Boat Renovation - What tools do I need?

I keep a cheap combined toolset from a minor but recognisable "name" on board. It has mm spanners, pliers, (small) electrical screwdrivers, a set of screwdriver bits with a handle to accept them. I add to this a hammer, a couple of adjustable spanners, a small chain stilton (mostly for work with filters) a multi-meter a gas operated soldering iron, self amalgamating tape, and a couple of seriously big screwdrivers. If I need anything else, I bring it from home. Tools kept on board rust, get lost over board, slip into unreachable parts of the vessel etc, so I also take a couple of things like magnetic pick ups and steel mirrors on flexible handles to help find and recover things like spanners and nuts and bolts from under the engine and places like that.

I have a"proper" set of tools in my workshop at home. All good quality stuff, except for my hand power - tools that are slowly being replaced by Lidl specials as the old stuff wears out. I've given up on Dremel multi-tools but their consumable "bits" are still the Dog's.
 
Can I suggest that if your considering a buisness why not do boat detaling cleaning, buffing hulls etc then gain other skills. like redoing headlining both with vinyl and vehicle carpet which is extremely plyable kind used in Camper van conversions and expand into restoration or Anti-foul stripping with extra training as you go
My mate is doing just that he had been doing the headlining on cars and vans for years and he did my Westerly interior and is now getting requests from others to do the same.
 
I won't read all the extensive lists again but a soldering iron came to mind (mine a cheap Chinese) and an electrical terminal crimpers
Was a small bench grinder mentioned for sharpening drills? You can't spray paint with anything less than an 8 cfm compressor so a very small one has limited use. (These days roll-n-tipping seems to be the way to go for a lot of paint work)
I do a lot of vacuum cleaning for wood shavings and dust and I find vacuum cleaners on the rubbish/recycling dump. (it's amazing what people throw out.) Don't forget SS wash troughs for scrap SS)

I hope someone mentioned ear-muffs ($2.25 (incl. post.) on eBay)?
 
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I'd agree with Macd regarding the need for stainless steel tools: they are not necessary.

One important item and someone may have mentioned it already is an earth leakage protection board to stop electric shocks. To avoid electric shocks any electrical tool should be plugged in to the ELCB board.

I have been zapped twice now when working in the back shed of two different properties even though the houses had ELCB in the meter boxes. When I queried that with an electrician I was told I wouldn't be protected in the back shed as it was too far away: the device should be installed close to the tool. (The boards are not all that expensive)
 
As for good quality screw drivers - I agree - Soon as that salt water hits anything made from chrome vanadium or other cheap tools they're gathering rust.
Stainless Steel is the way to go I guess.

:encouragement:[/QUOTE]

This will excite you!
How to keep your tools rust free

A Primer on Rust
Preventing Rust on Tools
http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/rust/rust.html
 
Rogershaw said:
This is my on boat tool kit.
IMGP2658_zpsc1dolvx6.jpg


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You have OCD
 
prv said:
Exactly. Can't remember the last time I saw a chippy (or whatever) with a wire dangling out of his drill. And they charge quicker than they run down, so as long as you have power somewhere on site to run the charger, there's no reason to ever have to stop because a battery is flat. Just change mags and carry on :p

It would be quite expensive to have professional-grade cordless everything though, and for a lot of things it doesn't make all that much difference so might as well have mains, but I've found it well worth splashing out on a decent Makita Li-ion drill/driver.

Pete
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Plus a few on the Makita.

I've had two Dewalt cordless drills and used to think they were great. My latest is a Makita and although it was pricy it's the dog's doings. Works as a screw driver as well.

Can I add a set of polishing mops and soaps (the sort that fit in an electric drill are fine). They clean up stainless etc. like new.
 
john_morris_uk said:
Can I add a set of polishing mops and soaps (the sort that fit in an electric drill are fine). They clean up stainless etc. like new.
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Much better to use angle grinders to polish stainless steel. The bearings of the average electric are not man enough to take the side loading you impose when polishing.

