PODCAST · education
The Boat Galley
by Carolyn Shearlock & Nica Waters
Making boat life better, 5-10 minutes at a time. The Boat Galley Podcast contains quick bits of actionable information to help you learn all about boat life and going cruising.
Episodes
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Goodbye For Now
The last regularly scheduled episode of The Boat Galley Podcast is a discussion between Nica and Carolyn on how cruising has changed. Summary Today's episode of The Boat Galley podcast is actually a little different. Welcome to a conversation between Carolyn Shearlock and Nica Waters on changes…
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Glass Fishing Floats - The ultimate treasure from the sea
Hunting for the elusive, Japanese glass fishing floats. Summary: Fishermen around the world use floats of some kind to keep their nets suspended in the ocean. Originally, floats were often wood or cork. Today, they are frequently made of plastic or styrofoam. The choice of material depends on…
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Catamaran or Monohull - Which is Better?
So, you've decided to buy a cruising boat. Congratulations! Which is the best fit for you? A catamaran or a monohull? Here are some thoughts from someone who has cruised on both. Summary Which is a better cruising vessel, a catamaran or a monhull? After cruising aboard both a 37-foot monohull and...
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Sloppy Joes, the Lentil Edition
A meat favorite gets a makeover aboard. Here's how to make a crowd-pleasing vegetarian version of a classic meat dish, perfect for a boat galley! Summary Although the crew of Calypso isn't vegetarian, with limited cold storage, we eat like we are. And beans are a great meat substitute. The dried...
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The Hidden Costs When Buying a Boat
You may be tempted to stretch your budget to get a larger boat or more features. But wait. Have you considered the hidden costs you may pay when buying a boat? Summary When a friend started looking for a slightly larger boat, I began thinking about the hidden costs he'd have to pay. He found a...
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Celebrating Thanksgiving on a Boat
Thanksgiving when cruising can be challenging. Today I look at past celebrations aboard. Summary: Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This year, however, we're 5000 miles away from home. It could be easy to feel sad about missing family, but it also brings back memories. I associate Thanksgiving...
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How to Check in to a Marina
If you've never checked into a marina or mooring field before, how do you learn? Here are the procedures and best practices. Summary: When you're headed to a new marina or mooring field, prepare ahead of time by checking the layout. Visit their website or use Google Maps. Advanced familiarity…
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Who's Got the Crud?
Dealing with a sick crew member aboard. Here are a couple of ways to address illness on the boat. Summary: How do you manage if someone gets sick on the boat? The good news, based on my experience, is that it happens rarely. But, if someone on your boat gets sick, here's what you need to know....
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How to Make Cruising More Pleasurable
Cruising offers many challenges. But it shouldn't feel like a slog. And if it does, maybe a few simple changes will make it more pleasurable. Summary All beginning cruisers look forward to the best part of the lifestyle. But living on a boat is also a challenge. The difference between having fun...
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Buying from the Ship in the Tuamotus
A Tuamotus shopping experience where the ship is a store. Buying directly from the supply ship in Takaroa was a lovely cruising lesson Summary Cruising offers opportunities to have many new experiences and to learn new skills. We recently learned how to "shop the ship" in the Tuamotus. Let me…
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DIY Tips for Making Boat Wiring Connections
If you make strong boat wiring connections the first time, you won't have to redo them later. Here are the best tips I've learned from years of doing wiring jobs on the boat. Summary: You won't find these tips in any electrical manual. They are the things I wish someone had told me the first time…
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Pas De Suckage
For those picture perfect days that defy description . . . , Or how the unexpected joy of sailing in the Tuamotus leads to a new term. Summary Working on Calypso in the boatyard wasn't always fun. In fact, many days were pretty terrible. But sailing in the Tuamotos has given us amazing days with...
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How Much Power to Run All Your Boat Gear?
Do you have enough power available to run all the equipment you want to use on your boat? Here are some simple calculations to ensure you have all the power you need, when you need it. Summary New cruisers are often surprised by how much electricity it takes to live comfortably on a boat. But you...
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Guest Books Aboard
How a blank book became a lovely way to remember guests who came aboard for a meal. Summary A guestbook is a great way to save memories of your cruise. But you can make it even more if you allow guests more time and space to comment. We carried a guest book on our first cruise, from 1994 to 1997....
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Briefing Boat Guests for Safety
Briefing boat guests will ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable aboard. If you are taking people out on your boat, a safety briefing is critical. Summary If you're taking guests out on your boat, one of the most important things you can do—before you ever leave the dock—is to give them a...
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Creative Cabbage Uses for Cruisers
Cabbage is the ultimate cruiser vegetable with endless options. Here are 10 ways Nica uses cabbage on board. Summary Cabbage is a perfect vegetable for cruising. It stores well, is nutritious, and can be used in so many different ways. You can eat it both raw and cooked. Long after other…
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What to Ask Before Hauling Your Boat Out
You need to ask about more than price when you're hauling your boat out at a yard. These are some questions to ask to avoid being unhappy and unable to relaunch your vessel. Summary: You need to ask about more than price when you're hauling your boat out at a yard. These are some questions to ask...
