"must have" tools on board?
 

Just wondering what tools you carry on board if any.

I was putting together a tool kit and not really sure what I should have.

Anyone?

I carry a complete set of common hand tools. Basically you should have any tool required to replace any spare part that you carry (e.g. belts). I also highly recommend wire cutters and a utility knife if case your prop gets fouled and you have to cut it free. Crab pots an trout lines are a real problem here.

Bottle opener.:evilb:

Actually - it would depend on your engine(s). I carried different tools when I had my big blocks than when I ran OBs.

Big blocks = lots of tools. OB's = 5 0r 6.

hammer and duct tape should take care of most problems...

The only tool you don't bring is the one you will need. I bring everything I would need to work on carbs, valvetrain, exhaust, belts, hoses or wiring. And duct tape for the really tricky jobs.

I picked up one of the soft tool bags from Home Depot for like $15 and filled it with a small socket/driver set and whatever other tools I needed...crescent wrench, vice grips, side cutter, allen wrenches, etc. It doesn't take up much space and I probably only spent $80 for everything. I couldn't find a kit that specifically fit the needs of a boat so I just pieced it together.

I also carry a soft tool bag with the basics,socket set ,screwdrivers .knife and large cresent and large channelocks.A good test for the tool bag,I replaced both seapumps on mine and was able to do it without going to the tool chest just what I carry on board.If you do your own maint take note of what tools you use and stock it from there.

Just my little yellow SeaTow membership card! Hahaha!!!

...get it back on dry land and fix it right with the proper tools & supplies. I'm all about pre-trip and post-trip inspection...constantly checking every nut, bolt, screw, hose clamps, etc.
Spare fuses are a good carry.

Whatever tools you plan on having on the boat add one of those long extendable magnets.
ed

+1

I used that a lot to fish out everything from bolts to keys that fell out of my pocket and under an engine.....

I've thought about that...but I don't want to be the retard who has to call Sea Tow when a socket set would have fixed it. Not worth the teasing involved :)

I have a small tool bag that I carry with me everywhere, just like my pocket knife and Kimber. It has a shorty wrench set from 5/16-13/16. A 1/4" socket set, a 12" crescent wrench, #2 phillips and strait screwdrivers and a small pair of wire strippers, crimpers. I changed my sea pump saturday while on the water. Has saved my a$$ many times and made me alot of money too.

[QUOTE=QKRTHNU;3700115]Just wondering what tools you carry on board if any.

Soft tool bag , with all your basic tools , plus wire ties , electric tape spare impellor (saved my a$$) also spare fuel filter .

Do a search. At least a dozen threads on this over the years.

Beer, AMEX/cc, and Phone usually top answers!

Can you spell scan tool
 

If your boat is powered by a newer electronic efi engine then the $400 hand held scan tool is also a wise investment. Trying to screwdriver, wrench and unbolt on a complex warning buzzer efi engine when you really have no clue what's really acting up or putting you out of commission is kinda like trying to row your boat up a creek without a paddle.

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

My mechanic.

Sea Tow is not an option for us in Vegas as the Fn federal government runs our lake and could care less if we are there or not.You go to Havasu and see all the suport it gets from the town and all the money buisnesses make from us,I have heard the mayor at Desert Storm say how great it is to have us there,we bring lots of money and no problems but the government is too stupid to set up Mead the same way they just want to make the money by increasing the fees to use the lake.I have been boating there for 35 years and it has always been this way and always will be.Still a great lake though but it can get a bit rough out there,will be out there tomorow.

Many good answers here. I carry the "basics" plus duct tape, wire ties, rescue tape, a few brass hose splice connectors and jumper wires.

The jumper wires have saved me twice. Once a bad fuel pump relay and once a bad starter slave solenoid. Oh yeah, and a spare relay. :D

I have always had some mis-match crap in a tool box on my boat but I am goign to go to Harbor Freight and buy one of their $35 100 piece tool kits and keep it with some of the other basics.

Mask , snorkel and fins . A small assortment of hand tools will handle just about any job on the water short of an engine rebuild .

keep 1 of those multi tools like a leatherman close!!! very handy 4 the quick turn, twist, grab, slice!!!! but a full kit downstairs is nice!!!! good luck!!!

you know you have to do too much when a boat pulls up to the island with one of those wakeboard towers and the gf says "why does he have an engine puller attached to his boat?"

Thats a dam good idea for one of those... Wonder how much weight.... never mind.

what everyone else has said plus a 12v test light....

I have lots of tools on board, it just seems that every time I need one of them, it's that one particular wrench that I left in my shed, but I always have my unlimited TowBoatUS card with me.

Any specialty tool you may need. I just put a kit together for mine and made sure I had what I needed to change L/U's on my O/B's if I ever needed to. It's a 15 min job but only w/the right tools and I refuse to pay someone $90. per hr for what I can do for free w/the right tools.
If you don't have them you have to just smile as you hand em the Visa card ;)

Don't forget a battery pack good to have on board.

I keep 2 socket / wrench sets that come in the little soft black cases from harbor frieght. 14 bucks a piece. A hex set, a couple screw drivers, duct tape, zip ties, and wire snips and a couple flash lights.

I also keep a battery charger and this year i started to carry an extra battery as well. Ive had a couple problems last year with my battery dying when i was just sitting and had a hard time getting the motor fired back up.

Great Idea!
 

Like most of us I have dual batteries and am anal about switching to one once stopped but w/my wars w/my 12 V coffee pots I have killed both of them before. I now mount the cables to the batteries via wing nuts. :cartman:
A charge pack is a killer idea though and cheap insurance.
Our last trip to the Keys we stayed on the boat on the hook and I found out the hard way that my anchor light pulls enough amperage to kill a battery before sun rise! I've signed swapped bulbs to less amperage/candle power.

Buy the Kobalt basic hand and socket set or the craftsman one I think its about 150 piece set and a magnet for when you drop them in the water also carry some extra common nuts and bolts.....belts water pump impeller and prop hub kit if applicable also bring a wiring kit with a good set of dykes and strippers as well as a good crimper......butt connectors in blue and red are most common however you do need some yellow stuff here and there....good luck

I normally carry a socket set, a set of ratcheting wrenches, a multimeter, pliers, dykes, ratcheting screwdriver and all the bits. Basically enough to be able to pull off the heads if need be :) Great thing about being a mechanic, I can fix just about anything if I have the part on hand, so I carry spare parts as well.

K-Y and sunscreen.:evilb::evilb:

Everything else is just dead weight!

I didn't see a mention of metric wrenches so I have to ask: Are Mercruisers all SAE, so no need for metric tools? That would sure simplify things.

Good thread, went to Harbor Freight this evening and added some stuff that I was missing. Usually don't buy HB tools but for an extra set to keep on the boat I guess it'll be ok. :)