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The Boat Galley

tips, reviews and how-to's for your liveaboard cruising

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Hurricane Prep

Hurricanes are a fact of life in most cruising grounds. Preparing for one starts long before it's ever predicted, in the off-season.

We've taken two direct hits by hurricanes -- Category 1 Marty and Category 4 Irma -- with zero damage to our boat. I've studied how to give a boat the best possible chance and want to help you protect your boat.

You can find all my articles on hurricane prep and cruising in season below. A good place to start is How To Prepare A Boat For A Major Hurricane.

Hurricane Prep: Why Remove Jibs and Genoas

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

Why simply tying off your roller furling jib or genoa isn’t sufficient for a tropical storm or hurricane — pictures of the results. [More] Hurricane Prep: Why Remove Jibs and Genoas

How To Prepare A Boat For A Major Hurricane

Published on June 1, 2020; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

How to prepare your boat for a hurricane, with ten things you absolutely must do and why. Give your boat a fighting chance! [More] How To Prepare A Boat For A Major Hurricane

Making a Hurricane Plan for your Insurer

Published on March 28, 2020; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock/Laura Lindstrom-Croop

If you’re cruising on your boat in a hurricane zone, your insurance company will want to see your hurricane plan. Here’s how to create yours from an insurance pro. [More] Making a Hurricane Plan for your Insurer

Deciding To Haul Out For A Hurricane – No Regrets

Published on August 31, 2019; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock/Pamela Douglas Webster

A hurricane is coming. It may or may not reach your location. How do you make a decision and own it? Here’s one cruiser’s story. [More] Deciding To Haul Out For A Hurricane – No Regrets

Preparing for Florence

Published on October 16, 2018; last updated on October 11, 2018 by Nica Waters

Hurricane preparation is part mental and part physical. Learn about how we dealt with both as we prepared our 28′ sailboat for Florence.  [More] Preparing for Florence

What Makes a Boat Survive a Hurricane?

Published on September 14, 2018; last updated on September 9, 2018 by Carolyn Shearlock

Hurricane Irma hit Boot Key Harbor with a vengeance. Why did Barefoot Gal survive without a scratch when so many boats were destroyed? My thoughts on what was different here. [More] What Makes a Boat Survive a Hurricane?

7 Things When You’re Preparing for a Hurricane

Published on April 27, 2018; last updated on May 15, 2018 by Carolyn Shearlock

Maybe a hurricane will hit, maybe it won't. Maybe it'll weaken. Seven things to really take to heart when preparing for a possible hurricane.

Maybe a hurricane will hit, maybe it won’t. Maybe it’ll weaken. Seven things to really take to heart when preparing for a possible hurricane. [More] 7 Things When You’re Preparing for a Hurricane

Cruising in Hurricane Season

Published on January 5, 2018; last updated on June 12, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

How we cruise in hurricane-prone areas right through hurricane season. It's not for everyone, but there are ways to reduce the risk.

How we cruise in hurricane-prone areas right through hurricane season. It’s not for everyone, but there are ways to reduce the risk. [More] Cruising in Hurricane Season

Hurricane Prep: Your Lines

Published on October 19, 2017; last updated on December 24, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

es are what will keep your boat in place during a hurricane, whether at a dock, on anchor or a mooring. How to choose the best ones for the job. [More] Hurricane Prep: Your Lines

Dangerous Waters

Published on October 6, 2017; last updated on May 15, 2018 by Carolyn Shearlock

Recovering from a hurricane? Watch out for what's in the water -- both seen and unseen. Don't compound the tragedy.

Recovering from a hurricane? Watch out for what’s in the water — both seen and unseen. Don’t compound the tragedy. [More] Dangerous Waters

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Welcome

Carolyn Shearlock

Hi! I'm Carolyn Shearlock. My husband and I have been cruising over 13 years and 12,000 miles, first on a Tayana 37 monohull and now 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 1,200 articles. The Resource Center has 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

Plan Crystallization

February 23, 2021 By Nica Waters

We thought we had Thanksgiving plans. The surge in virus cases thought otherwise.  [More] Plan Crystallization

You Can Take Better Pictures—Here’s How

February 19, 2021 By Carolyn Shearlock

Take beautiful pictures of places you visit while cruising. Here’s how to get photographs that will help you remember your trip. [More] You Can Take Better Pictures—Here’s How

5 Steps to Replacing Thru Hulls

February 16, 2021 By Nica Waters

We recently replaced all our thru hulls – and share the details of how to do it! [More] 5 Steps to Replacing Thru Hulls

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