Project BlueSphere has brought so many wonderful things to me over the years. Since I “let go & un-plugged” my life has aligned with my path and unless I’m battling with an aggravating and overly complicated system I’m pretty much at peace, ARRRRGGGGG, ALTERNATORS!
When I first bought Splendid I started to design her electrical system. I had a Balmar maxcharge in Namaste and had the whole “equalizing” thing down. However I had to replace the maxcharge once in the time I owned Namaste and it seemed a bit excessive to spend over $600 for the ability to control the voltage that goes to a simple alternator field wire. When I got Splendid I was determined to find an alternative to expensive “marine” voltage regulators and its been a long road.
Splendid came with a 110 volt charger that had an “equalize” button. Well I went to a dock to plug in only to find it didn’t work. I then decided that equalizing with my solar panels was the simplest way to go and tried that. Problem with that is you need to charge 
up your batteries and have constant sunlight for the time you want to equalize. All I want to be able to do is throw 15 or so volts at the battery bank for 5-8 hours?
Then I got into my Kubota project and designed a 3.5HP diesel charging system that I never really got running the way I wanted to. Well I’ve realized I’ve been F’ing around with a way to equalize my batteries for 4 years and still can’t do it.
You know some exterior alternator regulators work in conjunction with the internal regulators, and some you need to bypass the internal regulator. Well with the Balmar maxcharge I need to bypass the internal regulator. So it’s back to Panama City to the alternator shop, AHHHHHHH, I’m pulling out my hair! I opened the alternator and know what needs to be done, I just don’t have the tools.
How did this simple thing get so bloody (RASSENFRACKEN *&&^$%^%@@) complicated? The answer is… I “Alex Dorsied” it! I can only say that sometimes (for me) the path to minimalism takes some trial & error. I need to make all my own mistakes and unfortunately learn everything the hard way.
I’m sure once I bypass my alternator’s internal regulator my maxcharge will work wonderfully to equalize and charge my battery bank. My only question is for how long? An indirect or direct lightning strike will render it garbage as will a corroded and weak terminal as everything is embedded in epoxy, that’s what happened to my last one. I need to find a cheaper alternative.
I’m really not a fan of sensitive electronic electronics on a sailboat. After my maxcharge is installed I will find a simple rheostat design to control the voltage to my alternator’s field wire, it’s far from rocket science and I don’t feel so good about just spending $325.00 on such a simple thing.
Bruce(far right) was a gr8 guest, really, he was a pleasure to have around. He helped with the dishes and took it upon himself to help me with various projects and even give Splendid a bottom job. We had a lot of laughs and once again Project BlueSphere brought me a new friend. We spent a lot of time with our Brazilian friends Mani (center) and Rafi (below left) aboard Brava. Carla has become good friends with Rafaela (Mani’s wife), they took some funny pictures of us the other night when we went over for movie night. Bruce has a vagabond and will be setting sail to go cruising soon.
He brought me a number of things from the states. Let me just say that my memory foam (2” 5lb) topper is a back saver.
He also brought my new editing computer which is supercalafragiclally AWESOME, however It 
draws 9-12 amps. When my kickstarter funding comes trough (19) days I will order a Honda EU2000 generator to power it. I also just realized that if I have a portable and ultra quiet generator I’m going to want to get a powerful LED video light for interviews on the beach and narrative scenes. I’ve nearly reached my goal of $1,600 and if I get some extra money over my goal I will spend it on some production toys (rail system). I also want to upgrade my version of Adobe Premiere to CS5. I really want to 
make an important film for the cruising community and will pour a lot of effort into my next production. I’m toying with an alternative title, “The Philosophy Of Cruising”?
Life with Carla is beautiful. We are having fun, eating well, swimming, laughing, and living life the way it should be lived. She has a girlfriend coming from Zurich (Switzerland) with her boyfriend for a few days.
Once again I find myself putting San Blas on a few more weeks’ hold. My kickstarter campaign ends in 19 days and once I gain access to the funding will order my little generator and possibly an LED video light.
Sometime next week I need to return to Panama City to visit the alternator shop and finally get my charging system in order. My new batteries don’t hold a charge well and I’m hoping to bring them back to life with some good voltage. I will however cruise to Playa Blanca (under 10 miles) and spend some alone-time with Carla. It has a nice white sand beach and no boats.
I really want to thank my readers who visited my kickstarter page to help out. Maintaining Project BlueSphere does take some money, effort, and work. It’s really nice to know that I have some support and that my words, pictures, and videos are appreciated. Thanks guys!
The rainy season has quietly appeared and Splendid is dry. I haven’t seen a drop of water inside and within a week Carla and I will also be dry in the cockpit with our enclosure, woot! As I get a little older my appreciation for comfort increases : )
Carla has written a new blog about her new life on Splendid. To check it out go to the members tab/Carla’s journal. With so many of my readers dreaming of cruising only to have their dreams doused by an unsure/skeptical girlfriend or wife’s desire to stay on land, I’m hoping that you guys might point your female partners in Carla’s direction. She is really honest and your partner having a source to ask questions about this unique lifestyle might help you along the way?
Peace, Love, and Coconuts from Panama!
hey alex…i remember having the same problems……..in panama or ecuador i bought a regulator with a manual rheostat built in. you could turn it up and get almost 16volts….it was like $20
cheap adjustable voltage regs
http://www.cpgenerator.com/voltageregulators.html
Gary
Wish I saw that one earlier. I will definatly do it a differently next time. Im going to look for a backup Powerline or Lestek (sold by Balmar) alternator. Thanks for the input, hope the fishing I’n Hawaii is good, and give Mavis a hug for me.
