The Boat Galley

About The Boat Galley

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.

Publisher

Carolyn Shearlock & Nica Waters

Category

education · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jan 2018

Latest episode

18 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

93 of 818 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   18 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Goodbye For Now

   Carolyn Shearlock and Nica Waters discuss how cruising has evolved, sharing insights on technology, skills, and mindset for modern adventurers.

2. 

   22 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   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 where you are. We think the most attractive floats are made of glass. No longer in production, the last glass fishing floats were made in Japan in the 1970s. When nets get lost or washed onto reefs, the floats continue their journey. We've been hunting for glass floats since we cruised with our kids in 2009-2010 after getting hooked on the search by friends. Now that we're in French Polynesia, the search continues. We see them decorating homes, which means that a particular atoll (perhaps due to currents and prevailing winds) is a likely place to find them. We found more in Takaroa, the farthest north inhabited atoll of the Tuamotus, than anywhere else. Would we be lucky there as well? To learn more details of our search and to discover if we ever found a glass float of our own, listen to the complete podcast or check out Takaroa Treasures (https://www.fit2sail.com/countdown-to-cruising/2025/9/8/takaroa-treasures-atoll-6). Subscribe (https://theboatgalley.com/newsletter-signup-2) to the Boat Galley Newsletter! - https://theboatgalley.com/newsletter-signup-2 Links: Nica email (mailto:nica@fit2sail.com) - nica@fit2sail.com Carolyn email - carolyn@theboatgalley.com The Boat Galley podcast is sponsored by FastSeas.com. Plan your next passage using FastSeas.com. Whether you are after speed or comfort, FastSeas will find the optimum route to your destination. FastSeas - making weather routing simple. Use coupon code GALLEY for an exclusive 10% discount. Click to see all podcast sponsors, past and present. (https://theboatgalley.com/podcast-sponsors/) - https://bit.ly/3idXto7 Music: "Slow Down" by Yvette Craig

3. 

   15 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   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 later a 34-foot catamaran, I've seen benefits and drawbacks to each. For life aboard, a catamaran is more comfortable. Even a shorter cat will feel larger. Beds are more likely to fit standard sizes, and the space can feel light and airy. However, storage is usually easier on a monohull. They have more built-in storage spaces. In addition, while no boat should be overloaded, catamarans are particularly sensitive to weight. If you fill a cat with too many spares and tools, it will affect performance. Underway, cats are faster. Without a heavy keel to push through the water, they slip along. However, monohulls tend to point higher when sailing upwind. A catamaran's shallower draft opens up more anchoring possibilities. With twin engines, it can do some tricky maneuvers. However, with a wider beam and higher windage, close-quarters handling can be challenging. Monohulls with fin keels are easier to maneuver, while full-keels can be especially fussy backing into a slip. Catamarans offer tons of space to entertain in the cockpit. But in poor weather, the deeper and more sheltered cockpit of a monohull will feel safer in rough or cold conditions. Generally, catamarans are easier to board. A monohull with a sugar scoop completes well. But generally, cats are easier. While the catamaran's two engines offer a backup if one fails, they also require double the maintenance.  Their saildrives provide less drag but also require more maintenance. For people who dislike heeling, a catamaran's stability offers a big selling point. However, the motion is more jerky underway. Different sailors prefer different motions, and you have to experience it to decide for yourself. With a roomier deck, sail handling tends to be easier on a catamaran. However, the annoying "slapping" sound under the bridge deck can be irritating when the waves hit wrong. It even happens at anchor. Noise can be another difference. Catamarans can have an annoying slap under the bridge deck when waves hit just right. It can happen even at anchor. Don't forget to consider righting ability. A monohull will nearly always right itself. A catamaran, while it's less likely to capsize, will not turn itself back up. Catamaran costs can be higher because of their width. Consider the difficulties of finding a spot in a marina or getting hauled out. Insurance may be more expensive as well. Extra equipment--davits, windvanes, solar panels-- works better on one or the other. Think about your needs carefully. Finally, catamarans are nearly always more expensive to buy and maintain. So, which is better — a catamaran or a monohull? Catamarans offer space, stability, and a shallow draft. A monohull offers simplicity, sailing performance, and a boat that will right itself if the worst happens. They both have benefits. The choice is up to you. To get more details, listen to the full podcast or check out Catamaran or Monohull (https://theboatgalley.com/catamaran-or-monohull-2/). Subscribe (https://theboatgalley.com/newsletter-signup-2) to the Boat Galley Newsletter! - https://theboatgalley.com/newsletter-signup-2 Today's episode is sponsored by Roam Devices. Their Marine Monitor is a premium boat monitoring system that allows you to stay informed with what's happening on your boat while you're ashore for just $349 and $5 per month. Never be caught off guard by a failing battery or burnt-out bilge pump —Your boat will text you as soon as anything starts going wrong! The Roam Devices app shows a real-time view of your boat's status and location with an awesome built in remote anchor alarm. RoamDevices.com (https://roamdevices.com) - never worry about your boat from afar again. Use coupon code BOATGALLEY for an exclusive 5% discount. Click to see all podcast sponsors, past and present. (https://theboatgalley.com/podcast-sponsors/) - https://bit.ly/3idXto7 Music: "Slow Down" by Yvette Craig

Inside a recent episode

Goodbye For Now

Published 18 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Whatever, almost always on a boat, the answer is slow down. If you were to say other than those two things, one thing to our audience about cruising or about the boat galley podcast or the boat galley, what might you piece of advice? I think my one big piece of advice is a combination of learn what you can before you go, but at the same time don't get paralysis by analysis. At some point you just have to go and realize that you're going to be figuring things out on the way. And if you cannot cope with not knowing in advance, it's going to be very difficult. I mean, the very definition of adventure is that you don't know exactly what's going to happen. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

122,750

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

130 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

19 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 80 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

100

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

67

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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