Buffomarinus

Typical fine workmanship and beautiful execution of design that one comes to expect from Popeye. In other words, bloody ripper of a buggy! When's this bloke going to immigrate to Oz???!!!

Excellent opening and closing shots. Good continuity... I like it!

.Joel wrote: "... and those who are willing to contribute to warmer weather get my vote" Instead of kissin' babies and shaking hands we could pass out plates of cooked beans and boiled cabbage. We could name it the "Free Wind Party."

Baggsy, If you want to conjure up that wind, ya' gottah' spell it's name right... El Niño (don't forget the little "squiggle" over the second n) Sorry to be so pedantic, but if you want to work the incantation, you have to call up the right spirits! Roberto de Buffomarinus FarOutNorthQueensland,Oz

Not only is Baggsy being eco-friendly by using a device that doesn't produce greenhouse gases for power (a kite), but he's also a recycler too! Hey mate, ya' want to run for parliament?

Rocket: ps. what the hell is a beaver strap>????

FWIW: Here's the way I hang a foil up for a wash down- hangers and all. The bigger the kite, the more hangers I use to support the heavy, wet material. With the kite hanging by it's trailing edge, it's easy for any sand and other debris to fall out the intake openings as the kite dries. To aid fine sand removal, I often gently slap the cells and even "rattle" my hand around inside the cells to loosen the stuff caught in the seems.

For those foil freaks who are too tight to put out for a proper board and a good surf kite, I discovered an option yesterday at Etty Bay North Queensland... "boardless-barefooted-waist-deep-sand-scudding." Actually there were quite a few people walking along the shoreline yesterday and I thought it safer to kite beyond the breakers. Kept cool and had a great time. Luckily there were no rocks or stingrays!!!

"great for whacking rangers with too, no bruises!" (rocket) ................. Jeeeeze, I knew I should have patented the bloody thing! Buffo.

I "steal" the sand snake that the missus' made to keep mice from getting under the French doors. Works a treat, I just have to remember to replace the bloody thing when I'm done flying! Here's a photo of the little beast doing domestic duty. It's perfect for holding down the trailing edge of the foil. Its round, sand filled body rolls easily off the kite as it takes off. It's also easy to pick the bugger up while flying and throw it over your shoulder or put the brakes on and chuck it in the pack. In a couple of cases I've placed the handles on the ground with the brakes on and chucked the snake on top of the handles while I jog for the kite.

FWIW I have the same problem with my 3.0 Sam2 in high or gusty winds when I'm flying with handles. When I put the kite on the bar I got off of Baggsy with the brake lines on the outside and the two steering lines on the center, I can bring the sucker down perfectly every time in the heaviest of winds. I think the problem with handles is equalizing and syncronizing the pull on the individual brake lines.

Joel I'm just usin' the standard Ozone handles that came with my Sam2. The handles do the job, but I often toss over in my head possible improvements that could be made to increase the comfort and control. In reality, handles are a pretty simple proposition, does anybody out there design and make their own? I lay up a few timber laminates in my "other" life as a musical instrument builder. I've often toyed with the idea of a nice set of bent, laminated timber handles with all the various improvements. The mind boggles with the possibility of titanium alloy tubing...hopefully not salvaged from a ex-Soviet nuke reactor!!! Buffo http://www.grantmandolins.com

I thought about the BMX forks today and decided the lack of seals on both the wheel and head stem bearings would be a definite drawback when used around sand and salt water. I have access to a lathe and I'm a reasonable operator, if a bit slow. I'll turn out something comparable to the plan that Popeye shows for the Libre and probably use across-the-counter, common sealed bearings and a good, plastic barrow wheel. Thanks for the advice Duke. Buffo. P.S.: I did score the plastic chair seat. If nothing else, it will work temporarily until I can buy or make something better.

Here's a photo of an example with a steering setup based around a set of push bike forks. This is from the website http://www.kite-buggy.de/buggys/crazy/index.html. Looks like the the forks would have to be "kicked out" to accomodate the larger diameter wheel. How would this affect the bug's steering response?

