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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

 

Boat DIY Tips
Boat DIY Tips
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Owning a boat turns everyone into a DIY-er! Sometimes, there's just no one else to do the job.
 
Along the way, we've learned how to do many things a little more easily and here we share it all with you.

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My Favorite Boat Bottom Scraping Tool

Published on July 16, 2026; last updated on July 16, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

This inexpensive tool made the scraping SO much easier without gouging the gel coat. And we’ve used it for lots of other projects as well.

Hauling Out Your Boat – What to Ask to Protect Yourself

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

Do you know the right questions to ask before hauling out? Here are a few to get you thinking. Picking the right boatyard is important.

12 Volt Wiring Size Chart

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

A man's hands using red-handled wire crimpers to crimp a connector onto a red wire, with The Boat Galley 12 Volt Wiring Size Chart laid out on the table next to him showing voltage drop tables and a battery state of charge chart, along with a small parts box of wire connectors and Klein wire strippers nearby.

Marine product: A waterproof, grease-proof 12V DC wire size chart with 3% and 10% voltage drop tables for both regular and engine-room installations. Also includes a battery state of charge chart for flooded lead acid, AGM, and lithium batteries plus a watts/volts/amps conversion chart. Compact enough for the toolbox or engine room.

How To Make Lazy Jacks Easy To Use

Published on March 23, 2026; last updated on March 20, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Sailor working with mainsail and lazy jacks at the mast on a sailboat

Tired of wrestling battens past lazy jacks? Here’s the $100 DIY fix that makes raising the main frustration-free.

Find a Fuel Problem on a Boat

Published on February 25, 2026; last updated on March 3, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

How to find the cause of a fuel problem on a boat. Symptoms and possible causes, plus step-by-step strategies for finding it.

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?

Boat Steering Pin Stuck and Feeling Stupid

Published on January 28, 2026; last updated on January 27, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Feeling stupid. Boat work and the cruising life can do that to you. The lessons we learned as well as how to move on and regain confidence.

How to Repair Holes in Boat Teak

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

Mixing glue and sawdust - repairing teak holes

A previous owner left holes in the teak woodwork in your boat? It’s easier to repair than you think! Step-by-step how-to with photos.

How to Troubleshoot Boat Problems

Published on December 11, 2025; last updated on January 1, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

We all hate when there's a problem and want to fix it as fast as possible. Today's tip, from Georgia Hilton, will cut your troubleshooting time dramatically.

Wondering how to troubleshoot boat problems? Guest writer, Georgia Hilton, gives some great DIY tips from her work in the Navy.

Installing a New Halyard

Published on November 13, 2025; last updated on November 12, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Man standing near sailboat mast - installing a new halyard

Installing a new halyard without going up the mast is far safer. Here’s how we did it in less than five minutes.

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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

Choosing a Broker (When Selling Your House to Cruise)

July 21, 2026

You’re going to pay a lot of money to your broker. Make sure you get one that’s going to get your boat or house sold!

Choosing and Installing a Victron Battery Monitor

July 20, 2026

Step-by-step instructions with pictures to install a Victron battery monitor, including reasons for having a battery monitor and why we chose this one.

My Favorite Boat Bottom Scraping Tool

July 16, 2026

This inexpensive tool made the scraping SO much easier without gouging the gel coat. And we’ve used it for lots of other projects as well.

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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See the All-Access Pass →

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