Tools on Board

J

justgotaboat

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Jun 18, 2009
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31427
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159
I was just curious... but what tools do you have on board? I was going through mine recently and was wondering what tools I was lacking and not thinking of that would be helpful in a sticky situation. You know, that one tool when you got stuck and thought, "Wow, I am sure glad I had...." or worse yet, "Wow, I really wish I had a..."

I have the basics... wrenches, sockets, pliers, screw drivers, wire cutters/crimpers, tapes, knives... but cannot think of what I am forgetting that I will really wish I had in that tough situation.
 
The basics

Wrenches
Sockets
Pliers
Screw drivers
Cutters
Hammer
Multimeter
Extra belts
Hack saw
Duct tape
Tapered dowels attached to every sea cock - not really a tool, but could save your life

Rest assured though, when something breaks and I need a tool - it is one I don't have on board
 
I carry bolt cutters in case my chain anchor rode ever gets stuck, almost got in a jam once and didn't have them.

Eventually got the anchor out but bent the shank 90 degrees on my big delta anchor.

Other tools, volt meter, WD40, hack saw, good strong knife with serrated edge and one with plain edge, Wet vac, a stack of bilge oil pads, big box of blue paper towels, 5 gallon pails.
 
On a 24 footer? I'd probably temper some of this depending on the cruising area. If you just got the boat, make sure you have towing insurance.
If you have anchor rode but not chain, perhaps the bolt cutters can stay home. But I carry all of the above and in addition, I have a 19.2v drill and bits, easy outs, some bolt removers that grab worn bolt heads, heavy duty allen keys, a couple of torque wrenches, a baby sledge, epoxy and some fiber glass, various spare hardware in the form of bolts, screws, washers, sandpaper, metric and standard tools (this helps when you can't get a socket on unless it is at an angle due to clearance), perhaps a spare set of combination wrenches so you can hack them up for clearance (I've cut some in half to get them in tight places), wire cutters and strippers, heat shrink, and probably a mess of other stuff like extension for ratchets etc..
But on a 24 gas boat, spare filters, and a filter wrench for sure.

My most valuable tool is a pair of the monster sized channel locks.
 
Have enough to change a prop, replace a spark plug, mend a wire, change a fuse, pull a battery, swap a belt, splice a hose. After that basic tools, a knife, both type of screw drivers, pliers, bubba (crescent wrench), and hammer. Everything else is optional.
 
Man, from what I'm reading through out this thread, I need a MUCH bigger boat just to carry it all. :)

Bob
 
I know too many folks that have been dead in the water due to fuel filters jamming up. I will always recommend having whatever it takes to swap those out. Either a filter wrench or the largest channel locks.
 
I would also recommend you carry a "jump start" battery with you if you intend to anchor out at all.
 
The first question is what kind of boat do you have and specifics about it before loading up on every imaginable tool you can think of.
 
I'm with Greg. Not knowing much about the Weekender or what the OP is going to be using it for and where, you probably just need the basics for the tasks he describes. Much much different (less) than what I have on my boat for our cruising lifestyle.

That being said, I hardly ever get out my big socket set. 90%+ of the wrenching gets done with my little set of stubby gear wrenches. Add to that a small assortment of screw drivers (including a ratchet type), a set of channel locks, a filter wrench (also a sparkplug wrench for a gasser, or in my case the Whaler) and we've covered the vast majority of the jobs. Electrically, a crimper (I like the ratcheting type), stripper and the all important MVP, a clamp on AC/DC multimeter (OP may not have much AC on board?), plus a couple alligator clip type jumpers and a big set of automobile battery jumpers, and thats all that's necessary. A pipe wrench comes in handy now and then as do a couple of types of files, a hammer and a rubber mallet. It all can fit in a small tool box. Oh, a cheap infrared/laser thermometer is a great small tool; gauges on boats often lie. A small electric drill, maybe, but I can't think of much it is needed for to correct a situation out on the water. There are a variety of liquids and tapes, plus parts like butt splices, spare wire, impellers, etc etc. My total array of tools and parts would fill the cuddy of a 24ft boat, but the 80-20 rule more than applies.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
Heavy duty "long enough" jumper cables.
Dremmel tool.
Set of Taps including pipe taps.
Heat gun.
 
What would you carry a Dremmel Tool for? (Serious Question)
 
quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

Man, from what I'm reading through out this thread, I need a MUCH bigger boat just to carry it all. :)

Bob

Click to expand...


You have to take MUCH of this with a very big grain of salt. Most of what you are reading here is for people with larger boats that do overnight crusing.

It all depends upon the type of boat you have, the area where you boat and the type of boating that you do. It also depends upon your skill evel at handling repairs.

If you had that much bigger boat then you may need more of the items listed.

George
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

Man, from what I'm reading through out this thread, I need a MUCH bigger boat just to carry it all. :)

Bob

Click to expand...


You have to take MUCH of this with a very big grain of salt. Most of what you are reading here is for people with larger boats that do overnight crusing.

It all depends upon the type of boat you have, the area where you boat and the type of boating that you do. It also depends upon your skill evel at handling repairs.

What you carry even depends upon how far you are removed from your primary tool supply at the location where your boat lives.

If you had that much bigger boat then you may need more of the items listed.

George

Click to expand...
 
I used on not long ago to trim out a teak switch plat blank so I could fashion up a new temperature sensor mount for our aft ac. :D Thanks for reminding me that I have that. By the way since most of the plumbing is soft copper I have the tube benders and flair tools also.
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

Man, from what I'm reading through out this thread, I need a MUCH bigger boat just to carry it all. :)

Bob

Click to expand...


You have to take MUCH of this with a very big grain of salt. Most of what you are reading here is for people with larger boats that do overnight crusing.

It all depends upon the type of boat you have, the area where you boat and the type of boating that you do. It also depends upon your skill evel at handling repairs.

What you carry even depends upon how far you are removed from your primary tool supply at the location where your boat lives.

If you had that much bigger boat then you may need more of the items listed.

George

Click to expand...


Click to expand...


It was "tongue in cheek" thus the smiley face :). But then again, if I can sell the idea to my Admiral ................ :D

Bob
 
When all is said and done it probably won't matter anyway. Isn't it a known fact that when you're out somewhere and need ANY specific Tool that it's ALWAYS the ONE you don't have with you?
 
fell set of all the usual tools plus drills big wrenches, big pliers etc. The I leave anything on the boat that i use for any repair. It is amazing how many times i find that I need something not aboard.
 
>What would you carry a Dremmel Tool for? >(Serious Question)

A Dremmel with the cheap cutter blades can
cut chain, bolts, steel cables, sheet metal, glass, and many, many other materials.

Better than a bolt cutters on chain.
Better than anything for cutting off a rusted bolt.
 
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