Don't envy the poor metal coat hangar. They have no place on a boat! They rust, they're cheap, and not very sturdy. But: They make great tools for your boat tool bag.

Cut off the looped end (the part allowing it to hang on a clothing rack) with a wire cutter (don't forget the safety glasses), and voila, a straight thick piece of wire, which you can rebend. Make hook ends to retrieve things that drop in the bilge, or pull hair from a clogged sink trap. Use it straight as a wire fish, to clean out the mussels from a water intake, and zillions more ways. Sharpen the end, and you can poke holes in whatever you need.

It's a custom boating tool you can own for free. Even better, if you drop it overboard, you won't feel bad!