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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Buying & Using a Boat Refrigerator

Boat refrigerators just aren't like "land" refrigerators. Smaller, oddly shaped and often with little to no freezer space or organization.

Make your fridge work for you -- whether it's front- or top-loading, and no matter how tiny!

Adding or Changing a Boat Refrigerator

Published on July 14, 2026; last updated on July 14, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Four items to consider if you’re thinking of installing or changing your boat refrigerator to make sure you end up with a system that meets your needs.

Eating Well With A Tiny Fridge

Published on April 29, 2026; last updated on April 30, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Baked Tuscan Chicken on a serving plate

Online course: Have great meals with the tiny fridge on your boat. Go up to three weeks between grocery trips with galley-tested strategies for maximizing every cubic inch of a small refrigerator.

Check Your Boat Refrigerator Seals

Published on February 12, 2026; last updated on February 11, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Refrigerator (or ice box) seals help keep the cold air from seeping out the cracks around lids and doors. But are yours really doing the job?

Small Fridge Organization: How to Go 3 Weeks Without a Grocery Run

Published on February 5, 2026; last updated on March 22, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Condiment bottles organized in a small boat refrigerator door

A 3-cubic-foot fridge and no nearby store — here’s the system that made it work for 17 years.

Troubleshooting Boat Refrigeration – Is it Your Batteries?

Published on April 10, 2025; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Temperature gauge with 48.7 showing - troubleshooting boat refrigeration

When troubleshooting boat refrigerations you might want to look at your batteries first. Tips for when your fridge runs but the beer is warm.

Two Things to Store in the Boat Refrigerator

Published on February 20, 2025; last updated on January 24, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Wasabi in a bowl with pickled ginger - two things to store in the boat refrigerator

What are two things to store in the boat refrigerator every time? You might be surprised. And if you don’t, you’ll regret it.

Drinks in the Boat Refrigerator

Published on August 8, 2024; last updated on January 24, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Cold drinks on a boat takes some effort. But it is possible. Here are 4 tips to help without draining your batteries.

Keeping Medication Cold on a Boat

Published on July 17, 2024; last updated on April 22, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Medical thermometer on colorful pills showing the challenge of keeping medication cold on a boat

Refrigerated injectables like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Repatha. Plus test strips. A real plan for meds that need to stay cold.

Individual Ice Cubes – Perfect on Boats

Published on October 11, 2023; last updated on January 25, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Individual ice cubes are perfect on a boat. They don’t take up much room. And give just enough cool to make your drinks better.

How to Quickly Defrost Your Boat Refrigerator

Published on July 20, 2023; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

A step-by-step guide of how to quickly defrost your boat refrigerator for improved refrigerator efficiency.

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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

Adding or Changing a Boat Refrigerator

July 14, 2026

Four items to consider if you’re thinking of installing or changing your boat refrigerator to make sure you end up with a system that meets your needs.

Making Back Up Plans When Boating

July 10, 2026

We’ve learned to ALWAYS have back up plans. If we’re lucky, we don’t need them. But sometimes we do . . .

Sailboat

Having Meals When Underway on a Boat

July 7, 2026

Thirteen tips for planning and preparing meals to eat underway on a boat — whether just out for the day or on a longer passage.

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.

Master Life Aboard with
Our All-Access Pass

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.

$519  $199  SAVE 62%

See the All-Access Pass →

Prefer just one topic? Browse individual courses

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