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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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Outboard Fuel Line Problems

Published on April 11, 2016; last updated on April 4, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

How to tell if you have a blockage in an outboard fuel line, why they occur and how to choose a replacement fuel line that will have fewer problems.

Changing Lower Unit Oil in an Outboard

Published on April 8, 2016; last updated on April 4, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

Changing the lower unit oil on an outboard is part of the routine maintenance. Here's how we do it when we're out cruising without a motor stand ashore

Changing the lower unit oil on an outboard is part of the routine maintenance. Here’s how we do it when we’re out cruising without a motor stand ashore

Pulling Electrical Wires

Published on March 28, 2016; last updated on September 19, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

Installing new equipment on a boat often requires new electrical wiring. Two tips for running that wiring in tight spaces.

Installing new equipment on a boat often requires new electrical wiring. Two tips for running that wiring in tight spaces.

Dinghy Bottom Cleaning Made Simple

Published on March 5, 2016; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

A much easier way to clean the dinghy bottom. Why didn't we think of this years ago??

A much easier way to clean the dinghy bottom. Why didn’t we think of this years ago??

Don’t Let Bugs in the Thru-Hulls

Published on January 29, 2016; last updated on January 15, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

Keep bugs out of your boat with this easy, low-cost way to prevent ants, mud daubers, spiders, and cockroaches from entering thru-hulls when in a boatyard.

Better Than Acetone to Clean Hands

Published on December 11, 2015; last updated on December 17, 2022 by Carolyn Shearlock

Using acetone to clean up after nasty messy projects such as epoxy or sealant? There's something that works better, is cheaper AND is less toxic!

Using acetone to clean up after nasty messy projects such as epoxy or sealant? There’s something that works better, is cheaper AND is less toxic!

Taking the Important Pictures on a Boat

Published on December 9, 2015; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

The important photos aren’t necessarily the pretty ones. They’re the ones that enable you to put something back together!

The Cruiser’s Best Friend: Google

Published on December 5, 2015; last updated on January 4, 2025 by Carolyn Shearlock

Finding the infomation you need right when you need it, Google has changed cruising.

Finding the infomation you need right when you need it, Google has changed cruising.

Loosening That Last Seized Bolt

Published on November 20, 2015; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

Got a seized bolt? Get PB Blaster. Can't spray it where it needs to go? Try this tip.

Got a seized bolt? Get PB Blaster. Can’t spray it where it needs to go? Try this tip.

Clean Your Dinghy Bottom More Easily

Published on November 16, 2015; last updated on October 30, 2021 by Carolyn Shearlock

We’ve finally found a product that significantly cut the time to clean the bottom of the dinghy. Even better — it’s cheap!

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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

Boat at anchor with inset picture of man with red hair and grey shirt

Liveaboard Boat Insurance: Coverage for Full-Time Cruisers

June 2, 2025 By Carolyn Shearlock/Ben Belyea

Liveaboard boat insurance can be hard to find. What’s a cruiser to do? Here’s what you need to know to find coverage.

digital map of florida with pins - no foreign land app

🎧 No Foreign Land – A Great Resource for Cruisers

May 31, 2025 By Nica Waters

We’ve found the No Foreign Land app a vital source of practical information in new anchorages. Here’s what we love about it.

Power boat with inset of Roam Device and phone with app open

The Roam Device – Remote Boat Monitoring

May 31, 2025 By Carolyn Shearlock/John Herlig

Read the Roam Device review transcript to hear what John Herlig thought of this remote boat monitoring product.

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