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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

All Articles – Newest to Oldest

How to Prep Your Boat’s Fuel System for Long Passages

Published on July 17, 2025; last updated on September 2, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Do you know how to prep your boat’s fuel system for a long passage? If not, here’s what you need to do to prepare for any conditions.

Getting a Tow for our Cruising Boat

Published on July 10, 2025; last updated on July 8, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Calling a tow for your boat

Getting a tow for our cruising boat–it took us 13 years. But it finally happened. Here’s why it happened so you can learn too.

Corn Tortillas for the Boat Pantry

Published on July 7, 2025; last updated on January 23, 2026 by Nica Waters

Stack of corn tortillas - add corn tortillas to your boat pantry

Make sure you have corn tortillas for the boat galley. This versatile ingredient makes meal planning easy–even when you’re tired.

Getting Help for a Boat Emergency

Published on July 3, 2025; last updated on June 30, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Person holding a radio with the word "help" on the display - getting help for a boat emergency

Do you know how to get help for a boat emergency. Although your first instinct may be to reach for your phone, it’s not the best idea.

🎧Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos – Perfect Boat Pantry Meal

Published on June 28, 2025; last updated on February 1, 2026 by Nica Waters

Sweet potato black bean tacos - for a boat

Sweet potato black bean tacos are a perfect boat meal. They’re versatile and can be made even when your stores are light.

Spend Time on the Water – the Best Prep for Cruising

Published on June 26, 2025; last updated on December 31, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Spend time on the water before you start cruising. It’s better than classes, books. or videos. It can’t be beat.

An Easy Maintenance Boat: What to Look For Before You Buy

Published on June 19, 2025; last updated on April 27, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Person working on rigging at the top of a sailboat mast, doing maintenance high above the deck

Whether a boat is easy to maintain comes down to access. Most buyers don’t think to check until they own it. Here’s what to look for before you do.

How to Learn About Your Boat

Published on June 16, 2025; last updated on July 30, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock/Pamela Douglas

sailboat with white haired main on the left and man with beard on the right - how to learn about your boat

How do you learn about your boat when it’s new to you? Whether you prefer solo or group learning, there are some great options.

🎧Provisioning in the Marquesas

Published on June 14, 2025; last updated on June 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Boat anchored with mountains in the background - provisioning in the Marquesas

Provisioning in the Marquesas was said to be difficult and expensive. The truth is better. Here’s what I learned.

Sunset Traditions

Published on June 12, 2025; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Silhouettes of people watching the sunset - sunset traditions

Sunset traditions are a fun part of the cruising life. Here are a few we’ve enjoyed. Perhaps they’ll become part of your boat rituals?

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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

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