Must have tools on the boat

[spy1309]

Guys tomorrow will be my first time with the boat on the lake, what tools do I need in case of emergency motor wise?
And please can you share what Coast guard is looking for when they want to board your boat.
Mine is 15' so certain rules don t apply for boats under 16'.
Any advices will be appreciated I want to enjoy the long weekend not to have a nightmare.
Also tool wise don t forget that this is the first time I get the boat on water I don t know the behavior or how it runs, all the adjustements were made in the garbadge can so no real load experience.
Thank you

 

[werdnlr]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

I found that the basics, ie screwdrivers, sparkplug wrench, sparkplugs, cresent wrench are the best. As far as the coast guard, they have a good website for all the info. http://www.uscgboating.org/

Good luck this weekend

 

[cortes]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

DUCT TAPE. Screwdrivers

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

Hope all goes well on your first trip, but good to be prepared in case it doesn't. Im sure you will get many posts with advise and if it were me I would consider all. As for what to have on board, most important would be good life jackets for ALL passengers on board and have them accessable not under the seat or down in a hold. Second would be a cell phone if you break down never know when someone might come by again, might not be a problem on a smaller lake on a holliday weekend but still a good practice anyway. Around here coast guard likes to see at least the following, fire extinguisher, signal device, bail bucket, registration current, appropriate pfd's for all passangers, a throwable floatation device, working nav. lights, an oar, they will also check your yellow plate to make sure you are not overloaded or over horse powered. I may be forgetting something but these are the basics for coast guard regs. Now for tools, I assume you have an outboard? it makes a bit of difference as far as to what I would carry. I would say as a minimum for an outboard to have, spark plug wrench/socket, set of sockets/end wrenches(sae or metric as needed), reg/phillips screwdrivers or a 4in1, spare plugs if possible, good rag/shop towel, spare fuses, channel lock type pliers, spare fuses, spare prop and mounting hardware for it. I like to carry a few misc nuts/bolts/washers cotterpins, length of wire, and as always duct tape and bailing wire. Also keep a spare gallon or two of gas on board until you know how much your boat will use don't rely on the gauge they typically aren't that accurate. I'm sure others will fill in what I have forgotten, Good luck and be safe first have fun second oh yeah don't forget that drain plug either (good to have a spare one of those too).........

 

[iwombat]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

Zip ties - many colors and sizes. It wouldn't be uncommon to discover a fuel line air leak on your first outing. Those zip ties come in real handy.

Other than that.

Jumper cables
Test light
Screwdrivers
Needle nose pliers
Channel Lock pliers
Allen wrench set (if your motor has socket-head fasteners).
cheap set of box-end wrenches
cheap set of 1/4" drive sockets.

Fit all that in a little pouch and bury it someplace in the boat.

 

[burroak]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

DUCT TAPE. Screwdrivers

Now that I have my duck taped, what do I do with the screwdrivers?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

...not that I've done this yet but I was thinking of re-doing my current boat tool set to nearly completely reflect the fastener group, etc on my boat and motor.
It always bugs having to 'root' through a toolbox of generic stuff with wrench and socket sizes (& various kitchen sinks) that have nothing to do with my immediate work. I figured I would go out and buy and stock only appropriate and applicable size wrenches and sockets, etc.
Maybe throw in a vise grip and an adjustable....oh yes, and a few zip ties.
This would cut down on my tool box size and keep it lean and mean and useful. The old adage that 'you never know what you might need' could apply here...but you have to cut it off somewhere.
Just my two cents.

 

[moterboat]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

a couple of the best tools to have on board is a marine radio and insurance with sea tow. a cell phone don't hurt ethier.I don't go out without these..

 

[JimMachinery]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

Above posts sound pretty complete. I would include a spare drain plug, fuses and eventually, keep a spare set of spark plugs on board in the event of fouling (been there). If you don't have a mounted spare tire on the trailer, I would add that to the "eventually" list - along with lug wrench and jack. Finally, sunscreen is a good item to have in the glovebox or similar location in case you forget to pack it.

Have fun!

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

I don't know what you have for an engine, but a great item to have is a heavy jumper wire with a momentary switch in it to operate your starter in case of a slave solenoid/relay/key switch failure. I think Don S. had a thread about it once...

 

[mike176]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

take everything you can but always remmeber no matter what you take the one tool you need will always be what you left at home.

 

[spy1309]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

Thank you guys I already have a brand new tool box full lol like somebody said Murphy Law always plays tricks you need what you don t have.
As for motor mine is a 1960 40hp Johnson from what I heard they are one of the best build they can limp along even with only one cilynder working.
I got myself a second tank 6gal one, as for compliance with USCG I have 4 pfd's, no throwable device do, fire extinguisher, lights, 4 flares, air horn, papers, btw the boat registration was applyed for 4 weeks ago my understanding is that you can go on the lake with a copy of application til your registration comes in from DNR, now looking for rules again certain requirements are not mandatory if the boat is under 16' mine is 14', also I don t have the automatic SOS light.
Well guys speed ahead I let you know if I go under lol lake Michigan is known for surprises, I will not venture more than a mile of shore.


PS - I am still not sure what oil/gas ratio I need on the original tank from 1960 they state that you use 50:1 ratio, one quart per 6 gal SAE30 ( of course I use TCW3 rated oil )
Now 50:1 ratio is half a quart per 6 gal.....
Was math different in 60's?

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

I like good quality tools for the tool box I keep in my garage, but on the lake I like cheap multi-use tools. Things like a Leatherman that has a million uses, and an adjustable wrench work good. The key for me is to keep the weight down while on the water, so I don't always have the perfect tool, but I do have something that is good enough. Usually the mulit-use type tools are cheap, and not that great for home repairs, but while on the water I am willing to improvise a bit to limp back to the dock. I converted an old toilet bag (did not need the toilet bag after airport screeners started to require 1 quart zip lock bags) into a small tool bag. I try to keep as few tools as possible while on the water.

 

[spy1309]

Re: Must have tools on the boat

LOL as an update the first trip ROYALLY SUCKED besides the fact that suck an old boat was a head turner I can t say the same aboy the ride.
The motor started first key, idleing so so, at troling speed you can feel that the engine was out of breath, I couldn t go more than 8 - 10mph, as soonest I try WOT ther engine was boging down and die ....not pleasant on Michigan lake and 30 feet away from the shore stone wall.
I can say I am dissapointed and I decide to scrap any trips for this year I will try to overhaul the piston rings .