What's in your boating tool kit?
 

Just interested to know how much you guys carry onboard in terms of tools and equipment?

All our boats are different , I've got outboards so there's not as much I can do mechanically compared to the majority with inboards. Some of you guys do all the maintenance and work on your boat and know it all backwards so you might carry gear for every possible scenario. Some of us are not so knowledgeable so there's no point having a huge tool kit.

Im not an idiot and I know my way around boats but when it comes to electrical or in depth mechanical knowledge, I proceed cautiously. All I carry is a few screwdrivers, two different size shifters, pliers, pointy nose pliers, sharp knife, electrical tape, and a small container of spares (switches, bulbs, screws, nuts, bolts and fittings, specific to my boat which I have somehow collected. Full socket sets and a comprehensive array of wrenches would be a waste for me.

I'm not talking about when you're dialing in, tuning and setting up but more generally, a typical Sunday out with a few friends. What's in your toolbox and do you carry more offshore vs. inland use?

RR

I carry a full socket set, set of end wrenches, screwdriver with changeable bits, pliers, spare hose clamps, electrical connectors, spare solenoid for trim pumps and starter, zip ties, fuel filter, filter wrench, 12v test light, misc. spare wire. Some will say that its excessive but I've never been stranded.

Drock just described my tool bag but I also carry a spare msd box and coil.

i carry a small tool kit with sockets,wrenches,pliers,and couple screwdrivers. i also have small tool bag with fuel filter,zip ties,gloves, fuses, and a drive belt

Ah yeah,carry one fuel filter,oil filter,all electronic parts plus cap and rotor for hei distributor,shaft packing hose clamps ,full set screwdriver,combination wrenches ,socket set ,strap wrench,adjustable wrenches 8,10,12. Pipe wrenches.machine screws and nuts zip ties mechanics wire,shaft packing 8 sparkplug,water pump impellar,snap rings and orings. Paint scrapers ,varnish paint(woodencruiser) cotter pins pry bar various serrated knives.um a mechanic totally self reliant.help others out all the time �� forgot about all the different sets of pliers and vice grips gallon of oil trans fluid funnel and more...toolbox weighs 70 pounds.......

my most loaned out tool over the years is a breaker bar and a 1 & 1/16th socket along with a 6" piece of 2 x 4 :drink:

Enough basic tools to do a top end.....but never the right tool when I need it.

Randy

tools
3/8 ratchet, 1 3 6 8" extentions, 5/16-3/4 socket set + 1 for alt pully, drive lock key, 1/4-3/4 end wrench set, 15mm end wrench, allen socket set, 1/4 drive torx socket set, 1/4 drive 3/8 12pt wobble, 1/4 drive 1/4 12 pt socket and 3" extention, 3/8-1/4 adapter, pick w/straight and 90*, wire crimper/stripper, wire cutter, razor blades, driver handle and bit set w/common and phillips 1 and 2, and sockets, test light, crecent wrench, telescoping magnet for bilge and 10# magnet for overboard, scanner, book, flashlight, super soaker, flush hose adapter, funnel, nitril gloves, paper and cloth towels

parts
impeller and housing, wire, string, duct and electrical tape, zip ties, couple wire ends, fuses, A/N caps and hose clamps, header drain plugs, shim stock, belts, lt bulbs, silicone, 1 qt engine, P/S, drive, blower, trim oils, astrolube, keys

1st aid kit with a bunch of stuff

trailer
jack, ramp, lug wrench, tire, hose, cleaner

home
engine and drive stands, gantry, drive alignment tool, shift cable adjustment tools, prop socket, transom assy hose socket, shift bellows clamper, swivel pin wrench, prop file and hammer, oil filter wrench and center punch, miti vac, syringe, drive oil pump, grease gun, lubes, sealers and glues, safety wire and pliers, 1/2' ratchet, sockets, extentions and torque wrench

I think you could do everything except rebuild a drive with this list.

Don't forget the engineers friend. The biggest role of duct tape that money can buy

3pointstar

6 pack and a Cuban El Presidente......cuz you never know when youll need a LONG tow.

He said tool bag.....you're referring to your survival kit.

Not really sure what i have on the boat but if you don't have a telescoping magnet and long hemostats many of the tools are taking up space because something will fall into the bilge. Can of ether has helped a couple times.

a little something something I started doing years ago to help refine my on board tools. Whenever I worked on the boat in the shop or at the dock I would use only tools I had on board, large or small jobs from pulling engines/drives, electrical stuff, whatever, I used only tools in my onboard bag. I am in the process of refining a new bag for a new boat but you'd be surprisedat how much you dont need. Every boat is different so your results may vary but it is a method of helping you refine and understand what you need over time :cool:

Has anyone ever used Emergency Tape, it's used to fix holes in hoses and lines? I just got some and didn't know if it really works.

Emergency tape does wonders. I made a repair years ago and forgot about it til three years later when selling the boat and then replaced the hose on the water pump.

My tools started out as a craftsmen briefcase kit with electronic test and two reel type alligator jumpers wires.

Now with every tool I have to go back to the garage for. I add the tool to the bag that holds the kit. Years of single engine boats and a Boat US Tow membership have helped

Holy cow, I must be under equipped. I am 56 and have been boating since high school.

I have a leatherman, 9/16' wrench, crescent wrench, some zip ties, duct tape and jumper cables (not really a tool), oh and a cell phone.

I boat rivers and lakes nothing offshore, so that makes a difference.

Sea Tow !

Mermaid bait and champagne.

Small bag of some of the same basic stuff......Mainly a VISA CARD with plenty of open credit.

Vice grips, large hammer, duck tape, couple zip ties, we good!!

I cant afford Sea Tow

The only people that can afford seatow is seatow....

I carry too many tools and spare parts. Handy to have when you need them though. I am going to try and lighten the load a little over this winter.

Cheepo basic tool kit, long jumper wires, duct tape.

Pretty much all the times I've broke down, the ENTIRE Snap-On catalog of tools was not going to get me running again.

A few wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, vice grips, cotton rags, engine and drive oil, safety wire, electrical tape, duct tape, rubber tape, (works great on split hose repairs) Epoxy Hull repair (comes in a small tube you can knead and mold in your hands, works under water to plug leaks) a spare hull drain plug, A small selection bulbs, wire and connectors for electrical repairs. A distributor cap and wire set. Spare Prop and prop nut. (ever see the look on somebodies face when they drop the prop nut changing the prop in the water?) And a big rope in case all the crap I bring with me fails the resolve the problem.

The tool that gets used the most on my boat is a jump pack, yet never used on my own boat.

Pat's cell phone number

In the truck I ALWAYS have my Snap-on cordless impact for changing tires, props...

A female (with a friendly disposition) in the passenger seat usually get's the quickest and best help from others.

Don't leave home without it.

Beer usually helps too...


That aside, when I used to desert race (which can leave you broke and stranded somewhere remotely accessible in the middle of mexico) I firmly believed iin the concept that most endurance races are won and lost in the garage before you even head to the race itself. Proper vehicle prep is key. That and red loctite smells like victory.

1.fuel filter
2.quart of oil
3 sparkplug's
4.impeller

https://i.sears.com/s/i/spin/image/spin_prod_773272412

If that dont get it game's over.