MARCH 17, 2015. THE WINCH SYSTEM WAS ONE OF THOSE DIY PROJECTS THAT STARTED OFF SMALL AND SIMPLE AND GREW TO BE BIG AND COMPLICATED. AS I MENTIONED IN BLOG ENTRY .0005, WE HAD A MANGO TREE TO ANCHOR OUR ZIPLINE TO AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING EQUIVALENT TO ANCHOR TO AT THE BOTTOM. SO THE NEXT TASK FOR MY SPECIAL TEAMS CREW WAS TO MAKE OUR OWN MANGO TREE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL OUT OF CONCRETE AND STEEL. I WAS GOING TO NEED SOME STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING ADVICE FROM DANNY FUJIOKA OF NAGAMINE OKAWA ENGINEERS INC. (NOEI)
WHAT RESULTED WAS A 16" DIA CONCRETE COLUMN THAT WOULD STAND 14'-0" ABOVE GRADE, SUPPORTED BY A 3'-0" DEEP FOUNDATION APROXIMATELY 6'-0" SQUARE. IT APPEARED I HAD BIT OFF MORE THAN I COULD CHEW WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT WE NEEDED THE WINCH TO PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTION SO WE PUT OUR HEADS DOWN AND PROCEEDED. WITH ALL THIS BLOOD AND SWEAT GOING INTO THE WINCH PROJECT, I DECIDED TO ENGINEER THE CONCRETE COLUMN TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A VERTICAL AXIS DOUBLE HELICAL WIND TURBINE THAT I WANTED TO INCLUDE IN THE PROJECT IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THE ZIP LINE CABLE FOR THE WINCH. ITS A GOOD THING I HAD NOEI ON THE SPEED DIAL. LITTLE DID I KNOW THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
