What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

[sima]

Hello everybody. Just picked up my first boat and I am wandering what are the things that are must have in the tool box of the boat or in the boat in general. I already have life jackets/a safety float and a fire extinguisher.
What else should I always have in the boat?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Eugene.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Welcome to the forums sima.

For me personally, I keep a few things on my boat. I have a few different screwdrivers, small hand socket set, spare fuses, some cable ties, and a pocket size multimeter. But that's me, I'm sure others on larger boats have more extensive toolsets.

In addition, I keep a spare liter of TCW3 oil on board in case I run low on the lake or the oil pump should stop working, I can get back to shore under its own power.

Lastly, consider an anchor in case of engine failure, at least you can anchor while you try to repair your engine or at least await help if rowing to shore is a formidable task.

Hope this helps.

 

[zach103]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

if you dont want to care a bunch of screwdrivers i have one that holds all the bits inside the handle.. just unscrew the top and switch the bit. . i use it for everything.. but everything nelson said is great

 

[109jb]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Looks like you have an outboard powered boat. Me too. I carry a basic set of tools including pliers, screwdrivers, crescent wrench, etc. In addition, I carry a spark plug wrench, an extra set of spark plugs, an extra fuel primer bulb, some hose clamps and fuel hose, and an extra transom drain plug or two.

 

[mthieme]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

If you were to ask that question to every boater I know in person, they would say a bottle opener, cooler, ice, beer. Not necessarily in that order

You need a horn or whistle (USCG approved) and a throwing device (your safety float?) which can be a USCG seat cushion (or life ring).
Depending on the size of your boat, if you running offshore and couple other details, you may require more safety equipment on board.
I carry a cell phone and VHF radio. I also tell someone where I'm going and when I expect to return.
I stopped carrying tools since they end up rusting very quickly and are useless in less than a month. If I'm testing something, or making adjustments, I'll take the necessary tools with me just for that run.

 

[zach103]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

we keep somone on shore every time.. we never have everyone on the boat at the same time. i carry my phone.. the vhf. and some walkie talkies. if anything ever went wrong and i have no service with my phone i can use the walkie to get to the person on shore.

 

[mthieme]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

This is actually true...
A few years ago a neighbor's friend was out on his deck boat with two other buddies. They were seriously overdue. Eventually, they called to say they had broke down. My neighbor came and got me and we headed out in my 'Ray.
When we neared I noticed they had already wandered into a precarious area and would eventually wind up on someone's riprap. I could hear them a mile away. They were barely able to stand they were so polluted. They still had their rods in the water having a good old time. My neighbor threw them a bottle. They were not concerned that the boat died and they were heading for rocks. They ran out of booze.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

thats going to depend on the boat and what waters you are on. I have a 14' aluminum with a small outboard and Im only on small city lakes so all I have is a needle nose, regular pliers, cresent wrench, spare spark plug and a phillips and slotted screwdriver and a small extinguisher. im never more then a couple hundred yards from shore and rarley on a lake bigger then 1500 acres so I can use my trolling motor or my oars to get back in to shore if need be.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

In Canada, we have this

http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/tp/tp511/menu.htm

Shows us the MANDATORY items by vessel size/type.

I'm sure there is something similar where you live (you haven't listed a location).

This is the minimum for safety. For example, I have an outboard with a portable tank so the regs say I don't have to have an extinguisher. I have one.

Having said that, I'm not an assume the worst type of guy. I stick fairly close to the regs but don't boat at night and don't boat where I'm the only one on the lake (except when I'm in my float tube).

 

[eavega]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Apart from the usual suspects I see posted previously (screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, pliers) I also keep a supply of zip ties and velcro ties on hand.

-Eric

 

[Polar_Bus]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

I have a std. emergency kit that consists of:

1) six or so 12" zip ties (I can't tell you how many times zip ties have bailed me out !!! )

2) 20 feet or so of duct tape. ( I can't tell you how many times duct tape has bailed me out)

3) LEATHERMAN tool (dam handy tool for almost anyrhing)

4) fuses

5) assorted nuts and bolts

6) 12" adj wrench

7) basic 3/8 drive socket set

8) quality universal hex bit style screwdriver

heres my boat spares:

1) prop

2) 1 qt oil

3) spare GM I/O serpentine belt

4) 1 can of WD40

I should be good for most any situation...

