July 14, 2016
Wow, this drawing turned into an epic project. I started with the current Seawind 1160 electrical schematic (thank you Seawind for providing the DC drawing!). My boat had a second inverter installed plus my solar upgrades and lithium batteries. Spent a good deal of time tracing wires to confirm the accuracy of my schematic drawing and even fixed a couple…
July 12, 2016
The plan had been to cruise down to Ensenada and jump right into installing the solar arch. A long lunch and a few cocktails with friends put an end to those ideas. But Alejandro was flexible and agreed to come the next morning. Which was a good thing, since it took a lot of effort to scrub the original 3M…
June 7, 2016
Let the fun times begin! Destruction must come before there will be progress. The first step in my power upgrade would be to increase the size of the solar arch. The arch was a good starting point, but sized to fit small 125W BP panels it just wasn’t going to cut it as is. Arch with BP panels The first…
May 24, 2016
Another chance to sample many wines from Valle de Guadalupe and to help out a local children’s hospital? Sounds like a smart way to spend a Saturday. Throw in a couple celebrity chefs and it is a slam dunk. Winery Vinicola Bibayoff hosted the event with around 50 wineries and a number of food vendors. Low clouds and light rain…
May 9, 2016
I have been planning for awhile to make some significant upgrades to the power systems onboard. The batteries are original, after 8 years they are tired and past their expiration. Fellow Seawind 1160 owner Dave Straton (SV Nimrod) did an upgrade to Lithium batteries about four years ago and wrote a great write up on the conversion process. After exchanging…
April 28, 2016
With only getting time aboard about once per month, upon arrival there is a routine I have to “exerciser” the systems. The pumps (fresh water and HVAC), the thru-hulls, the engine fluids, and the critical head test and purge. Guess what failed… The starboard head bowl filled nicely with seawater. The evacuation, not so much. Great, one more project to…
April 16, 2016
Ensenada is a working port, and as such it is dusty and dirty. While boat washing is less critical, here it is a requirement. As is cleaning dock lines, sail stack, blocks, anything that moves. When I moved Strikhedonia down to CruisePort in Ensenada July of 2014 I got lined up a guy to wash her every two weeks. His…
April 8, 2016
While Papa’s and Beer is sadly what first pops into many American’s mind when thinking about food and drinks in Ensenada, those people are sadly missing a major shift that is taking place. There is a feeling in town that a critical mass has been reached, which has brought gastronomical and cultural events much like are found in their neighbors…
February 19, 2016
My understanding is that this was the first year of Carnival in Ensenada. The current mayor is making a big push for more civic events. Whether that is because it gives him a chance to party on the community’s dime or an excuse to be with his “alleged” boyfriend, I don’t know but I’m glad to have fun events like…
January 28, 2016
Large swell. Blue sky. Light wind. Warm temperatures. A beautiful day to be on the water. A number of boats had been holed up in Ensenada waiting for a weather window to start the journey to Cabo. My plans weren’t so exciting, but then again I didn’t have all the preparation either, so it should be no surprise that after…
January 14, 2016
With the promise of an evening/night hike in the hills outside of Ensenada I was hooked. Only issues; it was quite a distance from the marina and to get there you had to drive through one of the roughest neighborhoods in Ensenada. Oh yeah, and the other little thing – roads damaged by the recent rains… Google maps claims it…
December 17, 2015
I love visiting Napa but damn the area has gotten so big and commercialized that gone are the days of walking up to a winery without a reservation. Ensenada’s Guadalupe Valley is still a gem and a return to times past. Plus the wine is getting quite good. Couple that with great food and beautiful scenery and I’m sold. Finca…