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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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Patching Your Inflatable Dinghy

Published on February 22, 2023; last updated on April 4, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

Patching your dinghy in the tropics is a challenge. Unless you use the right glue. Here’s my recommendation and a step-by-step how-to.

🎧How to DIY a Cheap Cockpit Enclosure for Your Boat

Published on September 23, 2022; last updated on September 29, 2024 by Carolyn Shearlock

Planning to cruise in cold weather.?Then a cockpit enclosure is a must. But don’t spend thousands if you don’t have to. Here’s how to DIY a basic one for your cruising boat.   

Figuring Out Your Power Needs on a Boat

Published on August 31, 2022; last updated on January 18, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

With limited battery storage on a boat, you need to keep track of what the products onboard draw in power. Here’s what you need to do to calculate your power needs.

DIY Electrical Connection Tips for Boating Projects

Published on June 8, 2022; last updated on June 21, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

Over years of doing many of our boat’s electrical jobs, I’ve learned a few tricks. Here’s some of my favorite DIY wiring hacks.

Tracking Down Leaks–The Easy Way

Published on May 4, 2022; last updated on June 21, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

Ever need to track down a tiny leak on your boat? Sure you have. But it doesn’t have to be a horrible task if you use this clever little trick.

What Repairs Do You Make Now? What Can Wait?

Published on April 13, 2022; last updated on June 21, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

Cruising means you have a long to do list for repairs–all the time. But do you really need to spend ALL your time doing boat maintenance?

Find a Fuel Problem on a Boat

Published on August 31, 2020; last updated on August 31, 2020 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.

DIY Fuel Polishing

Published on July 26, 2020; last updated on October 31, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

If your boat has been sitting for a while, you may need to polish your fuel. Here’s how with suggested tools to make it easier to accomplish DIY fuel polishing.

DIY Boat Garden

Published on June 13, 2020; last updated on July 28, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock/Liz & Risto Lappala

Yes, you can grow greens and herbs (and even tomatoes!) on your sailboat. Check out this clever DIY to help you make your own boat garden.

🎧Gaining DIY Skills

Published on April 23, 2019; last updated on May 25, 2023 by Nica Waters

How installing 3 pieces of flooring in a closet helped me gain confidence to do boat work.

How installing 3 pieces of flooring in a closet helped me gain confidence to do boat work.

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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!

      

Getting Started

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The Boat Galley can be overwhelming with over 1,000 articles. We have four FREE mini-courses to guide you to just the info you need, whether you’re discovering what living on a boat would be like, preparing to cruise, overwhelmed with the first-year learning curve, or needing help with cooking aboard. Click here.

Latest Articles & Podcasts

Marina with a row of boats - how to shop for a boat

How To Shop For A Boat

May 22, 2025 By Carolyn Shearlock

How do you shop for a boat if you’ve never done it before? My best tips to make your experience easier. And less scary.

bucket on a boat deck catching rainwater

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

May 17, 2025 By Nica Waters

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

Man getting sick over the water from a sailboat - seasickness

Seasickness? What You Need to Know

May 15, 2025 By Carolyn Shearlock

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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