Here are 20 handy hacks that can make life a little easier for any sailor:

1. Use nylon stockings to check for propeller damage: Run a nylon stocking along the surface of your propeller. If the sock tears, it indicates small nicks or sharp edges that may require sanding/repair to improve the efficiency of your propeller.
2. Homemade rust remover: Mix equal parts salt and lemon juice, which you can use to remove rust from metal parts. Apply the dirt, let it sit for a few hours and then scrub with an old toothbrush, for example. Useful for small fittings and tools on board.
3. Waterproof matches with clear nail polish: Dip the head of the matches in clear nail polish to make them waterproof. This trick ensures you always have working matches available, even in humid conditions.
4. Use hair conditioner to loosen stuck zippers: If you have a zipper that's hard to get up or in, a small amount of hair conditioner applied along the zipper teeth can help loosen it. It's a lifesaver for everything from jackets and sleeping bags to boat canopies and boom bags. Otherwise find a canvas maker that can help you.
5. Silica bags in the toolbox: Keep tools rust-free by adding silica gel packs to your toolbox. Remember to change them regularly.
6. Always have an umbrella on board the boat: If you need to fix something, e.g. in the bow, that requires small gadgets and screws, turn the umbrella upside down between the water and your boat. That way, you can prevent small items from falling into the water.
7. Use rice to save electronic equipment: If you've dropped your phone or other electronics in the water, put it in a bag or bowl of rice overnight with the power off. It will suck the moisture out of your device.
8. Water bottles as ice blocks: If you're going on a trip and want to save power for your fridge, or don't have a fridge on your boat, fill old water bottles with water and freeze them. Then put them in the fridge/cooler on the boat to keep the temperature down. You can use the water afterwards when the ice has thawed.
9. WD-40 to loosen stuck objects: Always have WD-40 on board! It's great for loosening corroded bolts, screws and other metal parts.
10. Use vinegar to remove salt water deposits: Spray vinegar on areas that are coated with salt and leave it on for a moment before scrubbing it off. By the way, it also works against mold!
11. Dental floss for emergency sail repairs: Are you unlucky on your trip and have you got a tear in your sail? In this case, are you in a harbor without a marine store or other sailmakers nearby, you can always use dental floss as sewing thread. It's strong and can be used as a temporary solution if your sail gets a tear. And the good thing is that you can buy it in almost every supermarket and kiosk.
12. Clips from soda cans as zipper pulls: Attach soda can clips to a broken zipper for a quick and temporary fix.
13. Use elastic luggage straps as a simple self-steering device for boats with tiller: There are many far more complex versions of this, but the simplest, most effective use is to put an elastic boot strap on each side of the boat at the tiller and then wrap the opposite end of the straps around the tiller. You can then balance how much pull/slack you need in the stick by wrapping an extra turn around the tiller until the boat is on the desired course.
14. Use an extra drop in the mast for small children on board: If you have small children aboard your sailboat who want to play on deck, put a child life harness on your child and attach the halyard to the hook at the back of the life harness. Then hoist the halyard so that the child only just has a foothold. This allows your child to jump around the boat more freely without falling overboard. Children often also find it incredibly fun to "float" across the deck.
15. Boat horn with gas canister for cleaning clogged water inlets or drains: If, for example, the water intake on the boat is clogged, you can do the following: Close the sea valve, remove the hose at the engine and place the boat horn over the hose, open the sea valve and blow air through the hose. Close the seacock again. You have now blown out the blockage. If necessary, use hearing protection as it makes a lot of noise.
16. Use stainless steel to get rid of fishy odors from your hands: If you've caught and cut up fish on your boat trip, you can rub your hands on some of your stainless steel on the boat. Stainless steel contains Chromium, which kills the smell of fish, for example.
17. Use the Laser Rangefinder to judge distance on the water: For example, when anchoring among other boats, it can be difficult to judge distance when you're on the water. With a laser rangefinder, you can simply point to the neighboring boat and see if you're at a safe and proper distance from the other anchor.
18. Tie a piece of twine in the center of your steering wheel: This way you always know if the rudder is centered, and it also enables you to physically feel if something is offset while sailing.
19. Use a bicycle hose: (Or other rubber) to wrap around tire turnbuckles and other toe-cracking metal sticking out of the tire. Not pretty, but useful on the road!
20. Use butyl tape to seal leaks: For example, if you have screws in the tire that leak when it rains, use butyl tape to seal them. Unscrew the screw, place butyl tape on top of the hole and roll a small amount around the screw head, then screw the screw back in place. Butyl does not harden, so you can remove it again at a later date when you have time to repair the damage thoroughly.