 

[polk county]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

I think it would be cool to carry an extra carburetor.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

I think it would be cool to carry an extra carburetor.

is that a carburator in your pocket or are you just happy to see me??

 

[BillP]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

I do a tow service so tools aren't high on my carry list anymore. The minimum "tool" I take is a Gerber multi tool. In a pinch it does most of the basic stuff. If I carry regular tools these are the minimum...spark plug wrench, phillips and straight blade screwdrivers, channel locks, regular & needle nose pliers, cresent wrench, knife, small mallet.

 

[jennis9]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

We have the basics in a regular sized box: Screwdriver, wrenches, allen keys

Plus: electrical tape and a sampling of electrical repair widgets, a sampling of screws, nuts and bolts, splicing hardware and extra wire, fuses and light bulbs (only a few of the sizes we need on board), extra plugs, zip ties, extra spark plugs and some WD40. We keep one or two of each for an emergency repair.

And the most important item in the box besides the extra plugs is our marine tow insurance card. Just in case.

We also have a trailer repair kit in the Jeep in case we need a spare bulb or fuse for trailer lights.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Tool wise I carry pretty much what the others have listed with the addition of a prop wrench, thrust washer, nut and locking washer. My spare prop won't do me any good if I can't get the old one off. I keep everything in an old military ammo container that's water and air tight. No rust on the tools so far.

 

[kandil]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

All off the above+some flairs and Visual
Distress Signal

 

[Splat]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Yea same as everybody else as mentioned except I carry a spare hub for the prop.

I also carry of stick of that epoxy that you mix in your hands like a putty. No I didn't buy it on Tv. My company supplies it. It's neat stuff to have on board. can act like a nut in a pinch, stick something back on, even can fix a hull rupture underwater!
Bill

 

[Boatist]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

It really depends on what type of repairs you can do youself on the water.
We just returned from a 6 days at sea and for the first time in 28 years main motor died on our way out. We were about 5 miles out of port. Started our kicker and put the Wife on the wheel to head back in. I opened the motor cover on our I/O and right away I could see motor had fuel. Next pulled the coil wire and the wife crank but no spark. Used Screwdriver to pull the distributer cap and could see the points were the problem. Opened the tool box and got out the points, condenser, rotor kit and replaced the Points and condenser. Adjusted by eye and went up and started the engine. Took almost 10 minutes to repair. We shut off the kicker and went on out fishing.
One thing I did learn was the wife was heading for shore not heading back in. I had to explain to her that the open water is safe and the rocky shore she was heading for is the worst place to go. She understood and that is a good thing. What I should have done was to set a route to follow back in and have her follow the route so we both learned something.

Way I stock my tools is when I do normal maintenance if I need a tool that is not on the boat I go get it and when done I ask myself would it be possible to do this on the water. If the answer is yes I add that tool.

Parts I carry is points, condenser, rotor kit, Spark plugs, Long spark plug wire, Coil high tentsion solid wire, Jumper wire, 2 of each size fuse on the boat, and I am going to add a fuel pump and distributer cap.

I have the nessary tools to replace each of the parts I carry.
Screwdrivers, pliers, combination wrenches 1/4 to 5/8. Electrical tape, Epoxi Glue, I carry outboard oil and 4 cycle oil, wd40 and silicone spray.

Most important saftey tool I carry is a kicker motor.

 

[lakemac]

Re: What?s in your tool box and/or essential things to keep in the boat?

Welcome to boating Eugene.
If you are mechanically minded and will attack a problem without fear then tools are a good thing to have and will get you out of trouble most times.
If not carry all the essentials to make yourself safe till you can get help.A paddle would be a good thing to add, a really long piece of rope, flares,emergency horns,marine radios,cellphone, flashlight,etc,etc. It all depends on where you are boating.
I always carry 1) A spare ,clean fuel filter (and the tools to change it) and 2) a spare impeller(and the tools to change it if it is accessible).
Above all else be fastidious about your battery maintenance as little happens on a boat without them working.
And always remember the acronym for boat.
Bring Out Another Thousand.(dollars that is)
All the best