Toolkit ideas?

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Sailorsam101

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For a yacht I can sort out a decent set is spares and tools to cover anything I might need.

But what about a motor boat? What different might I need? And he I know this might be a daft question but I am new to big engines so don't really have a clue what to carry other than the obvious.

So far I will carry..

Look spares kit
Small socket set
Screwdrivers
Pliers...different types
Volt meter thingy
Lots of rags etc
Oil
Wd40
Electrical tape

But what else?

Mike
 
Worth checking whether you can get a socket onto the bolts you anticipate adjusting and having some open-ended and ring spanners of the right sizes for the ones you can't.

An impeller-puller would be useful. As a matter of fact, I found one which I am unlikely to need in the toolbox in the back of my car on Saturday. PM me if you'd like it in return for a small donation to the RNLI.
 
Guess it really depends a bit on the size of the engines and complexity you have on-board...but from the top of my head ...

Fuel & Oil Filter(s)
Fan belt(s)
Hose Clamps
Self Amalgamating Tape
Impeller(s)
Spanners (suitable to remove filters and do immediate work, incl fan belt change... small socket set may not get in everywhere... or get enough leverage)

I catty a ton of other stuff, like fuel hose, hot & cold water hose, extra valves, wooden plugs (for all through fitting sizes), wood wedges, shaft seals, tarp, Ropes galore, various EL cables and connectors, cable ties etc., plus some special tools for tuning up the engines.... some of it OTT, but as I have the space, I am happier keeping the stuff on-board than taking it on-shore again..
 
It's certainly worth knowing your engine. The first time I wanted to adjust my alternator belt tension, I discovered I needed a 15 mm socket spanner. Oddly 15 mm is often left out of socket sets and not stocked in hardware stores as much a I thought it might be.
Yanmar provides a mucho-cheapo set of tools, a 15 mm spanner of any type is not included, in fact the set is a bad joke. It does contain something that turns out to be an impeller extractor but it is only useful if you buy the extra expensive impellers with a screw thread.
 
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The easiest way to know what you need is to work on different 'systems'. So, for the engine, take your home tool kit to the boat and have a fiddle. Check all the basic stuff like filters impellors, belts and adjustors, injectors, glow plugs and the like. You will soon find out what size all the bolts etc are that you need to access. You will also find out that for some things you mat need two spanners of the same size or special sockets or elongated spanners. Make a checklist and don't forget to check the freedom of movement for each spanner. For instance, in a tight space you might not be able to turn a nut far enough to engage the rachet or apply the next turn and therefore you will need a non-standard tool. Remember, some systems overlap such as electrics.

Once you have done this you will have a checklist of all you will need. You then can make up a master set of tools or individual systems sets. Some people put the tools they may need for the engine on the back of the engine access hatch. That way the right tool is always there. If you have a deep bilge check the tools are magnetic and keep a magnetic device for fishing them out.
 
I know you were asking specifically for tools for larger engines, but I have this list saved from a previous post I never sent :). Might give someone a useful idea or two.

  • Set of spanners, 6mm to 24mm (plus extra 10mm next to the fuel filters for bleeding them)
  • Large adjustable (out to about 35mm)
  • Small adjustable
  • 1/4” socket set
  • 1/2” socket set
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Scissors
  • Strap wrench (kept next to the fuel filters)
  • Files, both full size and miniature
  • Sandpaper
  • Craft knife & spare blades
  • Pliers large, small, and needle-nose
  • Side-cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • Screwdrivers Pozi, 1 x Pz1, 1 x Pz3, 3 x Pz2 as that’s the one I always need and always lose!
  • Screwdrivers slotted x 5 assorted
  • Electrical screwdriver
  • Ratchet screwdriver handle and set of bits (pozi, phillips, torx, allen, slot)
  • Handle and set of assorted bits and probes in tiny “jeweller’s” sizes
  • Set of allen keys
  • Full-size hacksaw and spare blades
  • Compact (“toolbox size”) wood saw
  • Junior hacksaw and spare blades both wood & metal
  • Portable benchtop and vise that clamps over the top step of the companionway
  • Electric screwdriver, with adaptor to take small sockets as well as bits (7mm socket great for hose clips)
  • Makita cordless drill (12v NiMH, retired from main toolbox use), 2 batteries & 12v charger
  • Twist drills, 1.5mm to 16mm
  • Hole saw set
  • Gas soldering iron, solder, sponge, spare gas, clippy-arm-thingy for holding parts together while soldering
  • Small selection of electrical crimp fittings & cheap crimp tool
  • Few pieces of heatshrink, and PVC tape.
  • Set of test leads with croc clips
  • Multimeter
  • 12v plug with 3m of wire and red & black croc clips on the end, for troubleshooting.
  • Sikaflex and sealant gun

