Tool box what to carry?

[Hugh]

we've had our 2012 for three weeks. Until we get more experienced,I'm trying not to buy too much "stuff" but want to carry a tool kit on board. It's getting old running back and forth with my home tools.
What tools,(wrenches pliers, knives, sockets,screw drivers etc) are essential? Any tools not essential but nice to have?
What bits and pieces should we carry (shackles etc.)
This is perhaps a very broad question but due to my newbie status please bear with me.
thanks;

Hugh

[FinallySailing]

Hi,

I have a different boat, so can't tell you the particular sizes, but here is a run down of my boat tool box:

Screwdriver (ie bits and holder), pliers, spanners in the sizes that are mainly used on my boat (found by elimination), a knife, a small saw, cheap volt and ohm meter, isolated screwdriver for electrics, rubber mallet, some duct tape, electrical insulation tape, super glue, garden wire, an old bit of electrical wire, spare fuses and bulbs, a funnel, half a roll of butyl tape and - after reading some horrific stories about demasting my latest and probably really important addition : a wire cutter. Had some lubricant oil in a can and some silicone spray as well, leaked all over my tools, a horrible mess ... Oh yes, and I have the tool set that came with my outboard, packed away so only to use with the outboard (and not to loose a thing). Some people carry a pack of disposable nappies for oil spills.

[Russ]

There are 2 wrenches that will fit virtually every bolt on your Mac. I believe it is 7/16 and 9/16" but don't quote me. Go check. There are only 2 sizes needed.

My minimal box would include those 2 wrenches.
An adjustable wrench.
Pliers
Needle nose pliers
Channel lock pliers
A sharp knife
Small and medium phillips screwdriver
Small and medium flat head screwdriver
Duct Tape
3m 33+ electrical tape (don't get that cheap stuff)
spare fuses
spare bulbs (running lights 40mm festoon) Better to replace with LEDs.

From there I might add:
Spark plug wrench for your outboard
Small mulitester (for voltage and continuity)
Some hose clamps of various sizes
Roll of stainless steel wire
About 10' of 12 guage primary wire
can of WD-40
Rescue Tape

For more security I might add:
Spare fuel line
Funnel
Extra oil
Spare shackle

[windypatrick]

This has worked so far:

In the tow vehicle: trailer flat repair tools: a trailer jack (maybe your tow-vehicle jack will do), blocks of wood to make the jack stand higher. Proper trailer lug nut wrenches and a foldable shovel. I had to pull over on a soft shoulder with a blown Mac trailer tire, and all of these were necessary.

The boat: Standard Tools (pliers,chanellocks, visegrips, dykes, screwdrivers, hammer) that you wont cry about if you lose them overboard (Harbor Freight). Also the socket that fits your motor's prop nut and spare cotter keys (spare prop also). Zip ties, aircraft safety wire or bailing wire have been handy. I am going to add an eggbeater drill and bits to mine.

When you do work on your boat at home, try to use only the tools in your little boat toolbox kit...very helpful, as you pull tools out of your big box, determine whether a duplicate should be in the little box. This will give you real confidence.

[RobertB]

I have two different tool sets: one small wallet size with the wrenches and screwdriver I need to rig the boat (this hangs up where easily accessible) and a tool box with all the other tools. I also have an organizer of hardware and wiring crimps and a second box of larger stuff such as adhesives, larger hardware, small spare parts, etc.).

The tools you put together depend on two things: What sizes and types of "things" on the boat (bolts, nuts, washers, screws, wires, etc.) and what you are willing and capable of doing. A rule of thumb I followed is that I made sure I had on board an equivalent of any tool I brought out to the boat to do any work.

Since I do most my own work, I have tools and supplies in the following area:
Wiring: marine crimp terminals, heat shrink tubing, wire strip/crimp/cutting tools, multimeter, spare fuses, a bit of wire, spare breakers, electrical tape, liquid tape
Mechanical: Various srews/bolts/nuts like used in the boat, wrenches, pliers, cordless drill/bits, allen wrenches, small socket set, prybars, screwdrivers, gorilla tape
Other: Super glue (gorilla brand) and accelerator, scrapers, razor blades, hacksaw blade, a bit of spare tubing, wire (electrical and bailing), Boeshield, and WD40, extra hardware used in rigging the boat (one of everything within reason), cable ties various sizes, funnel, heavy duty paper shop towels

I have been able to handle all repairs on the water so far - wiring repair on the motor, folded up steering linkage, another boat's broken gooseneck boom fitting, problems with lights, missing rigging hardware, fouled propeller, etc.

[Tomfoolery]

Some years ago, being tired of trying to remember what tools to bring from home, I went to Lowes and bought a tool kit in a blow-molded box. It opens with a half door on each side, and it's got sockets (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive, including metric sockets), screwdrivers, combination wrenches (including metric), needle nose pliers, diagonal cutters, and some miscellaneous small stuff like allen wrenches. It's almost everything I've ever needed, though vice grips and a couple of sizes of channel locks were things I added separately.

It was cheap, the tools so far have worked just fine (not super soft steel junk), and if it falls overboard, I'll just get another kit and not look back.

