The Boat Galley

The time to plan how you'll prepare for a hurricane is long before there's one threatening your boat.  Carolyn Shearlock has always cruised in hurricane waters and prepared for countless storms. Six times, the eye of a hurricane or tropical storm has passed within 50 miles . . . and her boats have survived both Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys and Hurricane Marty in the Sea of Cortez. Listen to...

What do you need in a first aid kit aboard a cruising boat and how do you ever begin to organize it? Carolyn Shearlock tells what they carry for coasting cruising and the best way she's found to organize it. Harder-to-find products mentioned (links to Amazon): Dry bags: SealLine 55-liter dry bag (comes in various colors and sizes) SealLine see-through bags (up to 30 liter size) SealLine small pouc...

How do you keep your sanity (and your privacy) on board a small boat? Nica Waters shares tips learned from over 20 years of living aboard and cruising. Links: Need a new dinghy? https://theboatgalley.com/choosing-a-dinghy/ Kayak from Amazon: Old Town Kayak Heron 9XT https://amzn.to/2IZJoDy Handheld VHF from Amazon: Uniden MHs75 Submersible https://amzn.to/2IWby20 Headphones from Amazon: Mpow 059 B...

So what is Carolyn Shearlock's cruising background? Where has she gone? Does she really know anything? Find out all this along with why she started The Boat Galley. Sponsor:  GoSunstove.com  Inventors of the world's fastest most compact solar cookers for all your ship to shore culinary adventures. GoSun - using the power of the sun to fuel your galley life. Use coupon code  Galley2018  to save 10%...

Propane stoves aren't that hard to use, but there are some important differences from home electric or gas stoves. Here, Carolyn Shearlock addresses the questions she had before their first time on a boat and also discusses some basic safety items. Sponsor:  SeaTech Systems, offering cruiser-tested solutions for weather and communications. Whether it's satellite, wifi, cell, or SSB, SeaTech's pack...

If you're in the market for a boat, sooner or later you'll be intrigued by some really low-priced boat you see.  Hmm , you think,  with the money I save on the purchase, I can turn it into exactly what I want. The reality is that project boats can give you exactly the boat you want, but are generally not a good deal financially and most times the work takes considerably longer than expected. Many...

Ever wondered what a day cruising really looks like? Come along with Nica on Totem for a day as 9 people cruise in Panama's Guna Yala region. Links: Sailing Totem: www.sailingtotem.com Panama Guna Yala region: https://www.boqueteoutdooradventures.com/maps.html Sponsor: SeaTech Systems, offering cruiser-tested solutions for weather and communications. Whether it's satellite, wifi, cell, or SSB, Sea...

Wondering if you could really afford to cruise? Most people assume that you have to be wealthy to cruise. Not so — but it does take a certain amount of money, or a willingness to give up some things that you may now take for granted. Everyone has to come up with their own budget and make their own decision as to what they have to have. In this episode, Carolyn Shearlock discusses some of the hidde...

Even an accomplished sailor needs to learn the subtleties of sailing a new boat. Lin Pardey uses tricks learned in her years of sailing to safely learn how to effectively and efficiently sail her new-to-her boat, Felicity. Links: Hereshoff 12.5 http://www.capecodshipbuilding.com/fleet/index.php?boat=bullseye Map of Kawau Island, New Zealand: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kawau+Island/@-36.4210...

Beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks seem to be an ingrained part of the cruising life. But we've found that cutting back a little has actually improved our life aboard! Sponsor:   Sail Caribbean.com  the premier teenage adventure camp in the British Virgin Islands. Sail Caribbean fosters self-confidence, leadership, and personal growth through sailing, scuba, community service, and marine biolog...

Whether you're fishing, buying fish at the market or even just ordering fish at a restaurant, you need to know about ciguatera poisoning. What is it really? What fish are affected? What are the symptoms? When do you need to see a doctor? Carolyn Shearlock thought she knew about it, but when friends contracted it, she discovered that there was a lot she didn't know . . . and it has made her far mor...

Learning how to sail is a prerequisite for going cruising on a sailboat. Nica's been sailing for years, in all kinds of boats, on all different bodies of water.  Listen as she shares her tips for the best way to learn to sail! Links to things mentioned in the show: Sail Caribbean: www.sailcaribbean.com Northeast Kingdom map: http://www.vermont.com/northeast-kingdom/ University of Virginia: www.vir...

