I want to introduce some members in the maintenance side of our industry to a tool that it appears may have been forgotten in the passing of time – the grease gun.

A grease gun is a common workshop tool used for lubrication. The purpose of the grease gun is to apply lubricant through an aperture to a specific point, usually from a grease cartridge to a grease fitting or 'nipple'. The channels behind the grease nipple lead to where the lubrication is needed. I have one on my boat which I use to grease the stern tube gland.

As an engineer I use it routinely as I have a great fear of what might happen if I don’t. The purpose of the stern tube gland is to stop water from the river making its way up the propeller shaft into the bilges of the boat. Given the outcome of not greasing it, my mind is perpetually focused on doing it and it's on my shut down checklist after every trip.