Oh, and I too also do everything with this kit, so if I need another tool not in it, I know, and it becomes my next purchase, though I only have a few things extra that weren't in the kit so far.

It's kind of like this one, only with a few more tools (like screwdrivers), and it was a LOT less money then.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1

[bscott]

A few more: LED HD flash light, silicone spray, anti-static spray for tell-tails, Loos gauge, spare dock lines and fender, rigging tape, bic lighter, assorted rigging hardware shackles, nuts/bolts, 4:1 vang, 20' of 1/8" yacht braid, extra batteries for VHF and flash light, reading glasses and magnifying glass and a 300 amp battery jumper.

Bob

[Divecoz]

Wow all together they sound like my boat hahahaha add another couple hundred dollars in Misc. Electrical and plumbing parts and you've got it pretty well covered.. Hahaha Start Here I use these 2 the Very Most..

90+% of the time anything I need for tools is right in here http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50254
Toss those sta-con crimpers in a garbage.. Buy a set of ratchet Crimpers
You need a meter .. This one measures EVERYTHING including Amps DC!!! http://www.sears.com/sinometer-m9912-di ... ockType=G6

[captronr]

It was sorta mentioned via "rigging hardware", but a box of ring dings and some 1/4" pins for the stays...........

Ron

[Ixneigh]

A lot depends on how you intend to use the boat. If day sailing and in range if a tow boat a simple pre assembled tool kit from a big box hardware store is fine. If your cruising overnight you might add a few spare fuses and things like that.
If your going for weeks, electrical repair items are a must. If your cruising for months i bring fiberglass and a gallon of resin also.
All boats should have a save your butt rigging kit with pins shackles and items easily dropped.
If youve added any special equipment, obviously have the stuff to service it.

Be honest about your skills. Don't bother with fiberglass if you don't know how to use it. If you cannot sew to save your life, leave the sail repair items at the chandlery and find another way to deal with it that's in your skill set. Nothing the matter with duct tape if it gets you home. Since I know little of modern outboard repair I don't worry about not having the specialized tools needed to fix it, like a torque wrench.
One could always learn, they say and yes, I agree. But again, honestly. Unless you want to make it your life, there is only so much one can reasonably expect to be able to do by yourself. Otherwise you'd have to Be a master mechanic, carpenter, electrician, rigger, h-vac, and marine coatings specialist in order to leave the dock. And your boat would be a floating tool crib. The boats are pretty simple. Take the Basics for now. Put a fuel filter on if you have the etec, and only use rec 91 gas in it.

[robbarnes1965]

Everyone had great suggestions. Russ's note of the 7/16 and 9/16 is correct but because most of the nut/bolt combos you'll fiddle with you will need two of each. I have one pair that are the ratchet type which helps a lot. Those are best bought individually. I agree that one of those big pre-organised tools kits is the best deal. A wind up flashlight is also a good bet. Also, as discussed in other threads, find out how to pull-start your engine. If your motor comes with a useless rope and tool kit like mine, you may want to see what works for you. You may even want to rig a few blocks to be able to properly pull the starter rope in a straight line. Do this at the dock.

Duct tape, a variety kit of bungees and a package of tie wraps can solve 90% of the problems long enough to get back to a well provisioned harbor

ROb

[Divecoz]

Ixneigh you offered some VERY... sound advice. I found its Far Too Easy To Over Load / Junk up these boats.. I honestly need to unload 75% of my " stuff " , stuff that's just taking up space on my boat right now.. It was Back Up and Maybe Stuff for my trip.. I also carried way too much stuff that I used to fix other peoples boats, at the Marina where we slipped ours.. Rob is righyt on as well .. If you cannot fix it with Duct Tape and Ty-raps get her back home ..

A lot depends on how you intend to use the boat. If day sailing and in range if a tow boat a simple pre assembled tool kit from a big box hardware store is fine. If your cruising overnight you might add a few spare fuses and things like that.
If your going for weeks, electrical repair items are a must. If your cruising for months i bring fiberglass and a gallon of resin also.
All boats should have a save your butt rigging kit with pins shackles and items easily dropped.
If youve added any special equipment, obviously have the stuff to service it.

Be honest about your skills. Don't bother with fiberglass if you don't know how to use it. If you cannot sew to save your life, leave the sail repair items at the chandlery and find another way to deal with it that's in your skill set. Nothing the matter with duct tape if it gets you home. Since I know little of modern outboard repair I don't worry about not having the specialized tools needed to fix it, like a torque wrench.
One could always learn, they say and yes, I agree. But again, honestly. Unless you want to make it your life, there is only so much one can reasonably expect to be able to do by yourself. Otherwise you'd have to Be a master mechanic, carpenter, electrician, rigger, h-vac, and marine coatings specialist in order to leave the dock. And your boat would be a floating tool crib. The boats are pretty simple. Take the Basics for now. Put a fuel filter on if you have the etec, and only use rec 91 gas in it.

[Hamin' X]

Spare keys, epoxy putty, service manual for motor.

~Rich

[Catigale]

1 gallon of XD 100 for its magic elixir properties including preventing baldness

[Russ]

1 gallon of XD 100 for its magic elixir properties including preventing baldness

Right.

And of course every toolbox needs a henway.