The high tide is coming and the Castaways are desperate to get the Minnow fixed in time to head for home, but the Professor can't seem to find the right nail-making formula. While looking for tree sap to make into pancake syrup, Gilligan and Mary Ann find a potential solution.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- The Alleged Car: The Minnow is re-caulked with a glue-like substance Gilligan discovers while attempting to make maple syrup. While the hold is indeed like iron, it's only temporary, and right before launch, the entire Minnow falls apart. Even the keel collapses, so the ship is gone for good after that.
- All Part of the Show: The Howells happen along after Gilligan and the Skipper get stuck to the boat. Mr. Howell thinks they're playing charades and spends several minutes trying to guess what they are, despite the two yelling that they're stuck. Luckily, Mrs. Howell realizes the truth.
- Calling Me a Logarithm: Mr. Howell mistakes the Professor's Techno Babble for profanity and covers his wife's ears, scandalized.
- Comically Missing the Point: When the Professor says that a perfume might be able to dissolve the glue, Mrs. Howell spends several minutes trying to figure out a perfume that suits the occasion.
- Cover Innocent Eyes and Ears: When the Professor reels off a bunch of scientific words, Mr. Howell covers his wife's ears and scolds the Professor for using such language when a lady is present.
- Milholland Relationship Moment: The Skipper insists on sitting down with Gilligan for a chat. He tells him that though the failure of their latest plan was disappointing, they might have been out at sea when the Minnow fell apart if not for Gilligan's warning. He finishes by saying that Gilligan always tries his hardest, and that's what counts. Unfortunately, the moment is interrupted when Gilligan finally gets the chance to tell the Skipper what he needed to say — that the Skipper is sitting on a gluey brush.
- Mistaken for Insane: When the Professor runs into the lagoon with a plate, fully clothed, the Skipper initially thinks he's gone mad. However, the Professor tells him and Gilligan that the "syrup" could help fix the boat.
- Mistaken for Romance: The Professor needs perfume to dissolve the glue that's sticking the Skipper and Gilligan to the boat. He heads for Ginger's hut and spends a few minutes sniffing the perfume she's wearing. Ginger mistakes the whole incident for a romantic moment, even after the Professor runs off with the bottle.
- Rage Against the Reflection: Downplayed. After the Skipper sends Gilligan away, the first mate looks at his reflection in the lagoon and tells it that it had better stay away from him, because everything he does goes wrong.
- Ship Tease: When Mary Ann finally finds a tree with usable sap, she says that the sap is sweet just like Gilligan.
- Snipe Hunt: Gilligan wants to help, but the Skipper isn't eager to let him after the issues that resulted when Gilligan put his foot in the glue the last time. To placate him, the Skipper agrees...and sends him to the top of a tree to watch for icebergs. Gilligan is aware that there are no icebergs in the tropics, but the Skipper stops him from arguing further by threatening to glue his mouth shut.
- Sticky Situation: Gilligan steps in the glue and gets it on his hand and arm. Eventually, he and the Skipper get stuck to each other and the Minnow. Luckily, the Professor manages to dissolve the glue with perfume.
- Tempting Fate: Gilligan tells his reflection that everything he does goes wrong...except a few days ago when he discovered the glue. Then he tries to demonstrate by turning the pancake plate upside down...and the pancake falls off, showing that the glue is strong but temporary.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: The Castaways discover a way off the island...that not only doesn't work, but also utterly destroys the Minnow in the process, rendering them even worse off than before.
