Essential tools/spares to have on board?

Halcyon Yachts

Halcyon Yachts

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What do you consider to be the minimum tools/spares required when undertaking an offshore passage?

It can be very difficult in the world of yacht deliveries as often the boats we deliver are either new or have changed hands. Previous owners will usually take off lots of equipment that you would really prefer to be kept on board for the passage!

I would suggest the following:

Screw drivers
Socket Set
Adjustable spanner
Hacksaw
Mole Grips
Multimeter
Oil Filter Wrench
Electrical Tape
Spare Fuses
Spare Bulbs
Sail Repair Tape
Whipping Twine
Disposable Gloves
Telescopic magnet
Zip Ties
Engine Oil
Gearbox Oil
Fuel Filters
Oil Filters
Torch (ideally head torch with red light facility)
Bosuns Chair or climbing harness
Bolt cutters

Pete
 
Last edited:
Some replies to this thread are listing spare parts and repair materials.

The Question refered to tools.

Just read the OP again and that lists spares too!

No mention of a hammer? A hammer is a VERY usefull tool.
 
A couple of metal coat hangers. Great prodders, rodders, stiffners etc etc.
A pair (or two) of Marigolds for loo work or when your hands are slippy ie removing oil filter or needing a tight grip on something.
Mike
 
A tin opening tool.
There are several reasons why a hacksaw is not a satisfactory substitute.

I was going to add a Stanley knife, but RupertW beat me to it; I would add a pair of scissors.
A Stanley knife can do most things that scissors can, but the latter are a lot less prone to cause accidents.
 
Marlin Spike and a sail sewing kit (tape doesn't always work well on wet salty white sails)
 
Am I over tooled?
Along with all of the above, I have a workbench and vice
a mini Workmate
Two electric drills one 12v one mains
Orbital sander
wood chisels
files
hole cutters
blow torch
pipe cutter
surform
alan keys
keyhole saw
. . . Hot water bottle, cuddly toy!
 
This was what ws in our lockers for long distance sailig it doesn't detail tools:
FORECABIN

UNDER CABIN SOLE
- Rivet gun and rivets
- Jump leads
- Bottle of port x 2

STARBOARD LOCKER UNDER FLOOR
- Old Jabsco pump motor, diaphragm, feet etc
- New Jabsco pump motor (for sump and fresh water)
- Alternator
- Circular anodes x 2
- Electrical cables

STARBOARD LOCKER
- Wood: blocks, strips, ply
- Storage bags
- Cork tiles
- Pilots: Shell Channel, N Sea waypoints, English Channel waypoints, SW Spain and Portugal, Atlantic Spain and Portugal
- Electrical cables, 12 volt switch, junction boxes
- Life jacket (spare)
- Cat flap
- Net bags
- Engine spares box: water hose, decarbonising kit, cylinder head gaskets, big O-ring, impeller, screws, gasket,
cover for old Jabsco pump, assorted washers, fuse box, MD17 impeller x 2 (NOTE 1 is in Johnson box and has pump
shaft seals in it), thermostat, valve and spring, injector tips, Jabsco pump shaft, Jabsco impeller, Jabsco seal,
small light bulbs
- Blue box:Stern gland packing x 2, 12 volt ceiling light, winch self tailers x 2, GPS rail mount, fresh water pre-filter,
liferaft rail clips, black rail clips, wire strop and padlock, Mylar clear sail repair tape, yellow ripstop sail repair tape,
battery box webbing, brass hinges, various turning blocks and jammers, 12mm bolt thread and nuts, dinghy pressure gauge,
through deck fitting, big U-bolts
- 12 volt battery
- Watermaker filters x 4
- Fresh water filter
- Rope and sheets (inc 1 mooring)
- Carpet (under mattress)

CENTRAL LOCKER
- Pipe bender x 2
- Log
- Jigsaw
- Vice
- Chimney
- Ropes (inc 1 mooring)
- Electric heater
- Workbench
- Box file and HTML book
- Sail bags
- Grey storage bags
- Assymetric spinnaker
- Empty plastic briefcase

