Tools for a total refit

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theflyingric

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Hi everybody.
Im the proud owner of an Albin Vega which is in need of a total refit. Her last owner had her in there back yard for 25 years.
So I know this is the start of a mamath task and its going to be an extreamly steep learning curve but hey Im young and keen to learn new skills that will enable me look after my boat in the future.
The first bit of advivce I'm looking for is...
What are the most important tools recomended to own?
Cheers
Ric
 
Since I started repairing things in the 1950s, I have mainly just bought tools as and when they were needed rather than beginning with a toolkit.

This has worked well except for the fact that I have failed dismally to get rid of tools that were no longer needed :(
 
parsifal said:
Since I started repairing things in the 1950s, I have mainly just bought tools as and when they were needed rather than beginning with a toolkit.

This has worked well except for the fact that I have failed dismally to get rid of tools that were no longer needed :(
Click to expand...


Ah, but he who dies with most tools wins.
 
For a total refit you're going to end up with a lot of tools - best to pick them up as you find you need them rather than trying to assemble the whole lot up front. However, in no particular order here are some of the things I've found useful (or essential) for minor refits of two different boats:

Cordless drill/driver. Most tools get relatively little use and cheaper B&Q / Aldi standard is fine, but I have found it worth spending a bit more for a decent quality drill; I like Makita.

Set of hole-saws, for running hoses etc through wood and fibreglass.

"Big" socket set (10mm - 32mm), and roll of spanners.
"Small" socket set (4mm - 13mm) and hex bit set.
Adjustable spanner.

Oscillating multi-tool, good for cutting in awkward spaces (lots of those in boats), especially fibreglass.

Router, circular saw, and chisels, if you're doing any interior joinery.

Small electric screwdriver taking hex bits. With an adaptor and 7mm socket this becomes a jubilee-clip undoer/doer-upper, which saves a lot of time and fiddling when you're doing plumbing.

Lazy tongs rivetter if you need to attach anything to the mast or boom.

Big adjustable spanner / stilsons / waterpump pliers, for trying to undo large plumbing hexagons like seacocks.

Hacksaw, handsaw for wood - you can't always use power-tools.

Power-file, like a narrow belt-sander you hold in one hand. Brilliant for all sorts of shaping tasks, and some surprising improvisations (I used mine yesterday to cut through a rusted-up clamp on my car exhaust!)

Electrical tools - side-cutters, stripper, crimp tool. Gas-powered heatshrink blower. I like my Iroda gas soldering iron although you might be better doing everything with crimps.

"Bodging chisel" - an old wood chisel whose fine edge you no longer care about, and use to pry, scrape, and chop in various awkward situations.

Electrical test leads, with croc clips each end. I also have a 12v plug with a 6-foot cable ending in croc clips.

Multi-meter

Decent head-torch

Orbital sander - though I found I did a lot of hand-sanding too.

Fibreglassing kit, particularly including paddle rollers (until you use one of these, you'll wrongly think that just prodding it with a brush is fine :) )

Wire brush, both hand and to go in a drill.

Ear defenders and goggles. Filter mask if doing major sanding / grinding.

Dremel.

Portable vise (mine clamps to the top step of the companionway).

Possibly an angle-grinder.

Maybe a jigsaw.

Electrician's rods or draw-tape, for fishing wires through awkward spaces.

Sewing machine, if you find yourself needing covers of various kinds, or special bags etc.

Bosun's kit once you get onto the rigging - palm and needles, whipping twine, etc. Set of fids for braid (I don't like the common Selma type) and maybe a Swedish fid for stiff three-strand like big mooring lines.

Various clamps etc

Hoover. I now have three - one for the house, one for the shed, and one to live on the boat during refit season.

Generator if there's no power available where you keep the boat.

Fan heater - essential if you're going to be fibreglassing in winter, otherwise optional for your own comfort (I didn't bother, just wore padded shirts etc).

Right-angle adaptor for drill.

Tape measure, steel rule, metre rule.