Cruising the Bahamas is wonderful! Seven things to know — and really think about and take to heart –before you go. It's easy to get so caught up in planning the Gulf Stream crossing and getting documents that you overlook these . . . Don't be surprised on your trip! Listen in for Carolyn Shearlock's words of wisdom so you'll have the time of your life. Sponsor: Fastseas.com Coupon Code: GALLEY2018...

Boat refrigerators are small, usually less than a quarter of the size of a home refrigerator. But grocery stops are less frequent than when living ashore. Carolyn Shearlock, with ten years of living on a boat and cruising, tells how it can all works . . . and give you the foods you want! Links: Storing Food without Refrigeration ebook Mold for single ice cubes (Amazon) Storing Veggies Cheat Sheet...

What do you do if you fell ill while cruising or if you have a pre-existing condition that requires medication? How do you get hold of the drugs you need? It takes some planning, but don't worry, it can be done.  Carolyn Shearlock, with ten years of cruising in five countries (and long-term travel in thirty others) details strategies that have worked for her and her husband. Music: "Slow Down" by ...

All cruises come to an end, sometime. How do you deal with the reentry? Nica Waters shares her experience with coming back to land after cruising, and reminds you that it's okay to grieve. Links: Bristol Channel Cutter: http://www.samlmorse.com Calypso blog from trip: https://svcalypso.wordpress.com/ Totem website: http://www.sailingtotem.com/ Women Who Sail: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenW...

If your boat is holed, you have just minutes to save it -- but it CAN be saved. There's no time to waste. Pumps can't keep up; you need to stop the leaks quickly. Carolyn Shearlock details four things that they carry with them - in a very accessible place. As she says, "We really hope that we wasted our money buying this gear . . . but we know that if we ever need it, we need the right gear and pl...

What's it like to actually be at sea? Three-time circumnavigator Lin Pardey shares 4 vignettes from times on watch. These stories were taken from Lin's book, Seraffyn's European Adventures, which you can buy on Amazon: Seraffyn's European Adventures Pardey Offshore Sailing Video Series Sponsor: The Boat Galley Guide to Storing Food without Refrigeration Coupon code for $1 off: PODCAST Music: "Slow...

Sailing off into the sunset doesn't end the obligation to file and pay taxes. But how do you do it when you're living on a boat and travelling? A cruiser since 2002. Carolyn Shearlock provides three basic strategies and then details how to get all the documents you need and make payments from afar. Links: TurboTax software on Amazon (download) My Social Security IRS Payments Online (estimated taxe...

You reach in the refrigerator for a nice cold drink on a hot day, and the can or bottle just doesn't seem as cold as it should be. A few hours later, you notice it again . . . and the next day, discover that the butter is soft. The refrigerator obviously has a problem. Or does it? Carolyn Shearlock explains what happened on their boat and how they determined that the problem was really in batterie...

Living in a small space, sometimes it's the little things that really help you make the most of the space you do have. With a 28' boat of her own, experienced cruiser Nica Waters spotted five great ideas when visiting a friend's boat for a 10-day vacation. Links to items mentioned in podcast: Silpat baking mats These are half sheet size, which tend to be useful for boat-sized ovens. These mats can...

Be honest. Can you always remember everything about your boat. Which gas can is for the outboard (mixed with oil) or the generator (straight gas)? How much did the watermaker put out last year? Is it less this year? The list goes on and on. Experienced liveaboard cruiser Carolyn Shearlock, explains why notebooks didn't work for them, and what finally did to put information right where they needed...

Need to go somewhere and the outboard won't start? Or worried about trying to go somewhere and having a problem with the motor and not getting home? Carolyn Shearlock isn't an outboard mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but close to 50 years of running them have taught her what the common problems are. 14 simple things to check if the outboard won't start - along with how to fix them at l...

How much water do you use on your boat? How much do you need to carry to get you to your next stop? Important questions as you're planning your trip . . . and hard to know when you're just starting out. With ten years of cruising experience herself and also passing info from friends, Carolyn Shearlock gives typical water usages and the levels of luxury they afford. Sponsor: Shambala Sailing Advent...

Life is comfortable. What question can you ask that will make it possible to flip the switch and decide to head off to the unknown? Nica Waters, who has asked and answered this question twice already, shares the conversation that sparked the last cruise – and the surprising twist that made it possible. Sponsor: Fastseas.com Coupon Code: GALLEY2018 Music: "Slow Down" by Yvette Craig