TID BITS

[Big D]

Thought I would start a thread we could all contribute to on tips we find usefull for all kinds of stuff around a boat. Here's a sample:

Moisture Madness
Tie a dozen sticks of chalk together and hang them in a closet or locker to help absorb the dampness. Or try putting aquarium charcoal in a plastic container and punching holes in the cover.

Mildew Madness
Fill shallow boxes with cat litter and place them near problem areas. This is especially helpful for winter storage.

Odour Eater
Get a bag of cedar chips from a pet supply store used for hamster cages. Place some in an old nylon stocking and hang in closets and lockers. Keeps moths away too.

Rusty
Rust stains can be removed from fibreglass with cola. If it doesn't work, try mixing in some toothpaste which acts as a mild abrasive. Rinse well.

Unglued
To remove glue left behind from tape or a decal, spray WD-40, wait a few minutes then wipe off. It may take a few tries. You can also add cornmeal, talcum powder or toothpaste as a mild abrasive.

Unplugged
If you keep perishables in your fridge while you're away from the boat for the week, it's important to be sure that the power hasn't gone off at the marina for some time and thawed freezer contents then refroze them by the time you arrive on the weekend. This could lead to food poisoning. Try this simple tip. Put a couple of ice cubes in a zip lock sandwich bag and keep it in the freezer at all times. As long as you see ice cubes in this bag, you'll know the freezer has kept its temperature even in a power failure. If you see one solid mass of ice in the bag instead of cubes, your freezer has thawed and you should throw most of the fridge's contents away. This also serves as a monitor when out on the lake for several days and trying to keep power consumption to a minimum. Good idea to do this at home too and you'll know if the contents are still okay if the power went off while you were at the boat or elsewhere for an extended period.

Micro clean
A lot of boaters have realized how handy a microwave oven is to have aboard. A simple wipe with a wet rag is sometimes not enough to remove food baked on the walls. To keep the inside spik and span, wipe it with a wet rag then place the rag in the middle of the oven and turn it on for about 30 to 40 seconds. Now wipe the walls again. The steam generated by heating the rag should help to get most of the stubborn stuff off. Careful, the rag will be hot.

[pk]

...or you can try this URL:

http://www.clasohlson.no/Product/Produc ... =158517407

This is a Sweedish invention. They named it "Torrbollen", a very effective airdrier for use in lockers and compartments aboard. And it is cheap, only $ 20.- each. Just tell me, and I will try to help you!

[Big D]

Thanks pk, we have something similar here. Good product.

[jddens]

Thanks Big D......some great tips, especially like the cubes in a cup....great idea.

[Big D]

JD, I've been doing the ice cube thing for years. I just edited the post though, I'm going to use ice cubes in a zip lock plastic sandwich bag instead of a cup....takes up less room and you don't have to worry about it falling over.