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Emergency electrical power
If you flatten your battery, unless it is a particularly small engine that can be cranked over manually, you will be without engine power and be crippled for power aboard. This is a very bad occurrence whilst out in deep ocean or in a remote location whilst long distance cruising.

Dealing with mechanical and electrical problems aboard
Although appearing to be simple, boats are deceptively complicated devices to operate as they are made from a wide range of disparate products. They have engines, fuel and exhaust mechanics, they have fibreglass construction, plus they have sails and sail work. They have a host of very complicated electronics, ranging from depth sounders to radars, to VHF transmitters, to electrical lighting aboard and batteries to store the energy in. They have metal parts that range from alloy rigging to stainless steel to bronze and brass. Some metal parts are fixed, others are fluid such as rigging wires interlaced with ropes of different grades and types of specialist applications all held to together with turnbuckles or loaded up with blocks and winches... the list goes on. This is all then deposited in an environment of overwhelming forces that is damp and corrosive. The result is a lot of blue water cruisers naming their long-term dream cruise 'Fixing Boats In Odd & Exotic Locations'. Anyone who goes to sea will have to be prepared to transform themselves into MacGyver-like character with an extraordinary knack for unconventional problem solving.

Tools for removing a sheared off stud where a protruding section remains
Bolts, like almost every fastening, have a tendency to seize up on boats due to the challenging sea going environment. They can often sheer off when load is applied to the head.

A list of useful conversions and formula
The world's measures are far from standard, and we run multiple measures of temperature, distance, space etc depending upon which activity is being undertaken or which nation we happen to be in.

Releasing seized screws by impact
Screws, like almost every fastening, have a tendency to seize up on a sea going vessels. Engine casing bolts can also be set in place very tight making them difficult to loosen and unscrew.

Tools to release a jammed oil filter
Tightened oil filters can be difficult if not impossible sometimes to remove by hand.

Releasing a sheared off bolt with a bolt extractor
Bolts and nuts, like almost every fastening, have a tendency to seize up on boats due to the challenging seagoing environment. Apply just a touch too much pressure and the heads can sheer off leaving a seized and often inaccessible bolt shaft.

Releasing seized wood screws by heat
Screws, like almost every fastening, have a tendency to seize up on seagoing vessels. Worse still, many are made from copper-based metals, such as brass and bronze, which do not have the strength to endure much torque.

Convenient tools for engine work
Tools are stowed in lockers that as often as not can be less than conveniently located on a boat. Typically any engine work will involve lifting saloon cushions out of place and holding up locker lids whilst digging through toolboxes to find the required items.

Making splicing work easy by investing in a fid
Ropes are a key part of any sailing vessel and have been for centuries. In reefing, mooring and controlling sails, lines are necessary to the function of the craft. Lines will often require a looped end (or eye), created with a termination. Knots and splices are commonly used for these terminations, with splices being ideal for lines that do not need to be altered. However, working ropes through each other to create a splice termination can be slow concentrated and laborious work. This is especially the case when working with large or very tightly wound ropes.


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