PORT LOCKER UNDER FLOOR
- Plumbing: copper T's, straight connectors, ball valve
- Plumbing: plastic T's, elbows, ball valve, through hull
- Stalock fittings

PORT LOCKER
- Sail batten under mattress
- 15mm? copper tube
- Awlgrip oyster white
- Hammerite
- Yacht primer (grey)
- Danboline
- Dulux white
- Toplac
- Flattening agent
- Degreaser
- Blue and yellow Awlgrip
- Awlgrip topcoat converter
- Non skid particles
- Frap hat
- Cable ties
- Rope
- Buckets
- Shore power adaptors
- 240v shore power plug and socket
- Mosquito nets for hatches
- Dinghy repair kit in tube

STARBOARD HANGING LOCKER
- Dinghy seat
- Harness x 2
- Xmas tree
- Fishing rod bags

PORT HANGING LOCKER
- Latesail jackets x 2
- Dinghy pump
- Tyre pump
- Knee pads
- 240v extension lead
- Medical box
- Food mixer bowls
- Toplac x 2
- Toplac with sand
- International undercoat (white)
- International #1 thinners
- International filler (2 pack)
- Paint brushes
- Big black hose
- Small hose

SALOON

UNDER NAV SEAT
- Freshness water filter
- Water dibber hose (and 1 spare)
- Small clear plastic hose
- Lewmar winch service kit
- Cockpit strip light
- Philips fluorescent light x 4
- Osram 35W 240v fluorescent light
- Philips 35W 240v fluorescent light
- Thorn striplight
- 13 amp 3 pin plugs x 2
- 13 amp 2 way adapter
- 3 pin through deck fitting x 2
- Holts silencer repair bandage
- Holts Gun Gum
- Radiator hose repair bandage
- MD17 oil filter x 6
- Emergency fan belt x 2
- Fan belts x 4
- 2 x MD17 big fan belts
- Throttle cable x 2
- Jabsco sump pump old parts (sergice kit no 43990-0062) and hosetail (part no 37175-0000)
- Box: bulbs, fuses, heat shrink tubing, fuse wirw
- Box: Kelly's Eye stamp
- Box: watermaker O-rings, inlet end plug, March May pump (in heads) end fitting and gaskets
- Box: sail repair tape, white, red, blue and sail slides
- Anchor winch remote control and deck fitting (down doesn't work)
- HRO chemicals
- HRO crankcase oil
- Chubb fire blanket
- Bottle of tin booster TBT
- Plastic wire protectors (wrap round)
- Old wind vane sail
- Gas regulator
- Racor R15S filters (engine) x 2
- Jabsco impellers for new pump 663-001K (in Jiffy bag)
- Jabsco impeller 15808
- Jabsco impeller 673-001K x 2
- Jabsco impeller673-001
- Jabsco impellers x 2 unknown
- Jabsco O-rings 18753-0104
- Jabsco screws, water seals, plate
- Cork, thin plastic tile, stainless plate
- Jabsco service kit for fresh water pump 30121-0000
- Jabsco toilet service kit 29045-000, seal assembly 29090 and 29120, plastic fittings (hinges etc)
- MD 17 thermostat
- Liquid lettering
- Hammar lifejacket fittings
- Mariner outboard spares (impeller, plugs etc)
- EPIRB bag
- Kelly's Eye transfers
- Bostik inflatable glue
- Grease tubes x 2
- Sat C plugs
- Diaphragm and handle for diesel pump
- Simrad WP40 belts
- Simrad WP40 old bits
- Window seal rubber
- HRO pressure gauge
- Trip switch 10 amp
- Bosch electrical box, battery terminal clamps and covers, exhaust deflector
- Plastic hose fittings for watermaker
- Whale Gusher Mk3 service kit
- Velcro sticky back

