Favorite gear and materials

General Discussion
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I thought it would be fun to start a thread where we could share favorite/very useful gear or materials. This might introduce us to stuff we never knew we needed. I guess that could be a blessing or a curse…

Anyway here are a few of mine I can think of off the top of my head.

Velcro straps for wire runs - a while back I got tired of zip ties unless absolutely necessary. As I re-ran old wiring or added new, Velcro straps became my go to wire bundle material. Super simple to install and undo as necessary.

A cheap endoscope - Amazon sells one for $20!!
This device has saved me multiple times as I tried to inspect tight areas or recover hardware dropped into cracks.etc. my cheap device takes pictures and videos if needed. It was invaluable for the motor mount replacement job.

Bamboo BBQ skewers - don’t laugh. These things come in handy for all sorts of stuff and they are super cheap. Mix and dab epoxy, cut short pieces to stuff in stripped screw holes to the secure loose screws in wood joints, use as dowels to strengthen wood to wood epoxy repairs. Cook kebabs…the list goes on and on.

White epoxy putty - Amazon carried this stuff and it’s inexpensive. I have used it to mold replacement deck standoff pads for stanchions and padeyes. Also used to create base for exhaust water box I just replaced and to create a solid bond to hull for a platform I built to hold my new LFP battery. This stuff is fantastic, hard and grippy as hell and no muss no fuss due to putty like consistency. I think everybody should have a small box of this stuff onboard.

Self amalgamating vinyl tape - this stuff is absolutely the bomb. Unfortunately it is very expensive here in USA where one brand name is rescue tape. I found a supplier in China and bought 200 rolls of the stuff on a bulk deal for 1/4 the cost. This stuff is magic I use it for securing an emergency knife to my pedestal ( still good 10 years later), insulation of chafed wiring, protection of wiring/tubing to prevent chafe, securing solar panel wiring to pushpit tubing, binding, protecting and cleaning up external wiring going from solar panels to through deck clams, waterproofing top of mast base ring (finally found a solution which was easily removable) even wrapping the base of my coffee mug to prevent scratching the furniture. The uses are endless.

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Fish tape wire puller - Have used it to pull wires through spaces that can’t be reached, reefing lines through boom, halyard through mast, even to get accurate measurements for replacing lifeline.
Two sided VHB tape - first used it to mount backing plates to the hull so I would not have to drill holes in the inner skin. Experience has shown that makes a permanent installation and now I just use it to directly attache items.

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A bit tounge in cheek but flat water abd a good consistent breeze. You can add a bottle of fizz to that to complete the metafor.

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I keep a flexible very thin 6’ rod of fiberglass. I can slide it into wire bundles and push it thru, attaching wire/cable to its aft end. Works well anywhere in the boat - between bulkheads, under and thru those tightly packed bundles of wires/cables, etc.

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VHB tape! Yes. I use it all the time. Used it to hang a new mirror in the head and for my new fixed surface mount port lights.

Great minds think alike. I used VHB to hang breakers against hull for LFP battery upgrade. Rock solid stuff.

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I bought some replacement tent poles. The bendy fiberglass ones. These came with a long stiff wire to run new bungee through the poles. I have one of those aboard the boat for the same reason as you and Camino

Lost the main halyard up the mast on a wild motor trip from Santa Cruz to Pillar Point Harbor. Used the wire bent into a hook taped to a fiberglass pole. Ran this contraption up the flag halyard to fish for the halyard shackle which was up against the mast top sheave. Got it done after about an hour of fishing. Still have the “hooker” on board.