I dropped a bolt down into the pan one time when in the final stages of putting the motor back together, in fact it was already in the boat. It was a stainless bolt so I used one of those long flexible grabbers with the plunger top and four fingers on the other end. Worked good but it was a delicate operation. WHAT DIDI I LEARN??? Tape over all holes that lead to the pan when putting a motor back together!!!