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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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Stay Safe When Climbing the Mast

Published on September 11, 2025; last updated on September 11, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Person on a bosun's chair at the top of a mast - climbing the mast

Are you safe when climbing the mast? How about those on deck? Here are the tips you need to know.

How to Calculate Boat Power Requirements

Published on August 21, 2025; last updated on February 19, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

boats at anchor at night - calculate boat power needs

Do you know how to calculate boat power requirements? If not, your batteries may not be able to keep up. Here’s how to do it.

How to Connect Boat Wires So They Don’t Fail

Published on August 7, 2025; last updated on July 27, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Crimping a screw connector when connecting boat wires

The little crimping and heat-shrink tricks that keep a boat’s wire connections from corroding or shaking loose.

Tips for Hauling Out Your Boat

Published on June 5, 2025; last updated on January 4, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Man watches another main watching the bottom of a hauled out boat - hauling out your boat

If hauling out your boat is a new experience, read these tips to make it easier and less stressful. Little things you need to know.

How to Survive Dirty Boat Projects

Published on May 29, 2025; last updated on January 6, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Person wearing white coveralls and a red hat with safety glasses and a dusk mask - dirty boat projects

Wondering how to survive dirty boat projects? These tips will make you less miserable during even the worst boat jobs.

Don’t Lose Small Parts During Boat Projects

Published on April 24, 2025; last updated on April 23, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Winch parts on a paper towel - don't lose boat parts when making repairs

Don’t lose small parts during boat projects. Some preparation and good working methods will ensure it. Here are tips.

How to Prep a Boat Bottom to Switch to Hard Paint

Published on February 27, 2025; last updated on January 14, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Man painting bottom of sailboat in boatyard - how to prep boat bottom for switch to hard paint

Wondering how to prep a boat bottom to make the switch from ablative to hard paint? Here’s our experience and some DIY tips.

DIY Tips for Electrical Troubleshooting

Published on May 15, 2024; last updated on May 14, 2024 by Carolyn Shearlock

DIY Tips for Electrical troubleshooting - boat electrical parts

These DIY tips for troubleshooting electrical problems will help you stay organized while looking for a repair.

Boat Renovation: Cleaning Teak

Published on April 25, 2024; last updated on February 11, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

What’s the best technique for cleaning, literally, a boatload of horribly stained and dirty teak? Here’s what worked for me.

🎧How to Make Oil Changes Less Messy

Published on February 28, 2023; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Nica Waters

Oil changes are crucial for keeping your boat engine running. Here are 3 tools that make the job less messy. And easier.

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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

Avoid Over-Provisioning for Coastal Cruising

August 13, 2026

A simple realization made it so much easier to know where I’d put stuff!

Is Your Depth Sounder Set Properly?

August 11, 2026

Don’t assume your instruments — particularly the depth sounder — are set up correctly. Ours weren’t and it took us a while to realize it.

Protect the Kids & Pups: Lifeline Netting

August 10, 2026

Kid boats and dog boats . . . lifeline netting adds a bit of safety to both. A few notes on installing it and where to get the best price on the netting.

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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