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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Nica Waters

🎧The Weirdness of Nothing

Published on June 8, 2021; last updated on April 12, 2024 by Nica Waters

Musings on the echoing memories left behind in empty spaces

🎧Deadlines and Prioritizations

Published on June 1, 2021; last updated on April 12, 2024 by Nica Waters

When moving aboard doesn’t mean the same thing as splashing the boat, the priority list gets tighter. We’ve got 2 main lists going these days, with some wiggle room in terms of the “going cruising” list.

🎧The Mysterious All of a Suddens

Published on May 25, 2021; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

A look at some of the endless work that culminated in finishing a lot of projects in one weekend.

🎧Coffee Problems

Published on May 18, 2021; last updated on May 19, 2023 by Nica Waters

After a lot of tasty trial and error, we’ve found our onboard coffee. It’s still better to spend more to get smaller size bags.

🎧Redoing the Whole Boat

Published on May 11, 2021; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

A question from a friend leads us to list out everything that we’re tackling aboard. It’s extensive and exhausting. We’d still do it again.

🎧Three Varnishing Tips

Published on May 4, 2021; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Besides the basics of “spend time prepping and cleaning”, we’ve figured out some new strategies lately that are making varnish time go much more smoothly.

🎧To Bread Machine or Not to Bread Machine

Published on April 27, 2021; last updated on May 17, 2023 by Nica Waters

I love making bread by hand. We still bought a machine – here’s why.

🎧Tabbing Games

Published on April 20, 2021; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

It takes more time than you think to create support for counters!

🎧Hardest Parts of Any Project

Published on April 13, 2021; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

Getting started is hard. Finishing is even harder. They both mean nothing gets crossed off the list.

🎧Rudder Woes

Published on April 6, 2021; last updated on September 29, 2024 by Nica Waters

How much work have we just caused ourselves by wanting a new wind vane?

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Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Carolyn Shearlock

Hi! I'm Carolyn Shearlock. My husband and I have been living on a boat and cruising over 17 years and 13,000 miles, first on a Tayana 37 monohull and then on a 34' Gemini catamaran. Along the way, we sold pretty much everything we owned (twice!), gained a great boat dog, had a bunch of wonderful times and some adventures . . . and learned a ton about what does and doesn't work!

How Can We Help You?

I'm curious about the cruising life What is it, who does it, and what's it really like day to day?
I'm tempted — but is it realistic for my situation? My budget, my health, my partner, my life, my skills (or lack thereof)
I'm getting ready to go Buying a boat, getting insurance, planning to move aboard
I'm aboard and navigating the learning curve How do I make it the life I dreamed of?

Latest Articles

Drink with a citrus slice on the water - dangers of dehydration for cruisers

The Dangers of NOT Drinking–Dehydration!

June 27, 2026

A scary trip to the emergency room taught us about the dangers of dehydration for cruisers. You’ve probably done these things yourself.

A pile of plastic, cardboard and cans, the kind of packaging waste to cut before it becomes trash on a boat

Reduce Trash On A Boat

June 21, 2026

Most of the trash that overwhelms a boat never needed to come aboard. Here are the changes that made the biggest difference for us.

How Do I Know If I’d Like Cruising?

June 19, 2026

The boats at anchor look so pretty. What would it be like to live on one? A dream or a nightmare? How to know if you’d like cruising and living on a boat.

Living on a boat

There's no shortage of sailing and navigation courses. But who teaches you how to provision, store everything, stay cool, prep for hurricanes, and actually live on a boat? We do.

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11 courses covering every aspect of life afloat — from deciding if cruising is right for you, to moving aboard, provisioning, storage, tiny fridges, VHF radio, hurricane prep, cruising the Bahamas, boat dogs, and more.

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