Duke, Excellent advice. Many thanks. Yesterday I had a bit of spare time so I dropped by "Mitre 11" (the local tip/dump recycling shop). I was basically looking for a front wheel, but the choice was slim. One thing that did catch my eye was one of those rugged little BMX bikes that was badly damaged except for the head stem, front forks (solid tube) and the wheel. Hummmm... Cut the handle bars off, cut the head stem bearing boss off, weld foot pegs to the forks and put a light disc cover over the spoked center of the wheel. Weld the works to the goose neck on the buggy and Bob's your uncle. Any comments on this idea before I lash out? While searching about the tip for more ideas I came across a small pile of brand new plastic seats with the metal legs removed. I picked one up, Duke, and the same thought crossed my mind. Why not suppend one of these between the side rails using nylon strapping. I noticed while cruising Popeye's website that a lot of buggiers found it preferable to put a bit of impenetrable "armour" between their buns and the ground because of the dangers from rocks and stakes. Hell, I even had a squizz at some tossed out baby capsules and liners (the shape is right), but I don't think I could get my fat arse' in one. Buffo.

howie, I still have to give the seat some thought. My sewing machine can't handle the heavy nylon webbing and fabric that is needed to make a good "bag seat." Being an 'ol bastard, I'll definitely need some back support. I think that using a conventional plastic chair or automotive seat would be either too heavy or too insecure when the kite really starts to pull. I really like the style of seat that Popeye had made by that mob over in England.

One more minor question... Can anyone tell me if the "budget buggies" such as the PL use a ball bearing set in the front fork headstock or a fixed bushing?

I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted by a PL buggy with spare axle that I was offered at an excellent price, but Popeye's website has set me on the path to DIY. Popeye may simply refer to himself as a "welder," but the bloke is an artist/master craftsman. Anybody who hasn't been on his website should visit just for the "eye candy" of buggy building. The gentleman (Popeye) has a love affair with buggies and it truly shows in the detail and perfection of his work. Stainless is a bit out of my price range at present and the ss sections are not readily availiable locally. I'm looking at mild steel RHS and whatever tubing I can scrounge. Pete, thanks for the offer of a front wheel, but I think I can score a decent ex-wheel barrow or ride on mower wheel from our local "Mitre 11" (the tip). Buffo http://www.grantmandolins.com If I manage to pull my finger out and get this thing a' buildin', I'll submit some sort of photo diary on the process. Oh, by the way, here's a photo of the results of an experience that prompted the buggy building quest. The winds last weekend were too high to safely scud on my feet, so I decided to sit down and dig in the boots. I thought the 'ol buns were getting a bit warm after crossing the concrete cricket pitch in the center of the community oval at speed!!!

Also did a search through past posts and found a lot of excellent information. Seems I've "recycled" a question that's been asked many times before!

Many thanks for all the responses to my quest. The "Popeyethewelder" URL is excellent and just what I'm looking for. I must admit that I was sorely tempted by a couple of offers for a used Peter Lynn buggy, but I've got this thing about DIY and "building a better mousetrap ." I just scored a matched pair of 15X6.00-6 wheels with aluminium rims from a mate's scraped ultralight aircraft for free. The +20mm I.D., dual sealed bearings in both wheels are brand new. I also scored the stub axles which I can weld into a bit of RHS for the rear axle of the buggy. I'm still searching for the third, steering wheel. Here's the back wheels...

After literally wearing the bum out of me coveralls last weekend being dragged around the paddock, I've decided it's time to build a buggy. I've picked through the steel pile, fixed up the old MIG, bought a new lense for me welding helmet and put out feelers for some decent, light weight wheels. Anyone have any URLs for DIY buggy building sights?

What's the life span of a foil kite? I recently read somewhere that with hard use you could get around two years from a kite. This didn't seem right to me, but then none of my kites see hard, continuous use. What experience do others have with this? Other then obvious cell blowouts or rips, what are the signs of a foil that has reached its "used by date?"

Peter, Excellent videos (all of 'em). I especially liked the one where you're acting as the little blokes "safety leash." I've got to get down that way one of these days! Rob.

When I'm washing down my foil, I hang it on a sufficently long clothes line (in the shade) using a half dozen or more or those old fashion wooden pants clamp hangers. I space the clamp hangers along the trailing edge so that the wet (heavy) kite frabric is well supported. You can actually wash it down while it is hanging from the line. You'll find that water draining from the inside of the cells will tend to slightly pool at the cell mouth in the recurve area.

BobM, Thanks for the URL. It's exactly the sort of info I was looking for. Rob.