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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

All Articles – Newest to Oldest

🎧 Boatcards and Memories

Published on January 19, 2021; last updated on December 13, 2023 by Nica Waters

Packing up the house to sell unearthed a lot of memories from our first cruise. In the form of boat cards.

🎧Sunglasses

Published on January 12, 2021; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Looking for a good set of boat sunglasses? Look at features and not just the price.

🎧Forced Flexibility

Published on January 5, 2021; last updated on May 17, 2023 by Nica Waters

Realizing I need a general plan to look forward to was a change for me. Understanding what that meant was helpful to Jeremy.

🎧Appreciating Family

Published on December 29, 2020; last updated on May 19, 2023 by Nica Waters

Gratitude expressed for something I once took for granted.

🎧Winter Cover for a Boat

Published on December 22, 2020; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Nica Waters

How to make a winter boat cover. DIY project with all the details and links to materials.

External Digital Oven Thermometer

Published on December 19, 2020; last updated on May 7, 2022 by Carolyn Shearlock

No thermostat or thermometer on your oven? Get this external digital oven thermometer – no need to open the door to check the temperature

🎧Balancing Work and Play

Published on December 15, 2020; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

Getting stuck in the “work all the time” mode is not ideal. Days when you both work AND play are the best!

🎧Bucking the System by Working the System

Published on December 8, 2020; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

College acceptance letters provide the springboard for a reflection on how to get what you want.

🎧 Space Shifting for Projects

Published on December 1, 2020; last updated on December 13, 2023 by Nica Waters

When working on house flooring reminds me that boat life skills apply even on land.

🎧Why Keep the Boat?

Published on November 24, 2020; last updated on May 28, 2023 by Nica Waters

A standard question is asked and answered. In the most raw form yet.

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Primary Sidebar

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

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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