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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

All Articles – Newest to Oldest

Taking a Marine Diesel Maintenance Class

Published on June 9, 2025; last updated on February 26, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock/Pamela Douglas

Room with mechanical equipment and engines mounted on stands - Marine Diesel Maintenance Class

Thinking of taking a Marine Diesel Maintenance Class? Here’s what one student found helpful about the experience.

🎧Roam Device Review – Monitor Your Boat from Afar

Published on June 7, 2025; last updated on June 28, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock/John Herlig

Power boat with inset of Roam Device and phone with app open

John Herlig did a Roam Device review. Learn what he found installing it on his boat. And how he used it to keep track of his boat while away.

Tips for Hauling Out Your Boat

Published on June 5, 2025; last updated on January 4, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Man watches another main watching the bottom of a hauled out boat - hauling out your boat

If hauling out your boat is a new experience, read these tips to make it easier and less stressful. Little things you need to know.

Liveaboard Boat Insurance: Coverage for Full-Time Cruisers

Published on June 2, 2025; last updated on May 20, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock/Ben Belyea

Cruising sailboat at anchor with inset headshot of marine insurance underwriter Ben Belyea

Liveaboard boat insurance can be hard to find. Here’s what full-time cruisers need to know to actually get covered.

The Roam Device – Remote Boat Monitoring

Published on May 31, 2025; last updated on June 28, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock/John Herlig

Power boat with inset of Roam Device and phone with app open

Read the Roam Device review transcript to hear what John Herlig thought of this remote boat monitoring product.

🎧 No Foreign Land – A Great Resource for Cruisers

Published on May 31, 2025; last updated on May 22, 2025 by Nica Waters

digital map of florida with pins - no foreign land app

We’ve found the No Foreign Land app a vital source of practical information in new anchorages. Here’s what we love about it.

How to Survive Dirty Boat Projects

Published on May 29, 2025; last updated on January 6, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Person wearing white coveralls and a red hat with safety glasses and a dusk mask - dirty boat projects

Wondering how to survive dirty boat projects? These tips will make you less miserable during even the worst boat jobs.

Steps to Buying a Cruising Boat

Published on May 22, 2025; last updated on April 19, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Row of cruising sailboats moored in a marina with mountains in the background

Boat shopping feels overwhelming until you break it into steps. Here’s the full process — what to do, in order, before you ever set foot on a boat.

🎧How (and Why) to Catch Rainwater from your Boat

Published on May 17, 2025; last updated on May 13, 2025 by Nica Waters

bucket on a boat deck catching rainwater

How to catch rainwater from your boat. And why you should, even if you have regular access to water elsewhere.

Seasickness? What You Need to Know

Published on May 15, 2025; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Man getting sick over the water from a sailboat - seasickness

I’d never really suffered from seasickness until a trip with friends a few years ago. And I learned a few things.

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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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