Really clever idea!

[oldbilbo]

Then there are those tiny soft brass slothead screws that hold one's waterpump face plate on.... the NON-MAGNETIC ones that get chewed, and slip from arthritic fingers into the 4' deep bilge.


I now use these, and keep spares.

[Attikos]

Just be sure to keep your umbrella a little loose. If it's taught, which is to say fully stretched open, your screw may just bounce off right into the water.

[a64pilot]

Use a tiny drop of superglue on the screwhead and glue it to the screwdriver

[Lake-Effect]

This umbrella idea is unfair to divers.

[Suijin]

If only I did not lose umbrellas shortly after buying them

[Tayana42]

Skipmac, I learned early on about those grabber tools to get dropped parts out of the bilge. But I learned to always have 2 of them handy. One to get dropped things and the other for when I drop the first grabber.

[a64pilot]

Get a mechanical finger with a belt in light, they are handy. It has an LED right where the fingers are.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Also, for those infrequent times when something manages to fall into the bilge under the engine instead of over the side get one of these. One of the most often used tools on my boat.

YES! I have two; one in the ER and one in the tool locker. And yes, I've used the one to retrieve the other when I dropped it.

I didn't think the goop on the screw head trick would work with slotted screws in electrical connections. But I'll give it a try. Maybe wrap the whole thing with a glob of butyl tape or something.

Originally Posted by oldbilbo

Then there are those tiny soft brass slothead screws that hold one's waterpump face plate on.... the NON-MAGNETIC ones that get chewed, and slip from arthritic fingers into the 4' deep bilge.

I now use these, and keep spares.

I use knurled bolts too, but mine also take a hex driver. I don't think I'd have room for the wide heads you posted. But it's the same idea, and works great.

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Get a mechanical finger with a belt in light, they are handy. It has an LED right where the fingers are.

The magnetic pick-up I have with a light didn't last long after it got some salt water on it.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

........
I didn't think the goop on the screw head trick would work with slotted screws in electrical connections. But I'll give it a try. Maybe wrap the whole thing with a glob of butyl tape or something.

..............

Klein Tools SK234

This is the right tool for holding slotted head screws, especially in electrical applications. I have been using them for decades, originally made by Excel AFAIK.

https://www.all-spec.com/Manufacture...ts/SK234-28725

[KJB]

But what about when the umbrella drops into the water...

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by KJB

But what about when the umbrella drops into the water...

It floats

[KJB]

oh yea...

[hellosailor]

Soft brass impeller cover screws? Easy. Pick up some dime-sized rare earth magnets, sold by the dozen. Crazy glue one on each screw head. Now, the screw will promptly get stuck to to the nearest inaccessible piece of iron. Or, you'll be able to just stick a screwdriver into the bilge and the screw will jump up and grab it.