I also have a locker containing all sorts of random bits of wood, metal, rubber, wire, hose, etc, for bodging purposes. And a big tupperware box of assorted stainless fastenings.

My basic principle has been that any hand tools needed on the boat during winter refit, unless highly specialised, belong in the on-board kit. Power tools (except the on-board drill) and my more comprehensive electrics kit come off at the start of the season.

Pete
 
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prv said:
My basic principle has been that any hand tools needed on the boat during winter refit, unless highly specialised, belong in the on-board kit. Power tools (except the on-board drill) and my more comprehensive electrics kit come off at the start of the season.

Pete
Click to expand...

agree,
but the best electric tool I keep onboard is the "Fein," the new model with the quick lock system, and the special tools for cutting caulking grooves. I'm amazed how much we use the Fein, for all kinds of cutting and sanding,
but then we have a very old boat that needs a lot of TLC ;)
 
BartW said:
but the best electric tool I keep onboard is the "Fein," the new model with the quick lock system, and the special tools for cutting caulking grooves. I'm amazed how much we use the Fein, for all kinds of cutting and sanding
Click to expand...

I have a no-brand equivalent tool, there are jobs it makes easy that nothing else can do. Mostly fibreglass remodelling and suchlike though - not the sort of job I'm likely to encounter unexpectedly during a cruise. So that tool can stay at home during the summer, and just moves on board during refit season.

Pete
 
oh hell. I started out with a compact 75 piece set and have subsequently emptied my garage of just about everything. I had a rather well stocked garage too I might add. Funnily enough it wasn't spanners etc that are used the most. Odd things like wire strippers, crimp connectors, press stud pliers, pop riviters etc were / are more frequently used as well as a 5ft collapsable aluminium ladder... (radar arch). I now also have quite a collection of stainless steel screws, bolts, nuts and washers because you only ever need one or two but they come in packs of 5 and more. My boat is a decrepit old shed though, but loving it all the same.
oh, the joys of an american boat with volvo engines. Lots of different thread sizes and you have to carry metric and imperial sets of everything. That's a PITA
 
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Sailorsam101 said:
For a yacht I can sort out a decent set is spares and tools to cover anything I might need.

But what about a motor boat? What different might I need? And he I know this might be a daft question but I am new to big engines so don't really have a clue what to carry other than the obvious.

So far I will carry..

Look spares kit
Small socket set
Screwdrivers
Pliers...different types
Volt meter thingy
Lots of rags etc
Oil
Wd40
Electrical tape

But what else?

Mike
Click to expand...
I go the other way, to some it seems- less is more. I am not imagining I have the spares or competencies for a rebuild at sea, so it is just some simpler jobs that I need tools for. Hell, if I am ashore and really need something, I guess I can buy it. Or an engineer is going to do it.
 
The list gets longer if you plan to sail away and live aboard far from home. The boat becomes a workshop pretty quickly. However, tools you need, food's available everywhere, so the available storage get allocated appropriately.
When marina living, my most often used tool is a wet 'n dry vacuum cleaner.
 
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