Tool Kits

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stownsend

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Afternoon Everyone

If I'm doing any maintenance on the boat I tend to lug the big tool box down to her, but find tend to find I only use a few of the tools out from the there. Normally I have a couple screwdrivers, pliers, leathermans knife, adjustable wrench and a cable cutter kept on the boat permanently. Just wondered what thoughts on what should be kept on there in the view of tool kits and their contents.

I've been thinking of getting a cheap set of spanners, pliers and possibly a small socket set which I can leave down there.

Cheers

Stu
 
I have a limited set of tools on the boat but, to be honest, I always load up the car with most of my garage tools because I know full well that if I didn't, the one tool that I really really needed would be the one that I've left at home.

Richard
 
Good socket set, spanners, good pliers, good section of screwdrivers, multimeter, small electrical screwdrivers, cordless drill with assortment of drill pieces,
Filter removal tool, big hammer , long nosed pliers. Vice grips
I'm sure many more to add :eek:
 
stownsend said:
Afternoon Everyone

If I'm doing any maintenance on the boat I tend to lug the big tool box down to her, but find tend to find I only use a few of the tools out from the there. Normally I have a couple screwdrivers, pliers, leathermans knife, adjustable wrench and a cable cutter kept on the boat permanently. Just wondered what thoughts on what should be kept on there in the view of tool kits and their contents.

I've been thinking of getting a cheap set of spanners, pliers and possibly a small socket set which I can leave down there.

Cheers

Stu
Click to expand...
My recommendation is to take the big toolbox and every time you do a job, adjust the alternator belt, tighten a rigging screw or change an impeller, for example, make a note of what you used and buy good quality duplicate tools to add to a boat toolkit. Over time you will accumulate a minimalist kit kept on the boat . Then you will only need to take your big toolbox when doing a job you have not done before.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I keep a baisc toolkit on the boat.
A cheap 'DIY' set in a blow moulded case, containing a socket set, spanners, screwdrivers, allen keys, pliers, small hammer...
It's worked well for random unplanned jobs.
It's cheap enough that when bits go missing or rusty, you just buy another one.
It's a shared boat, so it helps that everyone knows pretty much what's there, so any bigger jobs, you know what to take.

Other things are a little vice which clamps onto e.g. the steps or a pontoon plank, a cheap multimeter, hacksaws which are part of the 'rig cutting kit' required, rope splicing tools, needles...
 
It's no use asking me. My boat is down by the head with tools! :(

My wife wants to know why we don't have things like clothing and food in our lockers, as other people do; instead of tools, spare parts, paint, varnish, solvents, paintbrushes, abrasive papers, bosun's stores, ropes etc etc.
 
Most of the DIY sets to leave on the boat that I looked at were obviously lacking something or other until I came across this one that had most of what might be needed. I wasn't expecting much for the money but the quality isn't bad either I have to say. Add a multimeter and a few electrical spares, the usual engine bits, jubilee clips, etc. that might need replacing and most eventualities could be dealt with...
 
The problem is that we all just keep finding a need for different things to add to the very long list! I've got the socket set, odd spanners, a bent screwdriver, allen keys, a hex-drive handle with lots of Torx and screwdriver bits, a selection box of crimps plus a ratchet crimper, lots of lengths of wire, the essential multimeter, hacksaw, Stanley knife, sandpaper, silicone grease, watchmakers screwdrivers, a ginormous pair of water pump pliers, cordless drill and set of assorted metal/wood bits, torque wrench, tape measure, blue masking tape, nitrile gloves, 12v soldering iron, etc. Plus boxes and boxes of "useful" screws, bolts, nuts, washers, fittings. Oh, and a load of old newspapers to protect surfaces from marking and stains.

But the list keeps growing! Recently I've added a long-reach flexible claw tool, and a waterproof 5 metre wifi borescope (£20 from Banggood - Bakeey 8mm 8 Led WiFi Endoscope HD Camera Borescope Waterproof Rigid Cable for Android IOS Laptop PC Mobile Phone Accessories from Phones & Telecommunications on banggood.com) which is surprisingly good. The problem in the end is remembering which bits are in which lockers!
 
I have Lidl tool set on the boat, which has so far covered everything I have needed to do without time to get more specialist stuff from my workshop. Well, almost. I also carry a hammer and a 12V soldering iron.
 
May I add to the list an engineers vice bolted onto a length of scaffold plank sufficient to span the cockpit ?
For example:
With 2(!) pairs of Stilson wrenches I have successfully -and in a controlled manner, mostly?-dismantled the exhaust elbow and assoc threaded hi-rise for a thorough decoking.

And replaced the Johnson seals and bearings on the raw water pump when it started to drip, in the vice with suitably sized drifts and a lump hammer..
As a poster has already hinted, the challenge is in storing all this valuable salty stuff whilst keeping the crew supplied with food and clothes . And not mixing the two !
 
Thanks all, i did search but struggled a bit, the links are great, have ordered one of the kits as it would be handy for those non planned jobs and saves me sourcing all the bits separately !

Stay safe!

Cheers

Stu
 
I think it is all a question of complexity of the boat and the distance from home. I reckon that carrying tools on a boat is a disaster for the tools. (rust and loss)
I love my tools which I keep at home in the shed. Have a think abut what you have used in the past or what you are likely to need in the future. Carrying a set of sockets and spanners of every size is silly. I find for metric for instance 10 12, 14 and 17 are all I every use. I also use 1/4 drive long socket for 1/4 and 3/16 ww bolts. What I would do if starting again is haunt the car boot sales (trash market) for separate sockets spanners screw drivers etc that you actually want. Quality does not seem to matter to me. Then store them in a box with lots of oil etc.
It is of course not just tools you need but spares from insulation tape and gaffer tape, shackles pulley ropes engine spares etc.
I go through my little boat every winter and take everything out. The things that go back in are those I know I have needed or will need. All the rest stays in the shed at home.
Hammer ? no I carry a spare heavy winch handle that doubles nicely as a hammer. But then my little boat is simple with no engine so slip jaw pliers knife phillips head and straight screw driver an allen key for winches and a set spanner for rigging adjustment. All pretty rusty but serviceable. A bit of grease silcon oil shackles and few sraps of rope is all I need. ol'will
 
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