Lifehacks: Clamp, hold, secure - four tricks from YACHT readers when it comes to fastenings

Improvised clamp

We had to glue two plywood boards together on our cruise. The repair was in a place where we couldn't create the necessary pressure by simply weighing it down. Unfortunately, we didn't have any screw clamps or grip pliers on board. The solution: We used water pump pliers and thin cordage. The pliers were adjusted to fit and the handles squeezed together. We then pulled the cordage around the handles as a tight lashing. It is important that the lashing does not have too much stretch and is pulled really tight. This allowed us to press the workpiece together until the glue had dried. Small strips of wood or plastic are recommended to prevent the pliers from leaving scratches. The improvised clamps did an excellent job. Berenike Woyda, Wedel

Additional hooks

On my small cabin cruiser, I lacked a simple way of hanging up jackets, jumpers or similar items below deck. For the construction described here, which is attached to the mast support in the saloon, I designed a split wooden construction made of multiplex. It was sealed with waterproof varnish. Chrome-plated coat hooks are screwed to three of the six sides. The two wooden parts are placed on the mast support and connected with two screws. Martin Zinselmeyer, by e-mail

Rattle stop for the anode

Anyone who starts the diesel from time to time at the end of the season feels disturbed by the noise generated by the anode sitting loosely on the shaft, as I do. I simply put a stop to the urge to move the disintegrating zinc mouse by wrapping a cable tie around the shaft in front of and behind the anode. This has no effect on the concentricity of the shaft, the plastic strips are light enough. But the rattling has now stopped once and for all. Jörn Voigt, Trittau

Plotter on table leg

We also use the cockpit table holder for the plotter. A special part makes it possible: I placed an aluminium mandrel in the place of the table top holder and mounted the supplied bracket for the chart plotter on it. The cable connections lead to waterproof sockets in the side wall of the cockpit, right next to the table bracket. This "adapter" allows the navigation aid to be placed anywhere near the helmsman. Peter Dorwig, by e-mail

Do you have any advice for other sailors?

We will honour the publication of your tip with 50 euros. Please add photos or sketches. We also need your address. Send submissions to: YACHT editorial office, Gänsemarkt 24, 20354 Hamburg or: mail@yacht.de