Woot, we reached our Kickstarter funding goal in 10 days :) A good example how asking for little pays off. I will be sending out all the vid links to my last two films and sending out t-shirts as soon as kickstarter/Amazon releases the funds :) Depending on how much extra funding comes in I’m going to look at a few extra production toys like an LED video light & DSLR rail system, all things to make the production nicer. “Thank you” to all of my backers. I’ve made a number of films scrounging for equipment but I must say it feels really good making a film that people want to see made.
This is Bruce…..your most recent guest…..I just want to thank you and Carla for allowing me to spend some time with you……I had a wonderful time….
Alex I just want to say that you are a great guy and have great karma …..and Carla you are a gift from god……you are really good for Alex…….
while I stayed with Alex and Carla we ate like kings…..both Alex and Carla cook and use natural foods and nuts…..I dont think there was a meal is didn’t really enjoy….and my favorite was some oatmeal Alex made one morning…….he added a little of this and a little of that…..probably 10-15 items ….but boy was it good……
panama really seems like a great place…..mostly at the anchorage and surrounding area …..its so so beautiful …….something that kinda surprised me was that at the anchorage there were a lot (most) of cruisers from all over the world however the spoke english …..I had no problems at all communicating while at the anchorage….this was a wonderful surprise because I dont speak spanish or any other language and now I now know I will not have a problem speaking to other cruisers and making new friends
if anyone has been thinking about going on one of Alex’s charters …..I can tell you that you will have a wonderful time and that you wont regret making the trip…..you will see 1st hand what it is like to live on a boat-in a foreign country…..to live ‘green”….
I have a sailboat and have not un-plugged as of yet…..but this trip to Panama will really motivate me to get going…..I have decided to just sell my house and just leave asap….
so again THANK YOU Alex
cant wait to come into some foreign country and anchorage and see splendid and be reunited with my new friend s Alex and Carla
It’s true, I do make a mean bowl of oatmeal, I really liked the pork tacos too ;) YUMMY!
Thanks for all the help Bruce, really.
Carla and I are awaiting her friends which will be here for a few days.
I bought an older stainless ENO stove for $240.00, Force 10 is owned by ENO (French Company). One of he valves is shot but it’s in a lot better and safer shape than Splendid’s cooker. My current stove has no thermal couplings.
I’m checking into ordering a new valve and have the whole stove apart. I took all the valves apart for cleaning and giving it a good scrub & polish before I install it. I’m going to find a local family to give Splendid’s stove to, it will make a nice gift.
If someone wants to get into a discount charter visit the rewards page on my kickstarter page. Even though I reached my goal, a little more capital will go far.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/projectbluesphere/the-minimalist-sailor?ref=live
Peace from Panama, Splendid smells of Carla’s flat bread :)
Thanks Bruce for all your help. It was great to have you around and we all hope we see you soon somewhere in your vagabond!! I’ve been told it’s a wonderful boat. Next time we can all have a movie night in your floatin home?
Take care and see you soon!!
C.
I see you’re doing pretty well on kickstarter.com. (Did my bit and linked it on my FB page, asked others to do the same.) Anyway, there’s a couple of weeks left so maybe putting the link on a banner on the front page might be a useful idea. Also, sending a link through your e-mail purchase lists of your videos may be an avenue as well.
You could outperform your goal by 100% or more if you get the word out. It’s a little spammy but I think most people will forgive you considering the nature of your sales pitch.
I hope you get some great funding for the film, I really do. Can’t wait to buy it :o)
Yum….oatmeal. I miss your oatmeal. In fact I miss all the great meals we had on Splendid. Bruce I am glad you had a great time. I am sure the next guests will enjoy the same experiences Bruce and I did and more. Alex and Carla are great hosts.
I am getting closer to being debt free.
Debt free is good :)
I shot a large mackerel from the ladder of Splendid yesterday, didn’t even get wet :)
Thanks for the FB link, this is the time I’m trying to raise a few bucks and it’s going well.
I have named my new computer “THOR”! I was playing 3 differant HD video streams as well as a film and the computer was at 24% processor usage and 27% memory usage. It was barley breaking a sweat , :) WOOT!!!
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/2972214919.html
Wish I had the dough right now!
If anyone is interested I have a friend that needs to move his cheoy lee 33 (37.5 over all) off shore ketch ASAP for 15k. The boat is I’n Houston If your really interested let me know and I’ll get the details.
Where does he want the cheoy lee moved to? Shoot, I would fly down from seattle for that gig.
Move as I’n sell
I move boats…details please!
My bad On the Verbage guys, the boat is for sale for 15k he needs to move it (sell) it ASAP!!!
Does he have any pictures of the Cheoy Lee?
Thanks :)
If you send me an email to alexdorsey at gmail asking for the pix and contact info I’ll hook you up. I was on the boat 3 years or so ago an really liked it, my friend was just getting ready to go cruising and life happened. It’s a really good deal for someone who wants to go cruising soon for little money.
Cheers
I’m sure you and Carla know this already, but I read on Cruiser’s Forum that on July 1 of this year the rates for transitting the canal are going to increase significantly. If you hadn’t heard already, you might want to look into it. Could be something to take into account in planning your transit date.
I’m sure you and Carla know this already, but I read on Cruiser’s Forum that on July 1 of this year the rates for transitting the canal are going to increase significantly. If you hadn’t heard already, you might want to look into it. Could be something to take into account in planning your transit date.
Well I’ve been trying to post a new blog for a few days now, we changed servers and are working out the kinks please be patient :) Carla did manage to get her new blog up, she is on a different system :(