Okay, I’ve had my favorite salad bowl hijacked for changing the oil because “it’s just the right size to fit under the oil drain.” And my turkey baster got cut in half to use as a funnel for transmission fluid (I suggested that one, can’t blame Dave).
So I get it that sometimes galley gear can be used for other purposes. After all, boaters love things that can serve more than one purpose. And I did make TBG’s tag line “getting the most out of your boat kitchen.”
But using a potato masher instead of a bosun’s chair may just take the cake.
Readers Debbie and Brian Carroll needed to retrieve a halyard that had gone up the mast . . . and Debbie’s not a real fan of going up in the bosun’s chair. So she Google’d on how to retrieve a halyard without going up the mast and found a suggestion about using a spare halyard and a couple of forks. Thinking about it, she figured that the potato masher might work even better . . . and it did!
You’re going to need a wire potato masher, a long spare halyard (or tie extra line on to one — make sure it’s VERY securely tied or you’ll have two halyards up the mast and no spare) and some tape.
You can see in the photos how Debbie and Brian did it — taped the potato masher to spare halyard, hoisted it to the level of the shackle on the halyard they needed to retrieve, then “wiggled it around” until it caught. Carefully pull them down together!
While neither Dave nor I really hated to go aloft, getting the bosun’s chair out of the lazarette, the safety harness on and everything set up to go just seemed to take forever. This is so much faster and safer! Thanks for sharing, Debbie and Brian.
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.
Your VHF can do so much! Learn how to use ALL its features for just $39:
And check out our other courses and products
Sue Klumb on Facebook says
Too funny…and it did the job 🙂
Tracy Mccluskey on Facebook says
amazing
Julie Birbeck on Facebook says
Will remember this for next time it happens, great idea!
Ed Robinson says
That’s a good one.
Steve Charlebois says
What a great solution. Necessity is the Mother of Invention right……
Jordan Tucker says
And here I thought “potato masher” was a nickname for the bosun’s chair! — if used by a man!
Luis Captain Louie Oliver says
that is awesome
Elizabeth Aristeguieta says
I love ingenuity!
Verona says
I gave up my old wok to be used as a “security blanket,” placed strategically under the motor. It catches anything that might fall while the motor is being worked on and saving the item from falling into the bilge! After a year of use in its new role, I allowed the wok to have holes drilled into its bottom to enable water to drain out!
Astrolabe Sailing says
Wow great idea! I would have never thought of that!
Skylar Walker says
As long as you have that spare halyard……eh?
Paul J. Lucier says
Excellent idea!
Dan N Jaye says
Creative.
Bruce Boyce says
Dan Lockren, you may have to try this?
Mark Sierakowski says
That’s why your still in my facebook after a recent culling. Great idea.
The Boat Galley says
I love being able to pass great ideas along!
James Calore says
Umm.. no.
Steven Studer says
Perfect.
William Maness says
Genius! What’s a potato masher? (Just kidding)
The Thrifty Sailor says
I’ve used a potato masher on a pole. But when it’s a small CDI furler halyard we had to get inventive.
The Boat Galley says
Great idea to add a fish hook!
George Pestik says
When there’s a need the mothers get to inventing!
HM Hansen says
MacGyver would be so proud
Ted Reshetiloff says
This is awesome!
Klaus von Horsten says
don‘t use a chinese ‚steel‘ product. it will fail after 2 meter … lol … and do not trust this advice given
S/V Amity says
Great example of how most everything aboard has to do double-duty on occasion. Cheers!