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Low speed die grinder for prepolishing using fine flap wheels.
 
It's a pity we've had no response from Javelin - that's his business. His list would be interesting. For myself, I'm a competant fixer upper not a shipwright. I have the usual motley collection of woodworking, fibreglassing, electrical and mechanical stuff including socket sets with a few (usually the most useful) sizes missing, likewise screwdriver sets. I do have 2 complete Silverline spanner sets as well as motley AF, Whitworth, BA sized ones. I have a brilliant Bosch cordless drill which I've had since I got my first boat over 10 years ago. I wrecked the battery by leaving it on permanent charge before getting a replacement and being advised to only charge when flat for 3hrs. I'm not a tool collector and usually only acquire new ones for a specific purpose.
 
Rogershaw said:
Much better to use angle grinders to polish stainless steel. The bearings of the average electric are not man enough to take the side loading you impose when polishing.

IMGP2577_zps67392154.jpg


Low speed die grinder for prepolishing using fine flap wheels.
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Thats a top tip and I've got two of those exact machines without realising one can get polishing mops for them. (I thought the rpm was too fast for the grinder to polish.)

I use an ancient B&D electric drill that I moubt in the bench vice. It's only ever used with a rotary wire brush or polishing mops so the bearings do sound rough nowadays...
 
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The small angle grinder is a little fast and with the size of mop I have on the one shown you do need to be careful due to the gyroscopic effect.

But the big one is easier to handle.

For a fixed bench polisher I have a 2 pole motor with mops attached

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I got the angle grinders from.porter cable power tools of one could be made as the thread on the end of the angle grinder is standard M14..

Heres one but mine is a little different.

http://www.metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk/angle-grinder-spindle-adapter-m14/
 
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Flexible hose clip/jubilee clip drivers in standard sizes (7mm etc) are a godsend working on engine cooling or plumbing. Always inaccessible or deliberately installed so a straight screwdriver can't quite reach!!
 
Think very long and hard if you intend to start a boat renovation business . There is very little money to to had in that field .......unless you have a serious expert skills to offer . Check out the market before you commit yourself to spending money on tools are renting a workshop etc . I had a yacht restoration business so I know a little about the industry . PM me if you want further advice Sorry to be a bit negative . Terry
 
thesaintlyone said:
Can I suggest that if your considering a buisness why not do boat detaling cleaning, buffing hulls etc then gain other skills. like redoing headlining both with vinyl and vehicle carpet which is extremely plyable kind used in Camper van conversions and expand into restoration or Anti-foul stripping with extra training as you go
My mate is doing just that he had been doing the headlining on cars and vans for years and he did my Westerly interior and is now getting requests from others to do the same.
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I see where you are coming from here and its most probably the more sensible idea - but I much prefer getting wrecks and turning them into something new - the thought of carpeting other people's boats makes me yawn that said- I do see what you are saying. I did consider doing some kind of boat help service locally to pickup some more knowledge.
 
coopec said:
I won't read all the extensive lists again but a soldering iron came to mind (mine a cheap Chinese) and an electrical terminal crimpers
Was a small bench grinder mentioned for sharpening drills? You can't spray paint with anything less than an 8 cfm compressor so a very small one has limited use. (These days roll-n-tipping seems to be the way to go for a lot of paint work)
I do a lot of vacuum cleaning for wood shavings and dust and I find vacuum cleaners on the rubbish/recycling dump. (it's amazing what people throw out.) Don't forget SS wash troughs for scrap SS)

I hope someone mentioned ear-muffs ($2.25 (incl. post.) on eBay)?
Click to expand...

One of my most used tools currently is a Henry Hoover it takes everything I chuck at it.
I'm never happy with the results of rolling and tipping but I'm still practicing but in all honesty I would rather spray it's just the annitial outlay of the equipment as you most probably know.
 
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