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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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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?

DIY Fuel Polishing

Published on July 26, 2020; last updated on January 3, 2026 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.

Boat Garden Ideas for Cruisers: Grow Fresh Greens Onboard

Published on June 13, 2020; last updated on March 14, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock/Liz & Risto Lappala

Fresh salad greens growing in deck planters on a cruising sailboat, a practical boat garden idea

You can grow fresh greens and herbs on a boat — even offshore. Here are four real setups that actually work.

🎧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.

One Careless Moment

Published on April 22, 2019; last updated on January 2, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

boat on fire

One careless moment caused a boat fire. What happened, what we did wrong and what we did right. A chilling story of an almost-disaster.

Getting Reminders

Published on December 10, 2018; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

Want an automatic reminder to do routine tasks? Quickly set up an email reminder system with this free app. Step-by-step instructions on how to set it up.

Boat Renovation: Applying Teak Guard

Published on December 5, 2018; last updated on December 31, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

Applying the new teak finish on our boat’s interior renovation was one of the easiest parts of the project. I love the look that Teak Guard Finish gives!

🎧Six Steps to a Perfect Bottom

Published on May 22, 2018; last updated on December 13, 2023 by Nica Waters

Bottom painting. How do you keep this regular, messy, job in check? 6 steps will have you clean, painted, and ready to splash.

Bottom painting. How do you keep this regular, messy, job in check? 6 steps will have you clean, painted, and ready to splash.

An Easier Way to Splice Double Braid Rope

Published on April 30, 2018; last updated on March 19, 2026 by Carolyn Shearlock

Completed double braid eye splice on a red-and-white halyard attached to a stainless shackle

One tip from a professional rigging shop changed everything about how I splice double braid. Here’s what they taught me.

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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.

Master Life Aboard with
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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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