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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Nica Waters

🎧Templating: How and Why

Published on July 2, 2019; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

Creating a new horizontal surface in thin air on the boat is hard. Less hard when you template first.

Creating a new horizontal surface in thin air on the boat is hard. Less hard when you template first.

🎧The Soup To Nuts Kind of Provisioning

Published on June 25, 2019; last updated on May 30, 2023 by Nica Waters

It’s like regular grocery shopping – with a twist. Learn why your worries about that first stock up on board are both real AND unfounded.

🎧Collections

Published on June 18, 2019; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

When a jar of shells (or a bag of sea beans) is a time travel machine, it reminds me that even on a small boat, indulging your passions matters.

🎧My Favorite Way to Stay on Budget

Published on June 11, 2019; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Letting time lapse between grocery trips can be challenging – and intensely monetarily rewarding. There’s a crazy simple way to rein in your spending

🎧Simple Consumerism

Published on June 4, 2019; last updated on May 23, 2023 by Nica Waters

A random popup ad on my social media feed turned into a soul-searching decision about a new jacket.

🎧Making Friends While Cruising

Published on May 28, 2019; last updated on April 29, 2026 by Nica Waters

Cruising is about the friendships you make (and keep) - but starting the process can feel daunting. Learn three simple tips to making friends!

Cruising is about the friendships you make (and keep) – but starting the process can feel daunting. Learn three simple tips to making friends!

🎧Communications On Board – an interview

Published on May 21, 2019; last updated on May 23, 2023 by Nica Waters

I talk with Devon and Rich from Sea-Tech Systems about business on board, systems integration of our communications devices, and more!

I talk with Devon and Rich from Sea-Tech Systems about business on board, systems integration of our communications devices, and more!

🎧 What Am I Scared Of?

Published on May 14, 2019; last updated on December 13, 2023 by Nica Waters

Beyond pirates and hurricanes is a more real worry about missing a family emergency. Learn some techniques to help you prepare for this.

Beyond pirates and hurricanes is a more real worry about missing a family emergency. Learn some techniques to help you prepare for this.

🎧Satisfying All the Senses

Published on May 7, 2019; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Turning basic ingredients into something edible might be the epitome of cruising. It's self-sufficiency, creativity, and knowledge. Make bread!

Turning basic ingredients into something edible might be the epitome of cruising. It’s self-sufficiency, creativity, and knowledge. Make bread!

🎧The House Question – to sell or no

Published on April 30, 2019; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

Our experience in making the "keep the house or not" call before each of our cruises.

Our experience in making the “keep the house or not” call before each of our cruises.

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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 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.

Is Your Lifesling Ready For Use? Are you SURE?

June 17, 2026

Someday, your life or the life of someone you love may depend on a Lifesling. How to make sure it will deploy correctly.

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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