Living on a Boat

What is living on a boat really like? How do you handle the everyday things? Could you really do it? All the info you need to make a smooth transition:

Published on November 16, 2016; last updated on July 16, 2019 by Carolyn Shearlock

How to use coconut coir in a composting toilet, including the exact amount of water to rehydrate it with, and tips on dealing with a fly infestation. [More] Composting Toilet Tips

Homeschool Teacher

Published on October 27, 2016; last updated on June 10, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

Thinking of cruising with your kids, but stuck and confused when it comes to the idea of homeschooling? Kate Laird’s new book provides practical info to make it work for you and your kids! [More] Homeschool Teacher

Easy Storage Drawers

Published on October 18, 2016; last updated on September 3, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

An easy, lightweight and economical way to organize storage areas on a catamaran [More] Easy Storage Drawers

Tips on Using a Solar Shower

Published on July 12, 2016; last updated on July 31, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

Ten years of using solar showers . . . 12 things we’ve learned for using it as your only shower on a boat! [More] Tips on Using a Solar Shower

Doing Laundry By Hand

Published on June 27, 2016; last updated on June 30, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

In many cruising locales, laundromats or laundry services are few and far between. So we resort to doing laundry on the boat . . . a neat tool to make it a lot easier on your back and a few tips on how I do it. [More] Doing Laundry By Hand

Our Composting Toilet

Published on June 2, 2016; last updated on March 31, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

The learning curve for our Nature’s Head composting toilet has been steeper than expected, but we love the unit. Here’s what we wish someone had told us. [More] Our Composting Toilet

DIY Dog Grooming

Published on May 2, 2016; last updated on September 27, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

One big worry about cruising with a dog is what to do about grooming. Eleven years with a “poodle-ish” mix has taught us quite a bit about DIY grooming . . . and it’s really not hard! [More] DIY Dog Grooming

Clearing Cockpit Drains

Published on April 4, 2016; last updated on August 30, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

Cockpit drains need to be kept clear so they will drain quickly. But it’s easy for things such as hair and parts from a project to go down them. So you need to clean them out. This inexpensive tool is the best we’ve found! [More] Clearing Cockpit Drains

Cleaning Non-Skid Boat Decks

Published on April 1, 2016; last updated on September 27, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

Cleaning non-skid boat decks used to be a hated chore, with lots of scrubbing on our hands and knees. Learn how to do it faster and more easily. [More] Cleaning Non-Skid Boat Decks

More From Your Solar Panels

Published on March 2, 2016; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

We live over 90% on solar power and did on our previous boat, too. It’s fairly easy on nice days in the middle of summer, but we do okay even on partially cloudy short winter days with just a little extra effort. [More] More From Your Solar Panels

Composting Toilet Tips