This Floating Life

Lip Service For Your Nose

Use lip balm with sunscreen on your nose as well as your lips. It will stay where you put it and resist perspiration better than sunscreen.

— John & Susan Roberts, Why Didn't I Think Of That?

Nonskid For Tableware

For a secure spot to put your drink, cut oversize coasters from a roll of rubber nonskid mat. Also, you can give just about any dish a nonskid bottom using silicone caulk. Mark a circle the size of the dish base on a piece of paper. Place a piece of wax paper over the circle, and put a bead of caulk about 1/2-inch inside the circle. Place the dish on the bead and press lightly. Let cure overnight and remove the wax paper. The flattened silicone should keep the dish from sliding about.

— J. & S. Roberts

The Ice Man Cometh

Frozen plastic water jugs keep things cold much longer than ice cubes. Use them for multi-day food storage when you can't buy ice daily. The bonus is an extra few gallons of cold fresh water.

— Carlos Alvarez

Keep It From Going Bye-Bye

The nature of boats is for stuff to move about onboard or be taken by the wind. In that respect, Velcro can become your best friend. Use it to keep anything that lies flat in place. Clocks, poles, speakers, hats, maybe even some of your guests!

— Ann Dermody

Remove Stains From Melamine Dishes

Add denture cleaner to water, boil it, and pour it into the cups or dishes. Let sit.

— J. & S. Roberts

Jellyfish Stings

Adolph's Meat Tenderizer or white vinegar breaks down proteins, and should help neutralize the venom. Rinse well after applying to wash any lingering stinging cells off your skin.

— J. & S. Roberts

Oh, For A Hot Shower At The End Of The Day!

We've all seen the black-bag sun showers, which work pretty well but are sometimes awkward to set up on small boats, rather small for two or three people to take a decent freshwater shower, and limited in capacity. Here's a better idea. Buy a garden insecticide sprayer at your local hardware store. Remove the fine-mist sprayer, replace it with a kitchen-sink sprayer, and secure that with little hose clamps for a tight fit. Sew a dark-color cover to fit snugly over the canister, with a hole at the top for the pump handle and cap to fit through. Now, fill with fresh water, and securely tie it somewhere aboard so it absorbs the heat of the sun. When it's time for your shower, pump the top of the canister, which creates pressure inside, and spray away! You'll have the pleasure of a hot shower, easy control over the sprayer, and great water pressure. (Note: You can also spray-paint the sprayer with black paint.)

— Bernadette Bernon