See in the Dark Ep235
Out on the water after dark, what you can’t see ahead of the bow can be the biggest danger. This week, we set out to give Isabella eyes in the night—and the result was remarkable. After mounting our new bow camera in the last video, we connected it to the Garmin 8610 chartplotter. That meant Karen climbing into the sail locker to pull the wires into the main cabin, then routing them under the bed, through and behind the head, beneath the salon cushions, and alongside the water-fill hose. For the final stretch into the cockpit, Steve even had to remove part of the ceiling. It was a demanding installation, but when darkness fell, the payoff was clear: the camera revealed what lay ahead of the bow, giving us a powerful new layer of safety for nighttime travel.
Steve also rebuilt the control panel for the bow camera and the existing wiring that enters the cockpit. After all that pulling and tugging, Karen double-checked every connection. We’re happy to report that all the instruments are working and displaying properly.
More than five years of DIY projects—are we crazy? Not at all. We’re simply continuing to add creature comforts, tackle upgrades, and keep Isabella in top shape. She was a great boat when we bought her, and we’re still finding ways to make her even better. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for so many years and still enjoy both living and working aboard. In this episode, we reflect on a few realities of boat life and upgrades such as the accumulator that eases the workload on the freshwater pump and the reverse-cycle units that keep us comfortable in summer and winter. Of course, every project comes with a familiar sight: tools and materials spread across the salon floor, cushions, and navigation station. Somehow, we still found just enough open space for a little dancing.
We also share a few comments from our subscribers and viewers—we always love hearing from y’all. Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed the episode and haven’t already, please subscribe to Sailing Intermission and help our channel grow.
We live aboard S/V Isabella, a Super Mikado 56 built in France by C.N.S.O. (Constructions Nautiques du Sud-Ouest). Isabella is a 1990/2010 sailing ketch with four private cabins, an engine room, a salon, a galley, and three heads with two separate shower stalls. Her fiberglass hull is designed for bluewater cruising, with an excellent capsize ratio of 1.68 and a very good comfort ratio of 42.19. She is equipped with Garmin and Raymarine electronics and hydraulic steering.
Isabella was designed by naval architect Michel Bigoin, who also designed Phocea. Built in 1976, the 246-foot, four-masted steel schooner was considered the world’s largest private sailing yacht until 2004.
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Musical Attributes:
Anna Landstrom – After Hours, After Love
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Sailing Intermission
Steve and Karen: The professor and the vixen navigating their 56ft French ketch, Isabella, through the forensic refit and turquoise waters of the Florida Keys in 2026.
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