Which socket set?

[Poignard]

Don't know about your area, but all the tyre places and service garages I've used in the last 20+ years use torque wrenches on wheel nuts. They might spin the nuts up with an air tool, but final tightening always with a torque wrench.

I can't say I've noticed.

I'm usually sitting in a dreary customer waiting room with an out-of-order coffee machine and nothing to read except old copies of Car Fetish magazines.

 

[Poignard]

[...]

I do like Poingard's trick . I just need to remember to carry a couple of rocks.....

Jonathan

If you're going to make a habit of it, a suitable length of 3" x 2" timber would do.

Nowadays, I call the AA!


The last time I had a puncture I stopped outside someone's house and a man came out and invited my wife and I to come in and wait. As we approached the front door an old crone's voice was heard shouting "Don't let them in!". The man apologised, saying his mother had dementia.

To save him further embarrassment we decided to wait in the car!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Kind of depends if your sailing is local to your home mooring/marina/boatyard or heading off on a circumnavigation perhaps?

Quite! Our boat is 3,500 miles from home atm and we carry a HUGE range of tools and spares. Tools include a large Halfords Professional socket & spanner set with 1/4, 3/8, AND 1/2 sockets. Two torque wrenches, pullers, extractors, lots of power tools including an impact driver etc etc. And yes, the socket set includes sockets suitable for the impact driver…. Other tools include a digital calliper and a laser thermometer, blow torch and soldering iron, hydraulic crimper, various clamps, a router, jigsaw, dremel and other wood working tools. We don’t race!

I appreciate it doesn’t answer the OP’s question but I’m slightly bemused by the number of minimalists tool posts.

Edit: For those who think the above is OTT, I’ve used nearly all of the tools at one time or another in the last couple of years living on board and cruising.

 

[lustyd]

I guarantee they have everything you will need for general maintenance.

There's no 17mm 8 point socket so it would have been useless for changing coolant on my VP MD2040

 

[PCUK]

You can always add specific items to the set! It also doesn't include a trolley jack.

 

[lustyd]

Well that wasn't much of a guarantee after all then

 

[penberth3]

There's no 17mm 8 point socket so it would have been useless for changing coolant on my VP MD2040

Another good reason to build up your tool kit with separate items and not buy a 'socket set'. Add anything special or non-standard to suit your own engine.

 

[Stemar]

A basic set of "car" tools will get you started then, as you need stuff, you can add to it. When we first bought a boat, I found a cheap and cheerful set on clearance in Argos and added bits as I needed them. 20-odd years later, I'm still using the sockets and spanners, but my kit has far outgrown the original case.

 

[st599]

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.

I carry a similar set for work, and take it sailing, cycling and do the odd car job with it. After years of abuse, it's still looking like new.

One other Wera tool that is useful on a boat is the swiveling speed ratchet which can lock at a variety of angles. They now do a nice household tool kit too which includes VDE screwdrivers.

I'm talking myself in to it here.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

… I'm talking myself in to it here.

Excellent policy. Wera tools are excellent. I am slowly changing out stuff for Were. The swivelling ratchet I have noticed, looks good.

 

[Birdseye]

Obviously both for US sailors. They can be part of the same kit, and because of overlap, this adds fewer than you think. The drives and extensions fit both. I would think the same is true in the UK; are you sure everything on the boat is metric? Same with spanners.

And it never hurts to have doubles on a few common sizes! They have family members in the bilge and in the sea and like to visit with them.

On a european made boat ( and there are very few American ones over here) everything will be metric. Even in the UK, land of Imperial, Whitworth etc - its been metric since somewhere around the 60s so you are unlikely to find anything non metric outside and old wooden boat.

 

[lustyd]

you are unlikely to find anything non metric outside and old wooden boat.

Well, this is being sold right now and I had to buy imperial allen keys to fit it...
S/S Rod Holder

 

[penberth3]

Well, this is being sold right now and I had to buy imperial allen keys to fit it...
S/S Rod Holder

No surprise, it is designed to fit 3/4" and 1" rails!

 

[penberth3]

On a european made boat ( and there are very few American ones over here) everything will be metric. Even in the UK, land of Imperial, Whitworth etc - its been metric since somewhere around the 60s so you are unlikely to find anything non metric outside and old wooden boat.

I admire your confidence, but BSP is still very much standard and invariably has Whitworth hexagons. Or is it Stillsons every time for you ?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I admire your confidence, but BSP is still very much standard and invariably has Whitworth hexagons. Or is it Stillsons every time for you ?

Even the Volvo engine I have has at least one imperial fitting - the square on the anode holder is nominally ½" square.

 

[jack miller]

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?

 

[rotrax]

Quite! Our boat is 3,500 miles from home atm and we carry a HUGE range of tools and spares. Tools include a large Halfords Professional socket & spanner set with 1/4, 3/8, AND 1/2 sockets. Two torque wrenches, pullers, extractors, lots of power tools including an impact driver etc etc. And yes, the socket set includes sockets suitable for the impact driver…. Other tools include a digital calliper and a laser thermometer, blow torch and soldering iron, hydraulic crimper, various clamps, a router, jigsaw, dremel and other wood working tools. We don’t race!

I appreciate it doesn’t answer the OP’s question but I’m slightly bemused by the number of minimalists tool posts.

Edit: For those who think the above is OTT, I’ve used nearly all of the tools at one time or another in the last couple of years living on board and cruising.

A prudent choice for your current sailing situation.

First Mate often tells people I could build another boat with the tools and spares we keep on board!

I had a small bench grinder on board - I like to be able to sharpen a drill!

 

[rogerthebodger]

I had a small bench grinder on board - I like to be able to sharpen a drill!

So do I as it helps to release any frustration to have a sharp drill when drilling stainless even with a bench drill and more so when Dilling stainless steel with a hand electric drill

 

[penberth3]

...I had a small bench grinder on board - I like to be able to sharpen a drill!

Buy drills in 10's for the useful sizes. It would save a lot of space and weight. Do the sharpening in the comfort of your home.

 

[Boathook]

On a european made boat ( and there are very few American ones over here) everything will be metric. Even in the UK, land of Imperial, Whitworth etc - its been metric since somewhere around the 60s so you are unlikely to find anything non metric outside and old wooden boat.

Just seen this post. My boat is mid 70's and has a lot of imperial nuts and bolts and a lot of the aluminium castings (sowester?) take imperial machine screws.