Best Posts in Forum: Hobbies and special interests

I was out today going after juvenile snook and tarpon on ultralights (a ton of fun). Got a bonus tilapia...by far the biggest tilapia I have personally caught.

Shawn

 

I'm attaching some pictures of the stereo I put in as well as the LED lighting...the pics aren't the best and not everything was "buttoned" up when the pics were taken.

This trike is very limited on space to put anything so I built a plywood box, skinned with sheet metal on the top, back and sides (not the front or bottom...especially the front as that is where I mounted the amp). Some body filler, canned primer and a metallic blue spray paint.

I went with marine/boat components as well as an amp and powered sub that are used on bikes and vehicles with limited space.

The head unit was installed in the plywood box, not a normal configuration but also went with a wired remote I was able to place in the front, both Kenwood as I like their head units and these are normally used in a boat. The head unit does not have a CD player but very easy to connect Bluetooth or through a USB. Also put in a powered antenna that pulls in quite a few stations, won't get used often but it was cheap.

The speakers are component 5 1/4" Polk Audio speakers, marine grade (splash proof). I've been in love with Polk speakers for a very long time. To find a smaller sized amp to push these speakers all I could find was a Kenwood amp, very pleased with the power in such a small amp. The mid and tweeters are a bit closer than I would normally want (plus in the back) but it was pretty simple to dial in the amp to get great sound out of them.

I also put a powered sub behind the front seat; rated for damp environments and normally placed under a seat in a vehicle. I was also only able to find a Kenwood to meet my needs...not disappointed as it "thumps" much more than I expected for such a physically small sub.

There is no fuse block in the trike like you would find in a car or truck (all in-line fuses and relays) so I installed a fuse block, powered off of the battery through a 30 amp relay; all I needed to do was find an ignition source to power the relay coil. The fuse block powers the LED lights through some switches and some of the stereo components that need an ignition source. For the fused battery power for the amp and sub I used in-line fuses.

Took a bit longer to install things as our son wanted to work this project with me but it was a good bit of fun and he learned a lot, not just my labor because he has small hands to push wires.

I did not go overboard with the LED lighting but I think it looks pretty good. Still need to get the new seats in (I want either blue or gray) and am looking at a new top that is gray as well...things the wife will have to make happen as I'm back to work.

The stereo is loud but great sound as well, the wife has gotten quite a few comments on that...as well as the switches I put in for the LED lighting.

Shawn

 

I was knocked off my bike by a drunk local(on a moped, with a gallon of tuba in one hand), just over three years ago, between Bayawan and Santa Catalina on a Sunday afternoon. Having seen him wobbling around, I gave a warning beep on the horn then passed him on the opposite side of the road, as the way was clear. I was second in a group of four riders, with 2 guys behind me who witnessed the entire accident. As I passed him he veered sharply left, perhaps to turn up a track or maybe it was deliberate, the 2 behind me thought so. He hit my swing arm almost half way as his tyre mark was still on the my swing arm when the bike was returned to me, a month later.
I remember thinking as everything slowed down as it usually does during an accident, why the bike suddenly swung left on the rear wheel. That was the last thing I remembered till I woke up on the road side. Having tried to correct swing, I high-sided was spat off, one of the guys behind me said I I spun 180 degrees, landed on my head and left wrist(shattering quite a few of the 26 bones in it), luckily, my Caberg modular helmet which slightly cracked on the very top with the initial impact. I then 360-ed and finally landed on my face, again the helmet took the secondary impact barely cracking on the jaw part of the helmet.
I was wearing full mesh, upper body armour, armoured gloves, which successfully saved me from serious, upper torso, unfortunately, I had worn jeans, instead of armoured trousers, which I had omitted due to it being a very hot day. Naturally, in the course of 'my travels', I found the only large rock around and made contact with it, with my right upper leg.
Both the guys behind me, once they managed to stop and dismount, didn't want to come over to me, as they thought I was dead, after my 'aerobatics and final stop', which I don't blame them for in any way. The first rider came back, luckily, he is experienced as a first responder at the scene of an accident type and did what he could including proper, safe removal of my helmet, once I was conscious.
I am unaware how long the Sta Catalina ambulance took to come, it was a Sunday afternoon after all, but the trolley bed was too short, there were no straps to stop me rolling around the back.
To cut a long story short, the guy who hit me was skunk drunk, no insurance, no license, not even his bike. I ended up with P180k bill at Silliman Medical and P180k for the bike to be repaired. I had a steel plate and 4 screws in my left wrist a dislocated shoulder and ended up having 1.2 liters of blood removed from my right thigh, my bike boots saved my lower legs and feet without a shadow of a doubt as they had to be immediately retired.
I cannot stress the importance of trying to protect yourself as best you can while riding. I bought new body armour, as the old suit had to be cut off me in the emergency room. New gloves with carbon fibre protection for fingers and wrists, new heavy duty, riding boots, etc etc.
The Caberg helmet cost me around two hundred US dollars when new, I went out and bought a replacement Shoei for four hundred dollars, I am always reminded of the old Bell helmet advert, if you have a 10 dollar head, wear a 10 dollar helmet.
There are a couple of points to this story, firstly, I'm alive, my gear did it's job, in the UK they call it A.T.G.A.T.T.(all the gear all the time, something I try adhere to, whenever practical). Secondly, expect the unexpected and be prepared for 'stupidity' whilst driving, not just on bikes but all types of vehicles, drive as defensively as you can. Please remember that the vast majority of locals just pay for their licenses, there is no test of any practical form for any type of driving license here, if one pays the LTO off, which most do. I am reminded also of the old saying, most accidents occur within 5 kms of home, worth thinking about if you're scooting around town.
I have had a few accidents in my time, in all sorts of vehicles, some my fault, some other people's fault, it doesn't really matter. I'm still here and I try to remember what to do better the next time.

 

In case you missed it.
Max eclipse occurred at 1:25pm, Dec26.
That's why it was darker outside for a few minutes!

 

And the colored girls go,
Doo DooDoo DooDoo Doo Doo DooDoo

Lots of neat stuff to see in my neck of the Jungle.

 

And I realize you're not coming back anymore.
Some of my favorite images from last week.

 

I love to hear the thunder, watch the lightning when it lights up the sky.
You know it makes me feel good.
-Eddie Rabbitt
It's a rainy day so I thought I would compile my favorite images from last week.

 

Another glimpse at the Madman Across the W ater.