Do you carry tools and spare parts?

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

It really depends upon the size of the boat and its intended use: When I am on the river with one of my Go-Fast boats The only thing I carry--and leave in the truck is a prop to test and a prop wrench. After all, ANYTHING that happens: I only need to paddle 1 mile worst case.

Now, When I go down to the Chesapeake or Barnegat bay with my cuddy, I carry a couple of tools but again--anything that goes wrong: I rely on the kicker. Takes a lot longer but it will get me home.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carry:
An assortment of open end wrenches
screw drivers
3/8 socket set
1/2 breaker bar w/ socket for propeller nut
hammer
pliers
spare fuses
nuts, bolts, hose clamps
spare prop
1 qt of engine oil
1 qt of gear lube


I would put my whole tool box in the boat if I could.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I also keep several cans of Diet Coke (warm is fine with me), peanut butter crackers, spam, and 3 packs of cigarettes...

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I also keep several cans of Diet Coke (warm is fine with me), peanut butter crackers, spam, and 3 packs of cigarettes...

Do the cigarettes keep? Or do they get soggy. I figured chew would last longer.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carry tire changing tools and a credit card. Covered. I keep the trailer tires fresh so hopefully never need the tire changing tools.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carry an assortment of basic tools, a complete spare prop assembly (in my Sea Ray cuddy. Not in my Duoprop Four Winns), spare water separating filter, electrical tools and parts (bulbs, connectors) and an assortment of hardware. I have had the occasion to make minor repairs on the water.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

i dont carry any tools with me my insurance came with a towing package and because it is a new boat i do not want to void the warranty and would rather someone else take care of the headache

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

i dont carry any tools with me my insurance came with a towing package and because it is a new boat i do not want to void the warranty and would rather someone else take care of the headache

it's a lot bigger headache to call the towing service than to replace a water seperator or use pliers to remove a line wrapped around the prop. It's not like a AAA tow truck. call them around 4:30 on a summer Sunday and see how happy you family is when they arrive 3 hours later when the sun's setting and the bugs are swarming.

You won't void your warranty of the bimini comes loose and you fix it.

Be smart, not helpless.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I used to carry more than I do now. Finally sat down and figured out what I could reasonably expect to fix when I'm bobbing around out there, and cut back accordingly. Having a second engine plays into it, too- limped home once last summer when the port engine fuel pump packed up.

I carry basic hand tools, a full set of belts for one motor, hose bandage, fuel-water separators. Electrical stuff- DVOM, wire, crimp connectors, some bulbs and fuses. Ace Hardware marine epoxy dries to the same color as my hull. I carry that and 3M 4200. I carry Boat Tow US insurance. Haven't needed it yet, though.

 

[shrew]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

^^ Ditto to JoLin's statement^^^^

There is only so much you can reasonably repair out on the water. A basic tool kit makes sense. I only work on the boat out of my boat tool kit. Anything I need gets added. Anything I don't gets removed.

Spare belts, fuses, hose clamps and emergency tape make sense. Plugs to block a failed seacock should a hose also blow (and the emergency tape can't fix the hose rupture) is a good idea, however it you are maintaining your seacocks properly, you would know months ahead of time that it was getting 'sticky'. I do carry a spare qt of oil and gera lube in case it needs to be topped off.

Things like spare plugs only make sense if you're running a pre-mix 2 stroke outboard. Otherwise, plugs dont' make a ton of sense in a 4 stroke. Nor does an oil filter. If your oil filter is getting that clogged, changing it without changing the oil doesn't make much sense. So unless you have enough spare qts and a means to drain and store the oil during the oil change, that is probably not happening on the water.

JB weld? What in the world are you preparing for that would need JB weld?

 

[drrpm]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carry a multitool, a pair of canoe paddles and a cell phone.

 

[DXN]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

JB weld? What in the world are you preparing for that would need JB weld?

I Don't Know Really, I Just Tossed It In There From My 4X4 Bag. Lol It Dose Take To Long To Set To Actually Be Usefull.
Most Are Right Plugs Don't Foul Often On A 4 Stroke.

But To Those That Say There Is Only So Much You Can Do On The Water, I Am A Field Technician And Im Accustom To Not Having The Facilities To Make A Repair. I Had The Shift Linkage Slip On My OutBoard "THought I Lost A Prop" I Beached It Pulled The Lower Unit And Had It Fixed In <20 Minutes. There Is Not Much I Can't Do On The Water Or The Beach. If I Took It Home To Do The Work Id Still Be Working In The Boat, I Just Have To Take More Care Not To Drop Anything.

if Have The Tools And Parts It Doesn't Mater Where I am

 

[DXN]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

Dont Know What The Deal Is With The Capitalization, Stupid Phone!

 

[hostage]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carry screwdriver w/ multi-heads, small pliers, small knife, and crescent wrench. I don't like to much clutter and this stuff doesn't take up much space. It fits in with my flares, sun screen, and VHF radio in my orange waterproof box. I also tend to carry some rags, maybe some plastic bags, and paper towels.

 

[shrew]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I would stop thinking about what I COULD possibly repair and focus on two things.

1) What is most likely to fail?

2) How long would it reasonably take to fix?

You can't feasibly carry every tool and every part, even if you could rebuild anything on the beach. As you going to beach it and start a 4 hour project? Let's also think about pur common sense. Do you want to get your self in a situation where you can't reassemble it again? Great you pulled the lower unit. What if the gasket got damaged and you didn't have a spare? What if you sheared a bolt? CAn you extract it? What if you can't? Do you have the spare bolt?

Id' rather have most complications (and there are ALWAYS complications) happen in the yard, not on a beach somewhere. Again, this goes back to there being only a reasonable amount of things you can do regardless of aptitude.

I would be hesitant to take such risks in an effort to save a few hours of fun on one day.

 

[DXN]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I Get What Your Saying, And Your Right For The Most part But If A Bolt Shears Or Gasket Tears. Id Just Lay It In The Floor Not Any Worse Of Than I Was. IF It Ain't Working IM Not Going To Make It Any worse.
Unless I Lose Something.

It More Of A Self- Sufficiency Thing

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I have a REALLY cheap ($15) wally world 100 piece tool kit, comes in a case and has ratchet set, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. It comes in handy from time to time, mostly for other people. The quality of the tools makes you appreciate real ones, but when you need them you sure are glad to have them!

I also carry a tool box has a spare prop, wrench, and nut, cotter pins, an assortment of stainless steel screws, electrical tape, knife, etc.

The kit and box take up next to no room weigh less than 10 lbs.

 

[H2Onut]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I carried a basic tool kit and a fuel water separator for years and never needed it. When I stalled one day I figured I would change out the separator. I didn't have a band wrench. After downing a cold one and thinking about it I pulled two large hose clamps and hooked them together over a ratchet handle and around the separator. I was able to change the separator and get going. Needless to say I added a band wrench to my kit. You should at least carry a basic tool kit band wrench and separator.

 

[plztellme]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

Tools and parts are good, P.M. is better!!!!!!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Do you carry tools and spare parts?

I have one of these on the boat:
Craftsman 154 pc. Mechanics Tool Set - Tools - Tool Sets - Mechanics Tool Sets

along with a smaller plastic case with screw drivers and pliers.

I can pretty much do anything that I need to do within my boat with these tools. Not only do I not need to get in and out of the boat when working on it at home, I know I have what I would need to do pretty much anything if I am on vacation or on the water.

Costs very little and you don't leave tools at home by accident.

I carry spare belts, spark plugs, and a raw water pump impeller with me.