Living on a Boat: Courses for Life Aboard

David and Jan Irons, along with Dave Shearlock, around the wheel of a sailboat, grinning with the joy of sailing

Learn How to Actually Live on a Boat

Step-by-step courses that help you go from overwhelmed to confident—taught by real cruisers who’ve been there.

Learn what it actually takes to live on a boat—provisioning, tiny fridges, smart storage, hurricane prep, boat dogs, budgets, and more. No fluff. Just practical guidance from people who’ve lived it.

What You Won’t Learn Anywhere Else

Most courses teach boat handling or navigation.

We teach how to live on a boat.

From provisioning and storage to hurricane prep, cruising with a dog, and making the most of a tiny fridge—we give you the practical, confidence-building skills to handle daily life aboard.

Pick the topic you need most—or get instant access to everything with the All-Access Pass.

  • Maryalice F:

    “I’ve been super stressed about all of the things we need to accomplish. This course helped me know what we have to do and how to do it. Feeling more confident about our journey now!”

  • Barbara M.

    “Everything seems like a big deal when you’re new to cruising. These beginner courses really de-mystify the process & give you confidence that you’ll be prepared.”

  • Josephine S.

    “I was getting overwhelmed. This course totally lowered my stress and made everything more understandable. Highly recommend!!”

1 of 3
Man and woman on a boat with wind in their hair, representing The Boat Galley's All-Access Pass for living on a boat and cruising courses.

One Pass. Every Course. Lifetime Access.

Make the transition to living on a boat simple:

✔ All 9 courses—at a big discount
✔ FREE access to all future courses
✔ Start learning immediately
✔ Trusted by thousands of cruisers

Just $199 (a $421 value if purchased separately)

Learn About the All Access Pass

“Exactly what we needed to feel confident moving aboard.”

Why Choose Our Courses?

Practical and Proven
No fluff, no filler—just clear steps that work for real cruisers.

Learn Without Overwhelm
Breaks down big topics into easy-to-follow lessons you can actually absorb.

Fits Your Life
No schedule, no deadlines. Learn when it works for you.

Instant Lifetime Access
Start today. Come back anytime. Includes all future updates, free.

Incredible Value
All the insight of seminars or coaching—at a fraction of the cost.

Made by experienced cruisers, these courses are like having a trusted friend show you the ropes—so you can move forward with confidence.

Trusted by over 8,200 cruisers (and counting)

“These courses broke everything down into steps I could actually follow.”

How It Works

Pick Your Course or the All Access Pass
Choose the topic you need—or get all 9 courses in one discounted bundle.

Start Learning Right Away
Log in immediately from your order confirmation screen or email.

Go at Your Own Pace
No schedules, no deadlines. Come back anytime, from anywhere.

Get Every Course—Now and in the Future

The All Access Pass – just $199

(Individual courses total $421)

✔ Includes all 9 of our current courses
✔ FREE lifetime access to every future course
✔ Learn at your own pace, forever
✔ One-time payment—no subscription

Learn more

BUY NOW

“Worth every penny—wish we’d found it sooner.”

Where You've Seen Us

Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.
Cruisers University logo, where The Boat Galley team teaches in-depth liveaboard and cruising seminars.AGLCA logo, representing seminars and resources shared by The Boat Galley team for Great Loop cruisers.American Sailing Association logo, highlighting seminars led by The Boat Galley team for sailors.Boat US Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s tips for boat owners and cruisers.The New York Times logo, featuring interviews with The Boat Galley team on cruising and boat life preparation.SAIL Magazine logo, featuring articles by The Boat Galley team about life aboard and sailing tips.Cruising World logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s contributions on successful cruising and boat life.The Weather Channel logo, highlighting The Boat Galley team’s hurricane prep advice for boaters in live interviews.Spinsheet Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s published articles on boating and cruising.Boating Writers International logo, 1st place award for excellence in boating articles.Bluewater Sailing Magazine logo, highlighting articles by The Boat Galley team on offshore sailing.Salty Dawg Sailing Association logo, showcasing seminars delivered by The Boat Galley team for members.SSCA logo, highlighting seminars by The Boat Galley team on successful liveaboard cruising.PassageMaker Magazine logo, featuring The Boat Galley team’s expertise on cruising powerboats.Good Old Boat Magazine logo, showcasing articles by The Boat Galley team on maintaining and cruising older boats.

Meet The Course Instructors

At The Boat Galley, we teach the real-life skills that make living on a boat not just possible—but enjoyable.

We’ve spent years cruising full-time and know the challenges new cruisers face. That’s why we’ve created practical, proven courses that go beyond theory—covering everything from provisioning and storage to budgeting, pets aboard, VHF, and more.

We’ve taught at seminars, yacht clubs, and Cruiser’s University—but our biggest goal is to help you skip the frustrating trial-and-error and feel confident faster.

These courses are the kind of help we wish we’d had starting out—and now we’re passing it on to you.

Curious about our story and what drives us? Learn more about us here.