June 14, 2026
Based mostly on testing that Dan Horton (DanH on VAF) completed while working with Don at Airflow Performance, I decided to switch my stock Lycoming Fuel Injection Nozzle bodies for Turbo Nozzle Fuel Injection bodies. Most of my flights are 12k-16k and my objective was to improve LOP operations at altitude. Prior to this modification I have switched to 0.025″…
June 14, 2026
This year’s condition inspection took quite a bit longer than past years, it was a mixture of working in a friend’s hanger (and needing to borrow tools/parts from the local maintenance shop), installing turbo nozzle bodies on the fuel injection system (link), and a repair to the nose wheel bracket. Being less organized and running around to get parts/tools really…
May 16, 2026
High seas drama, I mean it is cruising so that goes with the territory… The day began with a hike. I’ve explored the area behind the beach before, but only about a mile inland. This time, my goal was to cross to a beach on the west side of the island (I’m anchored on the north side). The hike was…
May 16, 2026
The interior fan on my fridge had been making a surging noise for a few weeks. Spin fast, then almost stop, repeat endlessly at about a two second cycle. I could find nothing online, so I carefully probed around to figure out how to disassemble the interior mechanics. Turns out it is super simple… After cleaning, my fan was running…
May 11, 2026
The morning felt perfect for fishing. I’ve always had good luck here, but with brand-new, untested lures, it was anyone’s guess. I motored to my favorite spot and began trolling, back and forth, adjusting depths, swapping lures, waiting for a strike. Finally, I got a hit and landed a cabrilla. Relief washed over me. A few more passes brought in…
May 10, 2026
The only metal penetrating the hulls on an 1160 are the saildrives, the rudders, and the thru hulls. Points of concern: 1. The thru hulls immediately transition to a plastic hose, so I am not very concerned about the thru hulls 2. The rudders are of slight concern as there is metal on the rudder stock which is exposed to…
May 8, 2026
I made the mistake years ago of attempting a night passage to San Francisquito. Almost every evening, a strong west wind funnels out of Bahía San Carlos, and that crossing turned into a miserable passage. These days, I wait for a calm daytime weather window, and this time, I got exactly that. If I’m being particular, there was some uncomfortable…
May 6, 2026
The plan was to stay three or four nights, but it turned into a quick two‑night stop with a 6:45 a.m. departure on the second morning. I wanted to be on the dock before the wind picked up, so at 4:25 a.m. I pulled anchor and was tied up by 8:20 a.m. Calm conditions on my arrival made getting on the dock a…
May 4, 2026
The wind patterns had been steady all week, so I aimed to secure a slip in Santa Rosalia before 10 a.m., if one was available. From Punta Chivato, the 35‑mile run would be tough, so I chose Isla San Marcos instead, leaving a shorter 21‑mile leg for tomorrow. The passage north was manageable, though the first half was a slog…
May 3, 2026
As the sun rose and the morning offshore breeze picked up, I thought, “Hot damn, let’s sail!” So off to Punta Chivato I went. The wind was light, but with only ten miles ahead, I was content with anything over two knots. For about an hour I was making 4.1 knots and feeling good…until the wind died and I had…
May 2, 2026
Back in El Burro, I’d heard that the beachside restaurant in Mulegé, the one that always looks like it could be blown down in the next storm but still serves excellent food, had been taken over by a new family. Checking into it, I lucked out, tonight they were hosting live music. With calm overnight winds forecast, it would be…
May 1, 2026
Up early to beat the heat, I set out on the hike to the hills overlooking the area. I’d done this trail on past visits, but it had been long enough that I’d forgotten how strenuous it was—basically straight up a wash. Much of the climb was over rocks, giving my ankles a workout. I pushed on, stopping only for…