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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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How to Connect Boat Wires So They Don’t Fail

Published on August 7, 2025; last updated on June 9, 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.

What to Ask Before Hauling Out

Published on December 20, 2023; last updated on December 31, 2025 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.

🎧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.

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.

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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 & Podcasts

Water Usage on a Boat

June 11, 2026

How much water do cruisers typically use? And how do they use it? Here’s what you need to know before you head out on a longer trip!

Fresh vegetables including cauliflower, peppers, broccoli, and carrots — all good candidates for storing without refrigeration

How to Store Vegetables without Refrigeration

June 11, 2026

Planning a trip? Here’s which vegetables survive without refrigeration, how long they last, and how to handle them.

Pile of US $100 bills representing how much to offer on a used boat

How Much to Offer on a Used Boat

June 9, 2026

Skip the rule of thumb. Eight factors to weigh before you put a number on the offer sheet.

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.

$519  $199  SAVE 62%

See the All-Access Pass →

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