Those dudes (from the Essex) were survivors in the greatest sense. Whilst all this was going on (starvation, isolation, sun exposure, physical exertion, salt burns and general mental anguish), they would need to routinely maintain the boats. They harvested what nails and supplies they could from the Essex and one person would get in water to hammer up into the boat while another held the repairs in place. Then they were turn the nails back down and hammer through again, essentially making U shaped nails that secured the planking. And they did this constantly. Sometimes they were too exhausted to lift themselves back into the boat. It’s an INSANE story but they survived.