Bringing power to the sandbar parking lot?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

How about it? How much would it cost? Maybe Sherry from the Port could advise?

It sure would be nice was it would give us an air compressor option. Also the schools I'm sure would love to have power to plug into. Funding could come from schools, shops, CGKA members, spit access fees...

Has it already been looked into?

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Probably won't happen in the near future
Not even sure where we could connect if there was money to run a line....
Most likely all the way back at the road/pedesterial bridge and since it is now zoned recreation/commercial and under goal 5 restrictions I'd hate to see the hoops needed to dig a trench but....... I'll pass along the request

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey there's probably an existing hookup at the event site Twisted Evil

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Appreciate it Sherry... if its a $$$$$ issue then it'd at least be good to know what we're talking about. This could be a good goal for local kiteboarders / industry to show what they are made of on the fundraising side, and I think people would be motivated if some real tangible results came of it.

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Forget about pumping up at the Event Site.

As per discussion at Waterfront Recreation Meeting on Monday it was agreed by representatives from both CGKA and CGWA that there is NO kite pumping at the Event Site. Walk, wade whatever to the sandbar to pump up kites.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Pumping up a kite isnt launching or landing a kite, so why are we not able to pump at the event site? As far as im concerned there is no rule at the sandbar that doesnt allow windsmurfers to rig. I see absolutely no reason for not being able to pump up at the event site. As far as Im concerned I think that you have no way to enforce this rule. Not saying that I will be the one pumping up there, but how are you going to stop others from doing it?

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Dude no need to see how far you can bend things before it breaks. No one said the world is fair.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Hey, has anyone considered a water powered turbine option, or possibly wind generation???

KITEADDICT · Since 13 Apr 2006 117 Posts PDX west side Stoked

perfect a kite powered wind turbine. If theres no wind, no need to be out there.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

i have to agree with inept.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Some nice individual or group could buy about 4 golf cart batteries at Costco for about $200. and leave them at the Spit with a DC plug-in, or even a cheap inverter for use with a 110AC pump. That very popular individual or group could take the batteries home and recharge them when they needed it.

OR...

Brian Carlstrom might be interested in setting up a solar system... good advertising for his business. Maybe use a 200Watt panel, a regulator, and some batteries.

Some would have to do some calculating to arrive at the necessary amp-hours of electricity needed per day, to determine what size system would be needed.

For example:

(1) Electrical use side of the equation:

Number of kites to be pumped up per day times the Amp-hours needed per kite (judged from the wattage use of the electric pump)

(2) Electrical power generation side of the equation:

Panel Amperage times the number of hours of usable sunlight

(3) Electrical storage capacity of the batteries:

Battery rating in Amp-hours times the number of batteries

(4) Voltage need of the electric pump:

2 golf cart batteries (6V each) wired in series for a 12V pump

I could foresee a bunch of problems: like the possibility of thievery, the use of the electricity for non-kite related things, electrical shock safety issues, the large amount of space devoted to the pumping area, the issue of the adjustment of air pressure for different types of kites, etc.

Its an issue worth looking into, though.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I don't think you need to handle the 100 kite in one day scenario... you could figure that those days the pump will just be maxed out and its only going to last as long as it lasts and then its done for awhile (until it can recharge.)

Maybe two or more smaller pumps would make sense over one giant tank though... then you'd require less power to fill the tanks.

For vandal protection I think we'd need to invest time and money in a full on steel cage that is bolted to a cement foundation.

I know the guys with the construction / welding skills are out there, we just need to figure out if the whole thing is feasible or not.

Mark · Wed Apr 04, 07 3:39 pm

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 565 Posts Hood River Photographer

forrest · Wed Apr 04, 07 4:43 pm

Don't forget:

NO fun, NO smiles

Lets move our operation to Lyle or Stevenson. What are the odds of getting a pump installed at either of those places?

How much would it cost to get that inflatable dock for launching at Stevenson put in permanently? The dock that they used for the Bridge of the Gods contest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Hey, you know they also make air compressors that are mounted on trucks. 300 psi for tire stuff, massive tank. Maybe a tire store has an old one or they want to sponsor. It'd be a big promo for them just to drop the truck w/ compressor & help everybody fill up!