What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

[steven_p]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

Like the others said above, it depends.... We have a 15' boat that's on a trailer and a larger boat with inboards that resides in a slip.

On the 15'er I keep a very small tool kit that fits in a tennis ball tube because storage space is so scarce. The tool kit consists of a few hand wrenches, a crescent wrench, pliers, zip ties, multi-tool, screwdrivers, spark plugs etc.

On the larger boat storage space is ample so I keep a tool for every job and a wrench for every bolt (albeit cheap, mostly Harbor Freight stuff), right down to a timing light and a 'tack & dwell' meter.

 

[FFScott6]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

On our maiden voyage last year I backed out the ramp, put-put to the courtesy dock, went for reverse and nothing! I opted to bring all my tools that would allow me to work on the lower unit. Good thing Cause I had what I needed to reset the shift linkage. I tripple checked it after installing the impeller but it must have been riding low on the shaft.

Anyway, besides ignition parts and a few other goodies... "I'll never leave home without them." We quickly christened her after I got back in the boat :redface:. (thats a story for another thread)

Can't wiait to go out this season... Enjoy your ride whatever you do!!!

 

[sebber83]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I always carry extra fluids, battery pack, tools to make sure my wake tower hardware stays tight, multi tool and most importantly, my blackberry with a spare battery!

 

[JimMH]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I carry just a few as stated above anything major is not going to be acomplished by me on the water. I carry several open end wrenches and adjustable wrench, sloted screw driver, phillips head screw driver, pliers, and small fuse assortment. Face it, other than a tightening up a loose connection or adjusting the idle you aren't going to do much.

The most major work I ever did was when the switch went out while out on the lake. Had to jump the wires by hand an hot wire it to get back to the ramp.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

ANd yes while this comparison you make is quite coincidental, I see very little relationship to a small, boat owned by an average person with average income, Owned by who knows how many people, unknowing of how it was used and/or abused, past mechanical history, etc...and an aircraft that has an army of mechanics and millions of dollars to keep it in tip top shape.

Being a mechanic on cars, planes, and boats my whole life, Ive learned one thing...new or old, no matter how well you think youve prevented it,,..things break.
So keep that attitude and be prepared for an unpleasant outing one of these days because you were short a pair of needlenose pliers.

You missed my point completely.

In over 4,000 hours of offshore boating I've had one failure. Just lucky or good preventative maintenance practices?

I?m willing to bet that 90% of all on-water failures are maintenance related issues that could have been prevented had someone done a through inspections on a regular basis. There are no excuses for broken fan belts, leaking fuel lines, etc. out on the water.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

Sorry, Dingbat; I vote "lucky."

<<Just lucky or good preventative maintenance practices?>>

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

a burger flipper and a bottle opener

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I never take any tools.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

Sorry, Dingbat; I vote "lucky."

<<Just lucky or good preventative maintenance practices?>>

If that's all luck I missed my calling. I should have been a professional gambler.

 

[DJ]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I?m willing to bet that 90% of all on-water failures are maintenance related issues that could have been prevented had someone done a through inspections on a regular basis. There are no excuses for broken fan belts, leaking fuel lines, etc. out on the water.

Agreed. I'm also a believer in that a few tools aboard ward off bad Juju.

 

[Black as]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I carry a small tool box with the usual, primary tools on the boat. Not just for possible use on the water but also for use while I am working on the boat in the driveway so I don't have to keep climbing in and out of the boat!! Also agree with the poster who mentioned bungees and zip ties. Up to my eyeballs with them on boat too.

I can relate to this, don't you get sick of climbing in and out your boat for tools

 

[HotKetchup]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

You missed my point completely.

In over 4,000 hours of offshore boating I've had one failure. Just lucky or good preventative maintenance practices?

I?m willing to bet that 90% of all on-water failures are maintenance related issues that could have been prevented had someone done a through inspections on a regular basis. There are no excuses for broken fan belts, leaking fuel lines, etc. out on the water.

Congrats on the good luck. Im a inland lake fisherman with a small 14ft 1960 fiberglass bass boat with a 40 hp Firestone outboard of the same year. This boat hasn't given me any problems yet. Ive only had it for about a year. I fish alone most of the time or with my kids, and like to get back into places where theres very few people to help (but plenty of fish..usually. Ive had experiences with a few boats in the past that have had me swearing not to leave the dock again without ample tools to get myself out of a bind. So far this little rig has been very dependable. ANd I hope I never have to use any of them. But sure as hell I decide to leave the tools in the truck something will happen. And I'll be paddling 3 miles back to the dock, AGAINST the wind. Like Ive done before.
Im quite content with the extra 10-15 lbs of tools.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

like hotketchup, I have been working on engine/cars most of my life.I don't like to go anywhere without tools, as I can fix most anything given I have the tools and parts that I need. and I think everyone sees dingbats point, If you break down because of a worn belt or hose. Thats you're own damn fault.On the water is not the time to be doing "maintance". you should carry the tools you are comfortable with both, space required and ability to use them taken into consideration.,If your not very mechanical, then carrying tools is probably a waste.What are the odds that someone who might happen along who could help if he only had the right tools? If he can fix it, he most likely has tools with him, I always do. That being said, I don't think anyone mentioned,jumper wires, not cables. for bypassing shorted/open switches. and it would be a good idea to have one or two with a curcuit breaker installed, say bilge pump was popping fuses, high draw but still working.c/breaker jumper would at least get you to shore so you could swap it out. we all carry back up bilge pumps, right???

 

[golf101]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

A couple people have mentioned bungee cords. What do you use those for? I've never used one on my boat and not even sure what I would use it for, but hopeful that there is some use that I'm unaware of that will make by boating life better.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

Here's one: throttle linkage breaks or controls fail (or gets bent--see below*) so you take the cowl off, disconnect the broken part, hook the bungee to the linkage and control your speed by pulling on it or letting off, while you steer from the wheel. Happened to a guy I share a boat with, out where there is only yourself to rely on. (Sea Tow = Sea Me Row; Boat US = Boat USelf)

Or: Steering is frozen; disconnect, bungee a paddle to the motor for a tiller and proceed on.
Plus general stuff that isn't essential: a repair to a bimini (almost typed bikini--might work there, too, but I'd never offer to repair one!)

*The back of the Carolina Skiff is wide open. If you raise the motor and there is a fish cooler or gas tank in front of it, the control cables get bent against it, rendering them non-functional, and they can't be bent back in place. I realize that the perfect people around here would never put something in front of the motor; the almost perfect people would look before raising the motor; but the humans use bungee cords!

 

[mrdancer]

Re: What kind of tools do you carry on your boat

I also like to carry a few towels, although they are more for convenience than necessity. However, a good chamois cloth could help you clean the water out of your ethanol-ized gasoline.

In addition to your regular cell phone, you should also keep an old cell phone with car charger in a zip-top bag in your tool box. Although the old cell phone no longer has service, I believe it is, by law, supposed to be capable of dialing 911. Could be a lifesaver if you're boat is dead in the water and you lost your primary cell phone in the chaos...

Always keep extras of other stuff on board, such as spare prop, extra life jackets, extra drinking water, extra sunscreen, etc.