the size of a large breadbox for building a house. For a paint gun, unless you keep it to very short bursts -you need some volume. For a typical “air” gun, running at 25psi is on the low side, you should look at 35 plus for really nice finish. For the work you are doing to keep overspray down, you should look at an HVLP gun (High Volume Low Pressure) attached to a small pressure pot (maybe the gun you have is HVLP). Alternatively I would’ve suggested a Air-assisted Airless system (the type in Home Depot are OK with a small tip to keep the paint droplets fine), that is very small and used for a multitude of items. Using a regular air gun in the open air will pick up every piece of dirt around and blow it everywhere along with the sticky paint overspray.
alex…if you do not make your schedule to cross the pacific next winter, consider western panama for awhile….fishing is outstanding and boca chica is a safe place to base out of. also ecuador might be an option cuz with a bike, all of south america can be yours. macha picchu, amazon, peru, rio,terra del fuego, etc…once in a life time oppertunity to see this continent on the cheap….just saying
Plan B, good “Plan B”. you think I could really put all those miles on a little DT175, would be fun to try :)
Steve,
Thanks for taking the time to write. I’ve been thinking of the SCUBA tank as a 3000 PSI pressure pot. It doesn’t need a small compressor to generate air to fill it?
Initially I plumbed the Campbell Hausfield pressure regulator in backwards, I’m wondering if maybe I damaged it in some way. Bottom line is the regulator cant put out 40PSI from a 140 PSI source fast enough to generate a steady flow of air. I’m off to look for a pressure pot tomorrow. I may make one out of an old scuba tank or a steel fuel tank that my friend Hanz has in the shed.
My friend Aaron rented a pickup truck for a few days to bring in his Perkins 4108 into Panama city. I threw my bike in the back and bringing it in for new brakes :)
Cheers
had some friends in ecuador that rode a chinees 250 turd thru peru and into chile, riding double. parts are everywhere, and if you take it easy 3-4k is easily doable. once you sail off the oportunity vanishes. plus the sail south is great, and when you do sail off it is 4 days to galopagos. something to think about…..G
Alex Alex Alex what are we going to do with you. You keep getting in deeper and deeper. You have a life that snowballs, you buy something to try and make your life a little easier and BANG you then need to get this or that.
A paint brush and roller, more work but less money no over spray. Oh ya you will need a moister trap (spelling)
(water trap) if you use the hooka. The compressure will draw air in and water too, water and spray paint don’t work too well.
Drive the bike as is, just drive slower. I would think as long as the brake pads are made for your bike eather one should work.
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/zip/2439130786.html
If I had a place to store it I would already be towing it home
timtoolman
I agree but I don’t have another option. Rolling and tipping is fine if you have access to marine polyurethanes which have a retardant to keep the paint from drying really fast. The only option I have here is Alexseal at over $500 a gallon, and I’m just not going to/can’t pay it. I could go with a different kind of paint but I don’t want to be repainting Splendid every few years and this is what I have, two-part car polyurethane ($100/gal) that needs to be sprayed. I tried rolling it and it just doesn’t work. It dries in a few minutes and eats up the roller.
I bought an HVLP (Hi volume lo-pressure (15-50psi)) gun and a water filter today ($85.00), I think I’m finally in business.
Jefferson, cool find on the free sailboat, I hope somebody snatches it up :)
Cheers
Are the problems and all the work just part of the journey? What I mean to say is it’s been awhile since there has been a ship’s log entry that was about sailing or a new destination. I’m wondering if keeping Namaste or getting something a little bigger and more ready to sail might cross your mind once in a while.
Doug,
Keeping Namaste does cross my mind but getting Splendid was the right move for me. I’m getting older and in the last few years my understanding of repairing, restoring, and general boat-works has really blossomed. For me this knowledge is insurance for my old age. I can always find a home if I ever lost Splendid (touch wood I never loose her), not to mention I’ll be able to find a job wherever I go in the world.
Also restoring a boat takes a certain amount of energy and I wanted to do it while I was young enough to spend the energy. Splendid is the home I want for my older years. Think about it, how many years would you have to put into the system to sail off at 65 years old with a beautiful 40′ ketch (not a bendi-boat)? Also when I’m at 65 I’ll have a real understanding of boats and unlike most of the retirees that are sailing around crippled not being able to cross an ocean because they cant take care of themselves. Sailing around the Caribbean is one thing. You can always find a mechanic, rigger, or refrigerator guy. World cruising is an entirely different ball of wax, you have to do it yourself and have the means (tools).
Sure its taken a few years to get Splendid together and If I hadn’t fallen in love back in Florida I would have been in the Pacific again but I wouldn’t change that either.
Project BlueSphere isn’t just a website about cruising or sailing. Its about the whole kit & kubotule. Its about living a simple unconventional life on the sea, minimalism, and freedom. It’s about living off the grid. You see I don’t believe I need to be dependent on the system to retire and live. I’m not afraid of growing old without health insurance. I’m afraid of growing old and being dependent on someone / something else.
Cheers
Well put brother! Live well!
Barry
Alex you may have a life that snowballs, you buy lots of stuff but no one can ever say you don’t have a full life, a good life and so interesting.
I see your point about the paint. I’m not an expert on paint so I don’t have much to offer except to say you’ll figure it I know.
Being an E/M engineer I can see you have an engineering brain your doing everthing right you just lack some knollage but you have made super progress over the years.
As for the bike just drive it slower because when that acident happens it will hert less at a slower speed.
Does my life “snowball”? I don’t really know what that means as my life seems pretty “normal” to me. I’m a pretty “black or white” kind of guy. I dive into whatever it is that I’m doing and I’m very passionate about things I believe in :)
Man its been raining, I’m looking for a chance to shoot with my HVLP gun. I can tell just buy studying it it has a lot more control than my other gun.
You have the right spray setup..hvlp is the best. More control and low air pressure. Just a thought here. Have you considered rolling the paint. I know this sounds crazy but I saw this being done using a 2 part epoxy paint and once rolled it smothed out very nicely and had a nice shine. Not what you would expect from a professional yard but very presentable just the same and no over spray. This paint was white and of course that made a difference too. But good luck.
51 foot steel sailboat with mooring in maui $10k
ooops see above honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/boa/2448258128.htmls
Well said Alex.
PLANB the Craigslist link does not work. Strange thing is a did a search and found it and your link address is correct except for an “s” at the end.
honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/boa/2448258128.html
Where is that location and who made the boat.
Alex snowball just means when a project is started you find out you need more than you thought, like a snowball rolling down hill it gets bigger and bigger.