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How to Make Homemade Yogurt on a Boat
In honor of episode 800, we revisit a favorite recipe from The Boat Galley Cookbook--homemade yogurt. All it takes is a few tools, a couple of ingredients, and some time. Try it! Summary I first made yogurt from Carolyn Shearlock's recipe in the Boat Galley Cookbook. It's reliable and includes...
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Farmers Markets are Great for Cruisers
Farmers markets are a great provisioning option for cruisers. Produce is often fresher and less bruised. And if it hasn't been refrigerated, it will keep longer on your boat. Summary Farmers markets are a great provisioning option for cruisers. Produce is often fresher and less bruised. And if it...
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Redundancy in the Galley - The ABC's
Always Be (able to) Cook, that is. These are three kinds of spares to make sure you have aboard to be truly self-sufficient. Summary: Redundancy is a crucial aspect of being a self-sufficient cruiser. But it's vital in the galley. If you always have these three spares aboard, you'll always be…
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Find the Safest Place for your Boat in a Hurricane
What is the safest place for your boat in a hurricane? Now is the time to decide, not when a storm is bearing down on you. Here's what you need to know. Summary Many factors contribute to helping your boat survive a direct hit from a hurricane. But perhaps the most important factor is location.…
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3 Factors of Departure Planning for Cruisers
Three things to consider when planning to leave somewhere on your boat. Hint: Arrival time is often the key. Summary Planning a trip by boat is far more complex than a trip by car. You can't simply decide when you'll leave and start out. There are actually three factors you need to think about…
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Finding Support While Cruising
When you're just starting out, how do you find the support you need as a new cruiser? Well, I have a few ideas for you. There are great ways to build your support network--both practical and emotional--while cruising. Summary One of the biggest things that makes living aboard and cruising…
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Getting a Long Stay Visa for French Polynesia
Here are some pratical hints about applying for a long stay visa in French Polynesia: the three steps to follow so you can leisurely enjoy the islands. Note - this information is current as of July 2025. Summary If you're an American who wants to stay longer in French Polynesia than the standard...
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Caring for Minor Injuries During Boat Projects
When working on boat projects, extra hands can help--especially smaller ones. But how do you deal with minor injuries that result? Summary For all the talk about the importance of mechanical ability and hand strength for boat projects, sometimes having hands small enough to get into tight spaces…
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Add Corn Tortillas to your Boat Pantry
Why should you add corn tortillas to your boat pantry? Well, they're nexpensive, ubiquitous, and long-lasting. Corn tortillas from the grocery store are fantastic! Summary It's fun making things from scratch on the boat. But there are some great "cheater" staples. One of my favorites is corn...
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How Long Do You Have to Prep for a Hurricane?
When a named storm is forecast for your area, how long do you have to prepare your boat? Listen carefully for the tips few realize make the difference between being prepared and caught. Summary When your boat is in the path of a forecast hurricane, knowing how long you have to prepare is…
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Making Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos on your Boat
Sweet potato black bean tacos are the perfect boat recipe--ideal for when stores are slim. Versatile and easy to customize, one secret ingredient makes it really special. Summary When your stores are low and fresh produce is scarce, sweet potato black bean tacos are my go-to meal. Adding one…
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A Cool Way to Enjoy Happy Hour on a Boat
Cruising in hot weather? Why not cool off by enjoying happy hour in the water? Here are a few tips to keep it fun and safe. Summary Our cruising grounds exposed us to frequent high temperatures, sometimes over 100 degrees F. How did we keep cool? With lots of swimming. And not just throughout the...
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Grocery Shopping in the Marquesas
Grocery Shopping, Marquesas-style. Here are three things to know about restocking your food supply in the Marquesas. Summary Before we arrived in the Marquesas, I worried about the ease of provisioning groceries. Yes, everyone eats everywhere. However, I had heard that stores were mostly...
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Monitor Your Boat From Afar - Review Of The ROAM Device
If you have to leave your boat, are you confident all is well aboard? You can be with the Roam Device, an affordable and easy remote boat monitor system. Summary John Herlig from The Boat Galley team recently installed the Roam marine monitor hub on his 1967 Rawson 30 sailboat, currently anchored...
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No Foreign Land - A Great Cruiser Resource
Everything you need to know about this cruiser-based, crowd-sourced, social app. We rely on it every day! Summary When you've arrived at a new anchorage, how do you figure out how to find necessities? Especially if you're out of range of The Boat Galley cruising guides? After all, there are…
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Best Marine Weather Apps
I'm frequently asked for the best marine weather apps. Cruising the Florida coast and Bahamas, I've found a few favorites. Summary Apps are helpful. But don't forget to look out the hatch to see what's happening in your area. If you need more information, here's what we relied on while cruising...
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How to Capture Rainwater from your Cruising Boat
Here's why you should collect rain water on your cruising boat, even if you have a watermaker. And a few tips to tell you how to do it. Summary Catching rainwater on the boat? Is it worth it even if you have easy access to water in your cruising locale? We think so. In the Marquesas, where we're...
