New spanner set & socket - recommendations please?

[Minerva]

I think I'll be treating to my wee boat to a new set of spanners. Our toolset seems to now be reduced to only holding ring spanners that don't fit any bolts / all the normally useful ones have been lost... plus ça change!

I don't want to buy cheap tools which are made of cheese and will either round off on first use or rust out in the first season, equally I'm not going to buy premium snap on ones as they will invariably be lost.

So what's the good happy medium between "good enough" and not going to make me cry when it get dropped overboard? Preferably a set that comes in a wee briefcase type holder to keep them all together / easy to see what one is missing.

Thanks

 

[ean_p]

I think I'll be treating to my wee boat to a new set of spanners. Our toolset seems to now be reduced to only holding ring spanners that don't fit any bolts / all the normally useful ones have been lost... plus ça change!

I don't want to buy cheap tools which are made of cheese and will either round off on first use or rust out in the first season, equally I'm not going to buy premium snap on ones as they will invariably be lost.

So what's the good happy medium between "good enough" and not going to make me cry when it get dropped overboard? Preferably a set that comes in a wee briefcase type holder to keep them all together / easy to see what one is missing.

Thanks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-Socket-106-Piece-2-Inch-Drive

 

[[70521]]

Do you have a branch of Men in Sheds locally? All sorts of tools can be purchased often as singles.

 

[Blueboatman]

In addition I cannot recommend something like these too highly for restricted IE boat spaces .
Brilliant down the side of the engine etc
Articulated head ratchet spanner set c £50

Draper 25396 HI-TORQ® Metric Flexible Head Ratcheting Combination Spanner Set - 7 Piece

 

[coopec]

Sidchrome has a good name.

Brand New Sidchrome 60 PCS Spanner & Imperial Socket Set SCMT-K10 Free Postage | eBay

 

[Graham376]

Local motor factors often have Christmas offers from Draper Sealey etc, reasonable quality and mid priced. No way would I keep my Britool socket set on the boat. Promotions | Sealey

 

[dunedin]

I would second the Bahco recommendation for socket sets - though as a visitor from Scuttlebut, rather than a true PBO’er, went for a more modest set https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-S240...t+sets+bahco&qid=1637235159&s=diy&sr=1-2&th=1

 

[Poignard]

I have never bought a socket set*. I have just acquired the items I need individually, from various sources; often used tool shops.

* That's not true! I remember I have a 1/4" drive socket set on board but I don't think I have ever needed to use more than three of the sockets in it, ie 10, 12 and 13mm.

 

[Wing Mark]

My boat came with some rusty spanners.

I'm considering some sort of 'basic tool set' to keep on the boat, then if I'm doing anything hard or serious, I take the good tools from home.
Cheap spanners are fine for bolting a fitting to a GRP boat.
They are going to have a short unpleasant life, covered in sealant dropped in the bilge, loaned out and dropped overboard.

Half the trick is to know exactly what's on the boat, so you know what else to take.
So a nasty set in a blow moulded case might tick a few boxes?


I'm also on a mission to cleanse the boat of anything not metric. And cut off all the long excess thread that stop the sockets working!
I should only need a few spanner sizes, screwdrivers, one or two allens?
It's easy to load up with 5 sizes of allen, torx, 11mm spanners and stuff which don't fit a single fastener on the boat?

 

[Hacker]

Halfords professional/advanced are good quality and are often on sale.

 

[dslittle]

I have never bought a socket set*. I have just acquired the items I need individually, from various sources; often used tool shops.

* That's not true! I remember I have a 1/4" drive socket set on board but I don't think I have ever needed to use more than three of the sockets in it, ie 10, 12 and 13mm.

Then one day you may need to come and see me…

I have more (and better) equipment on the boat than I have at home!!!

I’m pretty sure that I could stock a fair sized chandlery with everything that I have working on the premise that, when I need it, I’ll be miles from anywhere…

 

[RJJ]

Bahco for sockets (bit spenny but significantly better than cheap one).

Silverline for spanners. (It's just a piece of metal, right)?.

That's what I have and have been delighted with both.

 

[Poignard]

Then one day you may need to come and see me…

I have more (and better) equipment on the boat than I have at home!!!

I’m pretty sure that I could stock a fair sized chandlery with everything that I have working on the premise that, when I need it, I’ll be miles from anywhere…

I am forever finding that a tool I want is in the wrong place. Either because I forgot to bring it home or forgot to take it!

 

[scottie]

Whilst good for storage the nice plastic case would have no difficulty in sliding all over the deck but may have problem with the traditional last just out of reach hop over the gunnels
could be leathal if taken aloft

 

[ChromeDome]

Statistics shows that there is more blood (mine!) everywhere when I use tools that are not good enough ?

When buying manual tools I look for extended (at least 10 years) warranty.
Slightly more expensive but to me just better. ??

 

[scottie]

For other than blind bolts having combination spanner’s may be a problem
separate ring and open sets have advantages

 

[PaulRainbow]

Sealey or Halfords are perfectly OK.

Just because your tools are on the boat doesn't mean they are going to be rusty and manky, unless you have a damp and manky boat. A little spray with WD40 once in a while keeps them good.

 

[PaulRainbow]

For other than blind bolts having combination spanner’s may be a problem
separate ring and open sets have advantages

Good point ref the spanners, i'd suggest for combination spanners, this style: Draper - 11mm Hi-Torq® Combination Spanner Expert Quality

 

[ChromeDome]

If fighting rounded nuts 'n bolts use hexagon instead of bi-hexagon sockets. Transfers much more torque and has a better grip, hence common for wheel nuts.

 

[Bouba]

I have a full set of these

Flexible head ratchet spanner set. I find it almost completely does away with needing a separate socket set