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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Nica Waters

🎧Choosing a Virtual Mailbox

Published on September 1, 2020; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

Laying out the process we used when choosing who would handle our mail.

🎧Multiple Avenues To Getting Rid of Stuff

Published on August 25, 2020; last updated on May 23, 2023 by Nica Waters

Our recent move made me explore all kinds of places with an eye to reducing our “things” load. 

🎧The Loss of a Giant

Published on August 18, 2020; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

What Larry Pardey and his wife, Lin, and their writings mean to us as cruisers and Bristol Channel Cutter owners. We’re all richer for his having been here. 

🎧Grinding Down Fiberglass

Published on August 11, 2020; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

6 tips for making fiberglass removal easier. It’s not all in the tools! Links: Shop-vac (Amazon) Tyvek suit (Amazon) Respirator (Amazon) Duct tape (Amazon) Sanding pad for drill (Amazon) 40-grit sandpaper (Amazon) Nica email Carolyn email Prefer to read? Check out Grinding Down Fiberglass.

🎧Preparation is Preparation

Published on August 4, 2020; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Some coronavirus questions are a good start to cruising questions, particularly around provisioning.

🎧Real Life?

Published on July 28, 2020; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

In which I explain why I’m tired of hearing people tell me my life on the boat isn’t really real.

🎧Deciding on Lithiums

Published on July 21, 2020; last updated on May 17, 2023 by Nica Waters

A brief overview of boat energy systems and how we settled on lithium batteries.

🎧Cruising for the Sandwich Generation

Published on July 14, 2020; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

Are we truly the sandwich generation? If so, is that a bad thing?

🎧Awesome Sailing Movie

Published on July 7, 2020; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Finding a movie that keeps my attention is not easy. This one, featuring a sister ship to our own Calypso, definitely fits the bill!

🎧My New Wallet

Published on July 3, 2020; last updated on May 19, 2023 by Nica Waters

When we visited Totem in Panama, I didn’t expect to take home an art form as a way to carry around a credit card or cash.

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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

A man and woman wearing 2Talk Bluetooth marine intercom headsets — known as "Marriage Savers" — on a boat in a marina, both with behind-the-neck headbands and boom microphones positioned at their mouths.

Boat Communication Headsets: The Marriage Savers

July 24, 2026

Good headsets transform the most stressful moments aboard. Here’s why they’re essential gear and what we actually use.

Doing the design and installation work on our DIY vinyl boat name lettering was easier than we expected and VERY cost-effective!

Why We DIY on the Boat

July 24, 2026

Saving money is just one of the reasons we do most work on our boat ourselves. Learn the other reasons we prefer to do things ourselves.

Boat hull on the hard showing ground-out area being filled in with fiberglass and epoxy

Filling In a Thru-Hull: What We Wish We’d Known

July 23, 2026

We filled in two thru-hulls and learned a lot the hard way. Here’s everything we wish someone had told us before we started.

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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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