MacGyvering at Sea By Heather Lochner


Hursh likes the example of


bamboo skewers, a fairly common kitchen gadget that many boaters have onboard. Planning on using them for shrimp on the barbecue? Be sure to keep a few on hand. They make a great tool when fi xing tired old screw holes. Basically take out the old screw, jam a skewer into the worn out hole, add some epoxy and let it harden, then cut off any residue and skewer not in use. Simple right? And don’t forget that bottle of wine you opened last night while peacefully at anchor. The cork can act as an emergency bung. But Hursh’s ideas don’t end with


the galley. Your pre-planning can be a life and boat saver when an emergency strikes. “These are just a few items that will help deal with breakdowns or emergencies at sea or at the dock,” explains Hursh. “Just be sure to carry an assortment of them.” 1. Assorted threaded rod, nuts and


washers in different sizes, 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”. These can be used to replace damaged or broken bolts. Simply spin the nuts on, cut to desired length and then spin the nuts off to clean the threads. 2. Assorted hose clamps which


It was our fi rst crossing of the


season. The Gulf Islands beckoned us. With no wind in sight, we gave our rested engines a much needed workout. For a boat that had been tied up all winter long, the systems appeared to be running smoothly. That is, until we were halfway across the Strait of Georgia when suddenly our engine alarm sounded. I’d like to say that we acted instantly,


but that was not the case, and once our deer-in-the-headlights affl iction faded, Tim throttled down and dashed below. Rushing to the engine room he discovered our raw water hose had sprung a leak. Try as we might, we couldn’t get tape to stick. Looking around the boat, Tim


found a spare inner tube. “What are you doing?” I squealed in horror. “An inner tube?” But my man was no lightweight in the engine room, he knew what to do. Wrapping the inner tube tightly around 48° NORTH, AUGUST 2010 PAGE 40


the hose, he was able to staunch the leak in short order. It even looked cool! He MacGyvered that tube and used it to fi x our gushing water problem. I would never have thought of that. For those of you who may not


remember, Angus MacGyver, from the hit TV show MacGyver, was a secret agent with a cool head, a Swiss Army Knife, some duct tape, and an uncanny ability to jury rig complex, life saving devices using common materials. MacGyver may have been secret agent man, but he should have been a sailor! But just in case the MacGyver in you


is lying dormant, here are a few ideas. These will help kick start your ability to turn one thing into another. “The key is not to panic when something goes wrong”, says Ian Hursh owner of Ian Hursh Custom Woodworking. “Look around your boat and see what you have. A bit of imagination can go a long way.”


can be used individually, doubled or tripled, depending on the size of the clamping application. Needing to jury rig a cracked or broken boom? Grab your boat hook (or the handle from your deck brush) a few clamps and you’ve MacGyvered a temporary solution. Do you have a broken bracket? This is the job for a clamp. 3. Assorted bits of hose and inner


tubes should always be kept aboard. They can perform as patches and gaskets for punctured or leaking hoses or fi ttings. You can also combine them with electrical ties or duct tape to act as an anti-chafe device. 4. Assorted tape and electrical ties


such as duct, electrical (strong and fl exible), and self amalgamating. They come in handy for binding or can be used as a third hand, holding an item securely in place. 5. Assorted wood, metal (fl at bar,


angle, aluminum or steel) for temporary fi xes. An aluminum angle drilled and fi tted with appropriately spaced bolts can replace a misplaced pin wrench for two-hole deck fi ller caps. 6. Modeling clay (such as Plasticine)


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