Bouba
Well-Known Member
That’s the advantage of those ratchet spanners.....they aren’t restricted by depth like sockets
Which socket set?
- Thread starter Jenn
- Start date
ducked
Well-Known Member
Perhaps because you dont have a boat with a loose rudder stock?I obviously don’t move in your circles
Bouba
Well-Known Member
My boat is European (Beneteau) but my engine is American (Cumins)....as well as a metric tool set...I keep a complete 32 piece SAE spanner set. It has come in handy when a mechanic couldn’t find his tools. But I have always had duplicate sets of tools...but over the years the metric tools have dominated.
ducked
Well-Known Member
Following a typhoon flooding episode, I recently moved all my ready-use spanners into square drinking water bottles with the tops cut on three sides with the forth side forming a hinge, so they have flip-tops.
Sockets are on a spring clip strip in series. My reserve set is in its original substantial blow-moulded case which quite often opens upside down and dumps its contents. My 3/8 sockets are strung on a sheet bended loop of electrical wire, since I very seldom use them, preferring 1/2", unlike the majority above
I suppose I dont project either professional image, but then I'm not being paid.
Oops, repeating myself. Apologies
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Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
In the unlikely event that someone turned up to do work on any car of mine with a bag of tools he would be told to bugger off sharpish. Plumbers and electricians are another matter.
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
No Icalled the engineer to sort out the boat engine which he did
Bouba
Well-Known Member
After our first flood…. I threw away all my electrical workshop equipment…I was in the middle of a project and everything was on the floor ready for use…it didn’t stand a chance. Huge amounts of tools were dumped and the workshop was cleaned and repainted.
The next flood happened soon after….and I was physically and emotionally exhausted…I locked up the workshop and didn’t enter for over a year (for a little reference the workshop is in my basement)
When I did finally open it, it was a huge task…even stuff that could have been saved was rusted beyond repair.
The water was over a metre deep….and came and receded the same day…but the amount of mud it leaves behind is incredible…at least a foot deep on most surfaces
DownWest
Well-Known Member
I find their bulk is more of a handicap in tight spaces.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Yes….every situation is different…especially on a small boat where access and visibility can be very limited….so you need access to every kind of tool…plus the ability to manufacture your own and to browse eBay.
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
As engines are paramount in the use of yachts of all kinds I certainly wouldn’t mind more space being given to access to machinery etc…..it’s a boat whytry to hide stuff?
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Some boat electricians came on my little boat to do some wiring....after emerging from lazaret and sides...they said they had more room to work down there than most superyachts....but I have struggled myself
DownWest
Well-Known Member
I used to buy cheap Spanish sets back in the 70s, so I didn't care about cutting and welding them. Daily use were Snap-On. That was on a/craft, where things were often tight.
Still make a lot of tools.
As for accessability, working on the rudder links for a friends classic 36 cold moulded wooden sloop. Had to creep/slide down a quarter berth, remove a panel and work by feel. Claustrophobic, you betcha, He hauled me out by the ankles when it was sorted.
What the builder was thinking of....
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Did they think?
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Building glassfibre boats in the 1960/70 was a bit like the gold rush in the Yukon,everybody having a go at building a business and boats,didn’t need those expensive craftsmen ,lots of bodgers anybody who could weld a roller 
alahol2
Well-Known Member
Whilst people have their mind on sockets. Is there such a thing as a square socket which would fit the (1/4"???) spigot on the blanking plug to the cooling water system on my Beta 13. Access is very limited and an open ended spanner just feels like it's going to slip.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Not us, that's for sure!
When I bought my Twister access to the rear of the engine was by the Braille system.
The plywood cockpit floor was glued and screwed down onto its bearers.
The sterngland was accessible only to a starving dwarf through a small detachable panel in the side of a cockpit locker.
As the plywood cockpit floor was beginning to rot, I took the opportunity of improving access by making a very stong iroko frame supporting detachable panels.
This greatly improved access to the engine, exhust pipe, sterngear, cockpit drains, and allowed me to install an exhaust water lock. It also made accessible a useful space in which to store hosepipes and tins of oil.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
There are ones with several square sizes on the same tool from motor factors. Halfords? Feu Vert here.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Turn a socket round the other way & stick a bolt in one end with 2 locked nuts on it to fit a spanner
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I did try that but the socket wouldn't go onto the spigot. Whether it's because the spigot is slightly larger or has been chewed up enough to prevent it fitting I was unable to see, it all has to be done by touch...
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Well, this builder was a sort gifted amateur. John W. He had a kitchen building business in Cornwall. Liked building boats and had built a few.. Decided to build a cold moulded one, hence Woodwind. He built an SS 34 next, called Following Wind.
Some of his boats were used as plugs for GRP production models.
Last time I sailed Woodwind was from Vilamoura to Gib. Owner friend then put a windvane on her and departed for the carnival at Rio..
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