During his 19-season run on the CBS flagship NCIS, Mark Harmon incorporated an interesting tidbit about himself into his leading role as special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. During his tenure on the military procedural drama, when Gibbs wasn’t investigating crimes that dealt wth espionage and terrorism, he built sailboats in his spare time, each of which has a connection to his personal story.

Gibbs had a special name for each boat, such as Kelly, which is a tribute to his daughter, who died in a car accident when she was eight years old. While working on a boat in his basement, Gibbs gets to the grit with his hand tools, which he prefers over power tools. As such, these tools have a special place in the heart of the special agent – but also Mark Harmon himself.

Gibbs Is Famously Picky About Anyone Touching His Tools In NCIS

The Fastidious Head Of NCIS Likes Everything In Its Place

Gibbs would throw a temper tantrum, especially if anyone else put their hands on his tools. During NCIS season 18, episode 16, “Rule 91,” Gibbs got visibly angry when he discovered his tools had been moved from their usual spot. Unfortunately, he did not know a serial killer had snuck into his home and made their presence known. But just like Gibbs, it turns out Harmon is also obsessed with the placement of his tools.

The NCIS: Origins narrator is married to Pam Dawber in real life, and the actress appeared on the CBS drama as journalist Marcie Warren. While promoting the hit show in an interview with Craig Ferguson back in 2014 (via YouTube), Dawber cheekily mocked her husband’s tool obsession. Dawber joked about how she held one of his hammers the wrong way in a hilarious incident:

“He’s a garage guy, you know. I don’t know what he does in his garage. If I use a hammer, now my husband doesn’t have one hammer, two hammers, or five hammers. My husband, I bet you, I’m not exaggerating, probably has 17 hammers. If you borrow a hammer of Mark’s, from his man-cave garage, you turn it this way; instead of that way. And you put it back, you hear about it.” He goes like this. ‘Pam, were you in the garage?’ Uhhh yeah. ‘Were you using my hammer?’ Uhhh yeah, yeah.’ All I ask is that you just put things back the way you found them!”

Mark Harmon Was A Woodworker In Real Life – Even Before The Show

His Skills Were Incorporated Into Gibbs’ Backstory

Harmon was a carpenter before his acting career took off as Dr. Robert Caldwell in the critically acclaimed medical drama, St. Elsewhere. The former fledgling actor took carpentry gigs in order to make a profitable living and pay the bills. Although Harmon did not continue his carpentry career, he still found a way to demonstrate his woodworking skills on his most well-known show.

Because life had other plans for them, neither Gibbs nor Harmon made a professional career in carpentry. The two treat their passion for woodworking as more than just a hobby. In Gibbs’ case, he saw his boat “Rule 91” as a reflection to embark on a new life after retirement.

Mark Harmon and Leroy Jethro Gibbs have showcased their passion for making sailboats on NCIS. Although Gibbs seems like a control freak about his hand tools, Harmon’s obsession with his tools has slightly affected his personal life. It’s still fun to imagine the two turning their garages into a man-cave.