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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

All Articles – Newest to Oldest

Cruisers Benefit from Doing New Things . . . Badly

Published on March 14, 2024; last updated on January 1, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock/Pamela Douglas

If being willing to try something new is a basic cruising skill, being willing to stink at things while you're learning them might be just as important.

Doing new things is part of the cruising life. But you’ll handle it much better if you can be comfortable doing new things badly.

The Power of Yes

Published on March 13, 2024; last updated on January 31, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

How do you make the most of the cruising life? Just say yes. You won’t know what it leads to until you try.

🎧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.

Three Pairs of Shoes

Published on March 7, 2024; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Picking the right boat shoes is an important choice for cruisers. Dave and I each had 3 pairs of shoes on the boat. Here are our choices.

Mold and Mildew on a Boat

Published on March 6, 2024; last updated on May 9, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Hand spraying Concrobium mold control on boat life jackets at anchor

Bleach doesn’t kill mold spores. Neither does Lysol. Here’s what actually works, surface by surface.

Cruising with a Large Dog

Published on February 29, 2024; last updated on January 21, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock/Pamela Douglas

Golden retriever on the bow of a sailboat - cruising with a large dog

Wondering how to go cruising with a big dog? What can you do to make it easier? Answers here from Pamela Douglas who cruised with Honey, a golden retriever.

Easy Passage Meals

Published on February 28, 2024; last updated on February 27, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Planning passage meals in advance makes for a happier journey. But one cruisers has a great idea to make it even easier.

🎧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?

Cruising & Friends

Published on February 22, 2024; last updated on January 4, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

People in front of flags

Making new friends, leaving friends behind. It can be tough on both ends. Eleven suggestions to make it easier.

Support for Cruisers

Published on February 21, 2024; last updated on December 31, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Cruising is easier when you have support. Here are a few places to find support for following your dream. And to create your own network.

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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 β€” 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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