Overcoming The Learning Curve

FREE • Navigate the challenges of boat life with confidence and trusted resources

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Build Confidence Afloat—Resources for New Cruisers

Starting a new cruising life can feel overwhelming—especially when reality doesn’t quite match the dream. From the daily challenges of boat life to mastering new skills, it’s easy to feel like you’re in over your head.

But here’s the truth: Every cruiser starts somewhere, and you’ve got what it takes to succeed. This free mini-course is your guide to overcoming the toughest parts of the learning curve. Packed with encouragement, actionable tips, and trusted resources, it’s designed to help you navigate the early days of cruising with confidence and clarity.

Let’s tackle the challenges together and get you back to enjoying the adventure you dreamed of.

What You’ll Learn • Practical Tips to Navigate the Challenges of Cruising Life

✔ Strategies to adapt to boat life and reduce stress
✔ Encouragement to build confidence as a new cruiser
✔ Tools to simplify the transition from land to sea
✔ Trusted resources to help tackle common problems

What’s Included • Expert Guidance for New Cruisers

This free mini-course delivers targeted advice and tools to help you succeed:

Encouragement: Nine articles from The Boat Galley with specific techniques to ease the transition from land life to boat life.
Documents for Boat Owners: Editable checklists and templates to take the stress out of common situations.
Buying Boat Gear: Recommendations for gear that works well in the real world of cruising, tested and reviewed to save you time and money.
Cooking on a Boat: Practical advice for adapting to the unique challenges of cooking afloat—even if you didn’t love cooking ashore.
Getting More Help: Links to affordable courses and mentoring programs designed to flatten the learning curve.
Subscription to The Boat Galley Newsletter: Weekly tips, tricks, and inspiration to make boat life easier and more enjoyable.

With these tools and resources, you’ll feel more confident and ready to enjoy your life afloat.

Why It’s Different

This mini-course isn’t just generic advice—it’s tailored specifically to the needs of new cruisers, offering:

✔ Encouraging advice from experienced liveaboards who’ve been in your shoes
✔ Practical tools and resources to address real-world cruising challenges
✔ Trusted recommendations to help you feel confident and capable

We’re here to help you discover the joy and freedom of cruising, even when the learning curve feels steep.

How It Works • On-Demand, Lifetime Access

Start immediately—your login details appear on the purchase confirmation screen and are emailed to you for future reference.

✔ Lifetime access: Revisit whenever you need encouragement or solutions
✔ On-demand format: Explore at your own pace, from any device
✔ Everything is online—no shipping or waiting

And because it’s free, there’s no risk—just the chance to build confidence and make cruising life easier.

About the Instructor • Carolyn Shearlock

Carolyn Shearlock has 17 years of experience living aboard two very different boats—a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. With over 14,000 miles of cruising through the Sea of Cortez, Central America, Florida, and the Bahamas, she knows firsthand the challenges and triumphs of starting a new life on the water.

As the founder of The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped countless cruisers navigate the learning curve of boat life with confidence. She’s the author of The Boat Galley Cookbook and a popular instructor at Cruisers University. Her practical, encouraging teaching style ensures you’ll feel supported as you embrace the adventure of cruising.

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Our Mission

At The Boat Galley, we have one mission: to help you cruise with confidence.

As liveaboard cruisers, we understand the challenges and questions that come with boat life. That’s why we create practical products and courses designed to tackle the same issues we’ve faced ourselves—making your life on the water easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

Raved About By Barbara M. . . .

"Take the course! When you are new to cruising, everything seems like a big deal. Carolyn's website and her "beginner" courses really de-mystify the process & give you confidence that you'll be prepared when you finally launch!"

Verified Purchaser, Overcoming The Learning Curve

Thumbs-up icon with stars, representing customer testimonials praising The Boat Galley’s products and resources.

Where You’ve Seen Us

Meet The Boat Galley Team

At The Boat Galley, we’re all cruisers. We know the joys—and the challenges—of boat life. The steep learning curve, costly mistakes, and hours spent searching for answers can be overwhelming. We’ve been there. That’s why we’ve created practical tools, trusted resources, and real-world guides to help you skip the frustrations and focus on enjoying your cruising life.

Carolyn Shearlock

Founder of The Boat Galley
17 years liveaboard cruiser
US, Mexico, Bahamas, Central America, Virgin Islands, Turkey
Cruisers University instructor

Larry Webber

Cruising Guide creator
6 years living aboard and cruising
US East Coast from Florida Keys to Maine and Bahamas
Ex-Air Force; singlehander

Nica Waters

Provisioning guru; podcaster
On & off living aboard since 1992
Atlantic crossing; US, Caribbean, and Bahamas
Years of cruising with kids

John Herlig

VHF pro and frugal cruiser
Cruiser and delivery captain
US East Coast, Bahamas, Haiti, and Caribbean
Cruisers University instructor

Pamela Douglas: Creator of the Cruising With Your Dog course, 7 years cruising the US East Coast and ICW with her dog, Honey.

Pamela Douglas (& Honey)

Creator of Cruising With Your Dog
7 years cruising with Honey
US East Coast and ICW
Part of the Go Pet Friendly team
15+ years writing about dogs

Julie Tijerina

Graphics designer
8 years living aboard
US East Coast to SE Caribbean
Design and layout for all printed products

Katherine González

Social media coordinator
Pacific Ocean: Seattle, WA to New Zealand, incl. French Polynesia
Complete newbie to sailing prior to her 11,000 nm voyage

Kimberly Ward

Boatshow booth "mom"
Sabbatical and part-year cruiser
US, Bahamas, Caribbean
Family cruising New England to southern Caribbean

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

I'm really glad I read this before we got on board!

Your key messages to take it slow and it will get better were the best advice we could get. So far, we've been able to roll with the punches - and there have been some doozies! I'm hooked on the Boat Galley now!

LEARNING CURVE

Alot of common sense, good confidence builder, great advice from experienced sailors. Can't wait to get on the water!

Definitely informative, covers a lot of the blanks!

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Overcoming The Learning Curve