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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Nica Waters

🎧Prepping to Store the Boat

Published on June 29, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Prepping a boat for storage in the yard takes some thought. Here are 3 categories to consider.

🎧Boat Work in Exotic Locations 

Published on June 15, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Yes, it’s a cliche. But with some truth. Cruising is often preparing things in exotic locations.

🎧It’s a Wrap

Published on June 1, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Plastic trash on a cruising boat has its challenges. Here are my best tips for dealing with it in remote areas.

🎧Tips for Using the VHF Radio

Published on May 18, 2024; last updated on January 10, 2025 by Nica Waters

Your VHF radio is valuable safety equipment–as long as you know how to use it. Here are a few tips to help.

🎧Save Water When Washing Boat Dishes

Published on May 4, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Water conservation is key on a boat. Here are some tips for keeping water use down when washing dishes.

🎧Hobbies Aboard

Published on April 20, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

isn’t the cruising life one big hobby? Well, maybe. But here are some other things we enjoy doing from the boat.

🎧My Favorite Pancake Mix

Published on April 6, 2024; last updated on January 10, 2025 by Nica Waters

stack of pancakes with butter and syrup

Pancakes make a healthy and hearty breakfast on a boat. Here’s my favorite mix that makes them quick and easy.

🎧The Rabbit Hole of Projects

Published on March 29, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Sailboat on stands in a boatyard under a tarp, out of the water and waiting for repairs

Boat projects are never simple. One step leads to another repair. Here’s one cruiser’s tale.

🎧5 People on a 4-Person Boat

Published on March 9, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Where do you put 5 people on a 4 (maybe?) person boat? Here’s how we hosted 5 on our Bristol Channel Cutter.

🎧The DIYers Dilemma

Published on February 24, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Every DIYer has a dilemma–how do you choose between time, money, and quality?

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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.

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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