Re: CAN SOMEONE RECOMMEND WHAT SPARE PARTS TO CARRY 115 Suzuki
what parts one should carry for any motor depends too much on different circumstances to answer. People in remote situations need to be able to do about anything; people in civilization might not need any more than a paddle or a cell phone. It's like asking what parts to carry in your car--are you driving around the city, or 4-wheeling across the desert?
Think about small things that are expendable--all the fuses, and more important, know where they are (OMC has a hidden 20A fuse that gets a lot of people).
Think about things to repair/patch small problems: electrical and bailing wire; fuel lines (in and outside the motor); rescue tape, hose clamps and cable ties; cotter pins. Some CRC. A small block of wood. A length of line you can use to pull start. Jumper cables, of course.
Think about tools that can fit your motor: metric wrenches/sockets, various screw drivers, a small hammer, needle nose and water pump pliers. The right size screwdriver to release your PTT.
Think about what you are likely to fix while underway: you can change out spark plugs but you aren't changing a water pump/impeller, lower unit oil and seals, head gasket, etc.
Think about what is likely to go wrong and that you have to fix underway. No point carrying coils, power pack, solonoids, starters, etc. unless you simply buy a spare motor. Used to be you always carried plugs but they aren't that important any more.
Don't carry a shear pin if your boat doesn't use shear pins (I don't think many do any more). A spare prop is often but not always good but if you carry one, be sure to have a prop nut--if you lose your prop, you've lost the nut, too! However, in 45 years of changing props I've never used a "prop wrench" and am not sure what it is, so skip it.
Pete Bauer