Mastic gun. Sikaflex (what you'll mostly use it for) is stiffer than bathroom silicone, and very cheap DIY guns bend when trying to work with it.

That's all I can think of - for now.... :)

Pete
 
mlines said:
Credit card
Click to expand...

:D

More seriously, I'm assuming the OP already has a basic tool kit so is looking to extend it? Most things on a yacht require fairly 'normal' workshop tools, but there will be jobs requiring bigger or more unusual ones: holesaws, impact drivers, big adjustables or pipe wrenches, and so on. Most folk seem to acquire these on an 'as-needed' basis.

The tools I seem to make most use of, perhaps surprisingly given that boats are quite big, is a 1/4"-drive socket set. Especially handy when space is limited, which it often is.

But the 'tool' you'll need most is a good dash of ingenuity ;)

Good luck.
 
Random orbital sander
+ 1 on the bodging chisel.
I'd also highly recommend buying a large quantity of disposable cups/ brushes/ stirring sticks/ rubber gloves for resin work, can be found at reasonable prices here: http://www.easycomposites.co.uk/
Flap wheel for the angle grinder.
Henry bagless hoover.
Proper dust mask with chemical filters - acetone in confined areas gives you a headache pretty quick. Also blocks out 2-pack paint fumes.
 
You do not actually need that many tools. Start with the basics - hammer, hand drill, hacksaw, blunt chisel, wire cutters/strippers, socket set and spanner roll, and go from there.

For interior joinery I find a jigsaw is far more useful than a circular saw. Surform, plane, sandpaper.

Get additional tools as you need them.

Remember - KISS (and if you son't know what that means....).
 
For a total refit you're going to do mechanical, woodworking, glassing, electrics and painting/varnishing so you'll need appropriate tools for each.
I've found my old palm sander invaluable and my basic cordless drill gets a lot of use but don't forget non powered as well - hammers, screw drivers, spanners, saw, plane, socket sets (1/2 and 1/4" drive), good drill bits and hole saw. For electrics, multimeter, ratchet crimps. Mole grips, Stillsons also useful and angle grinder.
I would advise mid range tools but others go for deluxe. If doing stuff afloat, a means of holding the workpiece like a clamp on vice but I've managed with my trusty Workmate.
Get a toolbar to store them in, toolboxes are awkward to stow. Squirt some WD40 or some such to keep rust at bay and try not to drop overboard.
Don't buy everything at once and borrow one offs.
Don't become a tool freak.
 
ghostlymoron said:
Toolbag not toolbar.
Click to expand...

I think you were right first time "Toolbar"

IMGP2658_zpsc1dolvx6.jpg


IMGP2657_zpsm2agdjld.jpg


Much easier to find the tool you need than a toolbag
 
ghostlymoron said:
Get a toolbar to store them in
Click to expand...

You won't fit a refit's worth of tools in a bag :). When I used to clear out the accumulated tools and materials a couple of weeks before recommissioning, it was a full car-load or more likely two :)

I bought a new set of the typical hand-tools (screwdrivers, spanners, pliers, etc) for the boat, for use on the water as well as during refit. But the rest of the stuff lives in drawers and on shelves, in my shed, and gets brought down as required. So I have a couple of toolbags, a toolbox, and a lot of those folding plastic crates, but they get loaded up with whatever's needed for the job at hand rather than having specific long-term contents.

(I might add a stack of plastic crates to the list as well, actually, as useful items for a refit in their own right.)

Pete
 
Lots of great stuff here!

Stanley four way screwdriver, two Philips and two cross head in one handle. Often on sale so get three.
Cheapest vac you can find at Tesco. Stick the receipt inside where the bag goes and when you suck up water, diesel, gas, yes, goes well, take it back for a new one!,

Rechargeable multi tool is very useful.

Tony
 
Indirect answer - have a look at Sail Life you tube channel - Mads refitted a Vega - worth looking it.

He will be selling it soon - you might save heartache and cash to put an offer in. (It is perfect in every way).

He is in Denmark and speaks absolutely perfect English.
 
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