Which socket set?

[Hoist]

for budget minded I always took a kamasa 3/8 drive.

I like a socket set with both deep and short sockets.

universal joint is handy on a boat for round corners and also the T bar thing so you can use extensions as a wrench

My preference has always been 6 pointed sockets as its better for not rounding nuts.

KAMASA TOOLS LAST FEW! SOCKET RATCHET TOOL SET 58 PIECE 1/4 DRIVE - NEW - | eBay

 

[Dogone]

Ratchet spanners. Halfords Advanced are good. I have them. I don’t have a set - but just a few offset spanners also are needed. When you need them, nothing else will do. Likewise open ring spanners and crow’s foot spanners. Not many uses, but indispensable occasionally.

Look at each nut and work it out.

 

[Neeves]

Yes, entirely. Some (most?) engines are metric, but some are not! Some require slightly unusual sizes. It depends completely on which engine you have.

So true,

The point was made but the OP has not come back to fill in the essential information (based on which more useful posts might be available).

The assumption seems to be that the OP wants tools for his engine but he/she mentions they have a 10m sailing yacht - which also has the need for spanners/sockets, screwdrivers, not forgetting specialist Alan keyed bolts for the boom and mast. If they have a Volvo sail drive it needs a monster socket, 1/2" x 30mm?, to remove the folding prop.

Maybe the OP will return.

Jonathan

 

[Poignard]

When you are bleeding a diesel injector pump dont you need an 8mm socket ? And on a BMC (Thornycroft) Engine are they AF or Whitworth.

No.

I'm afraid I can't answer that. I haven't worked on a BMC engine.

 

[fredrussell]

In my experience (i reconditioned engines for many years) you’ll get away with cheap sockets for years without them breaking, but the ratchet drive on cheaper sets is what will let you down. My preference would be to prowl eBay for a 2nd hand mid range ratchet drive (Bahco, Teng, Facom etc) and buy a cheap (or 2nd hand half decent) socket set for the sockets. Obviously Snap-on on a boat is a bit OTT, but the nice thing about the non-budget ratchets is that you should get more teeth in the ratchet mechanism which means a smaller movement on the ratchet handle will move the nut. Useful in the cramped confines of a boat.

 

[rogerthebodger]

No.

I'm afraid I can't answer that. I haven't worked on a BMC engine.

Most A, B and C series e BMC engines are all UNF so imperial A/F sizes as are the nuts and bolts on my older Perkins engine.

I know this as I have rebuilt many BMC engines over many years and I have a Perkins and Layland diesel engines in my old and new boat

 

[harvey38]

And don't forget to buy a U/J to get to those inaccessible buggers!

 

[Poignard]

.. and a torque wrench, and a crowsfoot, and deep sockets, and socket drivers, and Philips screwdrivers, and slot head screwdrivers, and pozidrive screwdrivers, and Allen keys, and hammers, and wire brushes, and emery paper, and a hand vice, and pliers, and wire strippers, and a mallet, and chisels, and a hand or electric drill, and drill bits, countersink bits, and a sanding machine, and scrapers, and a hacksaw, and a Japanese pull saw, and ring spanners, and oe spanners, and sewing materials, and so on and so on!

Oh yes, and materials for repainting the boot topping which will have sunk below the waterline under the weight of STUFF!

 

[Stemar]

I don't think you need 1/2" drive sockets in your every day toolkit.

A 1/4" & 3/8" set will cope with almost everything on a boat and be a good bit less bulky so, not only is the box easier to store, but the sockets can get into awkward places better. Add a decent quality adjustable and a set of combination wrenches, and you're spannered up. If I really can't shift something with a 3/8" socket, it's unlikely I'm going to want to tackle it anywhere but alongside the club pontoon, so I can bring my 1/2" set and my 3-foot persuader from home. Off-hand, though, I don't recall anything that stubborn in over 20 years of fixing old boats.

 

[Roberto]

I don't think you need 1/2" drive sockets in your every day toolkit.

A 1/4" & 3/8" set will cope with almost everything on a boat and be a good bit less bulky so, not only is the box easier to store, but the sockets can get into awkward places better. Add a decent quality adjustable and a set of combination wrenches, and you're spannered up. If I really can't shift something with a 3/8" socket, it's unlikely I'm going to want to tackle it anywhere but alongside the club pontoon, so I can bring my 1/2" set and my 3-foot persuader from home. Off-hand, though, I don't recall anything that stubborn in over 20 years of fixing old boats.

+1
Though I have one 3/4" drive socket for the engine crankshaft bolt which is 38mm-1-1/2", it's as big as a fist and weighs half a kilo

 

[RunAgroundHard]

What would be the best kind of socket set (1/4", 1/2", 3/8", range of mm etc etc) for general use on a 10m sailing boat with inboard engine. Does it depend on the type of engine?

Engine is less relevant as they are all built with standard fasteners. For your use on an outboard forget anything like 1/2” socket sets, its like breaking up toffee with a sledge hammer, pointless.

