In the days of sail it was not unusual for a ship to be becalmed for days or held in quarantine for weeks. With plenty of time but limited resources sailors would make do with whatever materials were at hand - sperm whale teeth for carving into scrimshaw and rope for decorative coxcombing, making beckets for their sea chests, covering the handles of knives and dressing ship’s rails. While confined to quarters, Martin Riddle has been re-living those days, coxcombing the steering wheel of an old car. The single-line French coxcomb finished with a turk’s head at each spoke not only dresses things up, but is functional as it provides a slip-resistant grip.