STARBOARD SEAT FORWARD LOCKER
- Watermaker membrane cleaner
- Water purifier x 3
- White canvas
- Saw
- Hacksaw
- Plastic sheeting
- Mosquito netting uncut
- Long steel handled screwdriver
- Big sander
- Small sander
- Sandpaper, mask and goggles
- Hotknife
- Sikaflex and gun
- Red box: sail repair tape
- Walking stick
- Leg and hand weights

STARBOARD SEAT AFT LOCKER
- Soltran
- Outbored oil
- Engine oil
- Mast climbing kit

FORWARD ABOVE STARBOARD SEAT
- Lifelines (wrong clips)
- Motoring triangle
- Anchor ball
- Egg boxes x 3
- Light wet trousers (MC and JOH)
- Lifejacket x 2

AFT PASSAGE

UNDER FLOOR
- Racor R24S filters (generator) x 5
- Racor R15S filters (engine) x 3
- Racor bowl
- MD17 oil filter x 2
- MD17 fuel filters x 2
- Jabsco pump flywheel
- Jabsco pump for exhaust
- Fuel bodge kit and copper pipe fittings
- Plastic pipe fittings
- TWC smart regulator

PAINT LOCKER UNDER FLOOR
- Loctite rust remedy x 3
- Metal lacquer
- Fabsil
- Silicone spray
- WD40
- Copydex glue
- International etch primer base
- Corrosion buster pen
- Plastic pipe cement
- Hammerite brush cleaner

PAINT LOCKER
- White spirit x 2
- Sika primer DC
- Awlgrip oyster paint
- Acetone
- Ronseal varnish
- Unibond glue
- Sikkens varnish
- Sikkens thinners
- Duckhams grease
- Pennzoil hand cleaner
- T9 waterproof lube spray
- Soltran
- International pre-Kote
- Hammerite
- Rust converter x 2
- International etch primer (mix)
- Abrasive pad
- Syringe and funnel
- Machine oil x 2
- Small paint brushes
- Small paint pots
- Big paint pots
- WD40
- Diesel line gunk
- Fine sanding sponge
- eLECTRICAL CONTACT SPRAY

FOOD

SALOON STARBOARD FORWARD
- Heinz baked beans x 2 (03/06)
- Lasagne x 4 (03/07)
- Beeferoni x 2 (02/07)
- Potatoes big x 1 (01/07)
- Potatoes small x 4 (09/05)
- Potatoes x 1 (07/07)
- Mushrooms x 3 (09/08)
- Mushrooms small x 2 (07/08)
- Roast beef x 2
- Chicken and potatoes x 1 (12/05)
- Chicken x 1 (07/06)
- Corned beef hash x 1 (12/07)
- Box of Saltines
 
rotrax said:
No mention of a hammer? A hammer is a VERY usefull tool.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I don't think I've ever used the hammer in Belle Serene's toolkit for hitting anything, though. But sometimes when I need to lift one of the boards in the saloon sole, it's stuck. They all have a circular hole in, intended for a finger. Stick the head of the hammer into the hole and give a yank and the board comes up. Couldn't live aboard without the hammer.
 
I think a drill is a useful thing. I carry a hand powered thing about palm size.

Top Tip:

An even better wheeze is to carry a loose chuck, keyless ones are very cheap now. These are great for drilling holes by hand in tricky spots, acting as a pin vice, use as a bradawl, or as a bodkin for boring holes through leather and sail material.
 
Length of twisting wire like garden wire. Gaffer taper. Heap of towel/rags. Tough tarp in case you hit something. List goes on....
 
Nobody mentioned the size of boat. That long list would sink the boat before the crew got aboard so I would suggest that the list depends on the craft & the means of power, plus type of voyage to be undertaken. Some trips from anchorage to anchorage would not need loads of engine tools if one could just as easily sail from A-B.
If one had a good old reliable Seagull for auxilliary power one would need a seagull spanner , spare plug, spare spring , split pin & pliers. So if we are only talking about tools then a seagull spanner & a pair of pliers is all it needs

As for hammers I have never needed one in years of sailing. But i admit i always carry one ,on the basis that it will come in handy even if I never need it
 
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