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Galley Straps on a Boat - Do They Help or Harm?
Some cruisers think galley straps are a great safety item. I disagree. Here's why. Summary An important feature of a well-designed cruising boat galley is safety for the cook--ensuring they aren't tossed around the boat in rough seas. Many cruisers think galley straps solve the problem. But I...
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Doing Laundry in a Bucket When You Live on a Boat
When you need to do laundry on the boat and there's no laundromat nearby, one unexpected tool will make the job easier. Here are the steps to having clean laundry aboard--no washing machine required! Summary: As budget cruisers in the 1990s, we did nearly all laundry on board. Today, we intend to...
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Recovering from Surgery When You Live on a Boat
Preparing for surgery when you live on a boat? Then we have some tips to help from when my husband Dave had a hip replacement while we were living aboard Barefoot Gal. Summary So how do you make arrangements when you live on a boat full time and have to schedule a surgical procedure? There are...
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Pacific Passage Highlights
Distilling a 4200-mile Pacific passage into memorable sound bites isn't easy. But certain experiences definitely stand out. Here are some favorite moments from our 33 days at sea. Summary Sitting in a rolling anchorage is a great time to review Pacific passage highlights. After 32 days at sea and…
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Vacuum Sealer on Your Boat - Yes or No?
The answer to whether you should have a vacuum sealer on you boat is complicated. But hopefully I can give you a few ideas of what to think about before you decide for yourself. Summary Over the years, many readers asked me about vacuum sealers for boats. I had one aboard two different cruising...
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Provisioning for a Long Passage in Unfamiliar Places
Provisioning for a long passage is only one thing you have to do before setting out for distant shores. It's even more difficult when you're doing it in somewhere that's new to you. Here's how we managed the task on a 4-day timeline. Summary We thought we had plenty of time to leisurely provision...
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Keeping Pets Safe on your Boat in a Storm
A storm is headed your way and you have pets on board. Have you thought about what you need to do to keep them safe? Summary Storms require forethought when you live on a boat. But if you're cruising with a dog, cat, or other pet there are a few other things to consider. You want to be sure...
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Feeding the Panama Canal Crew
What are the food logistics for a Panama Canal transit? With the potential for an expensive food delivery bill on the line, we give you the best tips to avoid a real budget buster. Summary When we hired an agent to help us navigate our transit through the Panama Canal, we got a lot of answers.…
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Best Fans for Living on a Boat in Hot Weather
Good fans are a necessity when you're cruising in a hot climate. But which one will give you the most air movement for the fewest amps? Summary If you're cruising in the tropics, you'll want to know the best fans for living on a boat in hot weather. My choice is the Caframo, 12-volt, cage-free…
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Enter the Discomfort Zone (when moving onto a boat and cruising)
Moving onto a boat is one thing. Starting to cruise is another. And both have steep learning curves. Nica and Carolyn suggest tips for getting out of your comfort zone when making these big life changes. Summary Moving onto a boat and beginning cruising has a steep learning curve. It's not just...
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The Great Mini Pot You Need for Your Boat
The best galley gear takes up little room and can do more thn one thing. And the Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Mini Pot exceeds all expectations. If you have space for one more pot, this is the one I suggest. Summary This flexible bit of galley gear is worth having on your boat if you can make room for…
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Transiting the Panama Canal
Taking a 28' sailboat from the Atlantic to the Pacific takes some doing! Nica gives the first hand account transiting the Panama Canal, one of the world's most iconic waterways. Summary Yes, transiting the Panama Canal in a small sailboat involves logistics, paperwork, and lots of money. But it's...
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Best Waterproof Tablet Case for a Boat
The best waterproof tablet case for a boat is expensive insurance--especially if you use your tablet for navigation or trip planning. But even if you just use it for playing music or reading do you really want to risk ruining it? Podcast Summary In recent years, tablets have become common on...
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The Balancing Act - Pleasure vs Boat Work
Deciding how to divide cruising time between work and pleasure is a real conundrum. Another joint podcast wherein we answer a fantastic question about life balance from a follower. Podcast Summary No one starts cruising so they can work on their boat all the time. Yes, it's important to keep your...
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Swapping Out Equipment in the Galley
It's unlikely you have as much gear in your boat galley as you did in your kitchen on land. So what should you do if a recipe calls for a tool you don't have? Links (Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that The Boat Galley Podcast earns from qualifying purchases; some other links may be...
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Meet Carolyn and Nica!
A little background on the voices you hear each week in a rare joint podcast where we ask each other questions about our cruising, our boats, and why we got into podcasting together. Links (Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning that The Boat Galley Podcast earns from qualifying purchases…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Boat Galley have?
The Boat Galley currently has 818 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Boat Galley about?
Making boat life better, 5-10 minutes at a time. The Boat Galley Podcast contains quick bits of actionable information to help you learn all about boat life and going cruising.
How often does The Boat Galley release new episodes?
The Boat Galley releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 818 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to The Boat Galley?
You can listen to The Boat Galley on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Boat Galley?
The Boat Galley is created and hosted by Carolyn Shearlock & Nica Waters.
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