Tool Box

[Amulet]

Nowt wrong with Force4 as far as I know..

Took About £1000 out of my bankaccount on the day I placed an order. Gave no useful information about when they would deliver, and finally delivered after eight and a half weeks actually delaying the start of a planned cruise.. but that's another thread.

I agree. I wouldn't buy tools from a chandler. I have a never ending dilemma. The boat environment does wreck tools (if you have an old wooden wet boat). My temptation is to buy cheap tools because I know that even good ones won't last. However, when you're upside-down with your head in the bilges trying to fix something you really do not want the added disadvantage of a rubbishy tool.

 

[jfkal]

am putting together a dedicated tool box for the boat. What should be in it?? Does anyone have a "minimum standard" list? any help appreciated!

Start with all tools ever made.
Delete the ones you are sure you will not need (for example jack hammer unless you have a ferro cement hull).
and you will still experience one missing when you need it at sea.
But seriously those 100+ piece kits are a good start an double the most commonly used spanner (size 10, 12, 14, 14,17)
Assorted screws and electrical items (crimp connectors, fuses etc)

 

[ostell]

And watch out for tool specials at Lidl and Aldi

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Tool Corrosion Protection

.... The boat environment does wreck tools (if you have an old wooden wet boat). My temptation is to buy cheap tools because I know that even good ones won't last.....

Purchase Corrosion Inhibiting Paper to wrap the tools in, or use the greased rag and wipe tool method. The greased rag method requires the tool to be wiped clean before use.

The point is tools, especially plain steel tools, can be preserved on a yacht from corrosion. I have a wooden tool drawer and a greased cloth which lines the drawer and encloses the tools. It keeps the corrosion away. I have a good quality vernier caliper which is kept wrapped in corrosion inhibiting paper. There has been no sign of rust on this instrument for years. Last season the paper got lost and the instrument developed rust marks quite quickly.

 

[Euphonyx]

Hi
I'm a bit surprised you can fit all the spares you need in one box and the tools in another.
I now have smaller boxes but I still can't fit all my needs/wants into 14 boxes!! ??
In fact for extended cruising I'm thinking of getting another 14.

which shall I infer either an exceptionally large yacht or an acute case of paranoia??

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

which shall I infer either an exceptionally large yacht or an acute case of paranoia??

Well I still have the same amount of stuff onboard in my T33 that I had in my 28footer.
The joy of lots of smaller, flattish, see through boxes is that I can now see everything at a glance and they're so much easier to store being smaller than the standard type of toolbox.

When I've emptied my 28footer for Round The island Race, to my crews amazement she came up a good 100mm and bobbed around like a cork in comparison to what she has been like, loaded down for a long cruise.

The problem is that you need almost identical kit on board for a small boat, that you may require for a big boat, especially if you think you can cope DIY.

 

[Paulka]

Did someone name the Swiss Army Knife ?
Just the basic one : 2 cuting blades, 1 or 2 screwdriver blade and the most important tool : the corkscrew.

 

[Interlude]

A large sealable "tupperware" like box keeps my tools dry - it lives under the companionway steps in a frame to stop it moving around - gets lifted out for finding the tool at the bottom.

 

[William_H]

Boat tools

I sail a small boat and don't carry an engine. I tend to take tools to the boat if I have a particular job on. The ships tool kit is very sparse. Slip jaw pliers will fit many things and rust will not seize them. Screw drivers phillips head and straight an allen key for winches and knife. I keep them all under elastic on the inside lid of the locker in the cockpit. They are ready for quick access. ie to hand to crew. I also have a few bolts with nuts shackles bits of lock wire, light cord, tape, grease and WD40. I also keep a piece of ali strip used for adjusting velcro in batten pockets. Then of course reefing cord and a tow line. First aid kit, water and flash lights.
Experience will tell you what to carry but I say keep it to a minimum. Heavy maintenance tools belong at home. olewill just bucking the trend of carrying everything.

 

[AllanJ]

Just performed the same task.
Got all mine (except what I already had) from Maplins (£65 total);
set of screwdrivers incl. short versions, and a multi-fitting with loads of ends
set of ratchet spanners (handy because every nut I have ever had to access on a boat requires Houdini-like flexibility)
electrical set incl. crimper, cutter, stripper, cable ties, connectors (various), insulating tape, wire, fuses, and circuit tester (I already have a multimeter)
I also got a set of clear storage boxes that are make finding tools easy and two of the smaller ones are inside the larger one to assist tidiness (not one of my finer virtues)

This is added to
sandpaper
socket set
hammer
hacksaw
super glue
silicon sealant
multitool (almost impossible to open without a screwdriver!)
open and closed spanner set
Stanley knife
various lights and torches

Don't forget that after using most of these on a boat you will probably need repairs to your person given the location of most bits you will need to repair - get a good first aid kit

I also echo the sentiments expressed elsewhere; whatever you buy, you will miss the one you need. Good luck. I hope you never need any of them.

 

[Boathook]

As PRV plus more.

And I never seem to stop adding more each time a job needs doing

Me too!

I should also add don't buy to cheaply as they won't work, especially adjustable spanners. I have also binned a cheap set of open ended spanners quite a few years ago after the splayed open on the first job.