A screw fell out of my glasses yesterday. I was outside and never did find it. No problem, though, as I got out our eyeglass repair kit and found a replacement.
It suddenly struck me that this might be one of the most important pieces of gear on the boat. I’m pretty well blind (worse than 20/200) without my glasses.
I couldn’t safely walk around the deck, let alone steer, check a chart or try to repair anything else without my glasses. And while I do keep a spare pair of glasses on hand, they are my old ones and not in the greatest shape themselves — and I really prefer my polarized Transitions glasses that I now have, especially in the shallow waters where we’ll be cruising.
Here’s the kit that I have; it’s worked well and had everything we’ve ever needed. Note that if you get this one, it may first appear that many of the screws are defective as they are smooth topped. Don’t worry — they screw in via friction and there’s a place on the screwdriver that works perfectly on them. It’s also got nose pieces and itty-bitty “bolts” with nuts that work well if you strip out a screw (and yes, it’s got a tool for the wrench).
- Sunglass/Eyeglass Repair Kit from Amazon
Two quick tips:
- If you get this kit, stick the box in a Ziploc as it can open pretty easily and spill all those tiny little parts.
- I dab a bit of clear nail polish on the head of the screw after screwing it in — it acts as very inconspicuous “Loctite” so that I hopefully won’t lose the new screw. Yes, clear nail polish has also been added to the list . . . sigh.
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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Bruce says
Has no one ever wondered why the people who make glasses designed them with screws in the first place? It would seem to be a much better design to connect the stems to the frames with heat sensitive ‘rivets’ made from small plastic rods. A small tool like a pair of needle nose pliers with a hot-spot on each side would make it easy to melt the rod on both ends so the connector never comes out accidentally and doesn’t rust either. Even more curious is why, if they must use screws, that some incompetent design engineer would specify the screws to be put in from the bottom so they can fall out instead of from the top where one might notice the screw coming out in time to tighten it back down. Yet another curious design failure is that when folded, the tips of the stems are in contact with the lenses so the lenses get scratched by design. How many supposedly educated design and production engineers blindly follow ‘the way it has always been done’ instead of creating a well designed product?
Captain Bazza says
And also, has anyone ever explained why a frame costs about the same as a big ??
Chris&Janet says
I once had one of these in my briefcase. The briefcase went through an airport security scanner, and I was given the full body shakedown because I had attempted to smuggle a weapon on board. When a supervisor showed up he pointed out the scanner display was stuck on magnify. An apology was not included.
Mickey Dawson says
Ordered! Thanks again! Hope you don’t mind, but when people ask where I got this or that, I say “it was recommended by the Boat Lady! She’s awesome!”…..
The Boat Galley says
Of course I don’t mind! Thanks for spreading the word.
Tracy Mazzeo says
I keep two of these kits on board! I’m useless without my glasses…
Bill Murray says
Most important spare to keep aboard … is 2nd or third pair of glasses so you can see to repair the first pair.
The Boat Galley says
Well, there is that too!
Michael Guelker-Cone says
My wife and I have one of those neck strap lanyards to keep our glasses from falling off our faces and into the water. They’re inexpensive and you can get them in styles that look good on a boat.
Brenda Kelliher says
Our Dollar Tree in Annapolis MD can’t keep the kits in stock! They are a best seller!
Edward Biernot says
This kit 🙂 spanks it, haha
Tracy Mazzeo says
We keep two of these kits aboard! I can’t see a thing without my glasses, and had to purchase prescription sunglasses which were expensive so a repair kit is a must!!
Carolanne Clement says
I have a few small screws I keep in my mini screwdriver kit. To avoid loss I tape them to the inside lid.
Stephen Ryan says
Hiketolight repair kit worked for what I need. I replaced both sides with these new screws. They fit perfect. And now my expensive sunglasses work again!!