For small fasteners I bought a Wera Tool- Check PLUS set. It’s been perfect for my outboard and just about every routine job on the boat.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-Tool-Check-Ratchet-Screwdriver-05056490001/dp/B00I8MYMT2?th=1

The selection of screwdriver heads includes the hollow point Torque heads often found on newer instrument covers. I carry this with me on my boat and motor bike. It’s a perfect size and great quality, small, light and extremely functional.

Edit: You will need a separate spark plug spanner, as the tool set noted, will not cater for spark plugs.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Engine is less relevant as they are all built with standard fasteners. For your use on an outboard forget anything like 1/2” socket sets, its like breaking up toffee with a sledge hammer, pointless.

For small fasteners I bought a Wera Tool- Check PLUS set. It’s been perfect for my outboard and just about every routine job on the boat.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-Tool-Check-Ratchet-Screwdriver-05056490001/dp/B00I8MYMT2?th=1

The selection of screwdriver heads includes the hollow point Torque heads often found on newer instrument covers. I carry this with me on my boat and motor bike. It’s a perfect size and great quality, small, light and extremely functional.

Edit: You will need a separate spark plug spanner, as the tool set noted, will not cater for spark plugs.

Not many 10m inboard sailing boats have spark plugs

 

[Momac]

I have tried to build a fairly bespoke tool kit for the boat which tries to cover most needs while carrying as little excess weight as possible.
I have a small socket set from Halfords together with a selection of extra sockets spanners and screwdrivers which I already owned. Some of the spanners I inherited and they may be older than me.
I have a small battery powered drill/screwdriver which I will miss if and when when it expires. It was from Aldi.
I bought a plastic tool box from B&M for the drill , spanners , screwdrivers and small bits and pieces. By chance the tool box fits perfectly in one of the under seat lockers. No point in having a huge tool box which can barely be lifted or which cant be stored in available spaces on the boat.
Last year I bought a ratchet spanner for a particular job. I also bought a flexible driver for hose clips but that was a bit extravagant and I found that 7mm doesn't fit all hose clips. But buying tools is a lot cheaper than paying for labour.

Not many 10m inboard sailing boats have spark plugs

But some might have a dinghy with a petrol outboard.

 

[PaulRainbow]

What would be the best kind of socket set (1/4", 1/2", 3/8", range of mm etc etc) for general use on a 10m sailing boat with inboard engine. Does it depend on the type of engine?

As said, depends on the engine, if it's metric or not. Assuming metric, one of these will do most, if not all, of the general bits and bobs:

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand...lfords-advanced-100-pc-socket-set-735948.html

There are very few fixings that require 1/2" sockets, especially for everyday maintenance.

A decent set of spanners, screwdrivers and pliers are also a must.

 

[PaulRainbow]

But some might have a dinghy with a petrol outboard.

Some might have all sorts of things, but the question is "What would be the best kind of socket set (1/4", 1/2", 3/8", range of mm etc etc) for general use on a 10m sailing boat with inboard engine."

 

[Daydream believer]

Half inch drive for prop & engine bearers. Prop would usually be sorted ashore, but I have had brackets & rubber mountings shake free after picking up weed on the sail drive. But one only needs one or 2 sockets. Half inch drive allows a bit more torque

 

[penberth3]

When you are bleeding a diesel injector pump dont you need an 8mm socket ? And on a BMC (Thornycroft) Engine are they AF or Whitworth.

CAV pump was 5/16", within a hair's breadth of 8mm.

BMC would be inch AF sizes, but some of the drain plugs might have Whitworth hexagons.

 

[penberth3]

I don't think you need 1/2" drive sockets in your every day toolkit.

A 1/4" & 3/8" set will cope with almost everything on a boat and be a good bit less bulky so, not only is the box easier to store, but the sockets can get into awkward places better. Add a decent quality adjustable and a set of combination wrenches, and you're spannered up. If I really can't shift something with a 3/8" socket, it's unlikely I'm going to want to tackle it anywhere but alongside the club pontoon, so I can bring my 1/2" set and my 3-foot persuader from home. Off-hand, though, I don't recall anything that stubborn in over 20 years of fixing old boats.

When I was a lad 1/2 seemed to be the standard. I soon learned 3/8 was better on engines and most other things, lighter and slimmer.

This was the set we coveted. If I had one now it would be stashed in a dark corner and probably stay there!

 

[Rum Run]

When I was a lad 1/2 seemed to be the standard. I soon learned 3/8 was better on engines and most other things, lighter and slimmer.

This was the set we coveted. If I had one now it would be stashed in a dark corner and probably stay there!

View attachment 186500

That Britool T-bar is a very useful piece of kit. Mine has undone many a stuck, frozen or over tightened nut in conjunction with a 5 foot tube or club hammer. Split a few sockets though.
Last used a few days ago removing the flywheel bolts of a Dorman 2LD.

 

[Nauti Fox]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extractor-...hvtargid=pla-2310310866139&psc=1&gad_source=1
Maybe something like this as an additional item, I use a somewhat more expensive set at work but they do work and can save the day.