Onboard Tool box contents

[KLINDWW]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Anyone that hasn?t used foil, cigarette wrapper, gum wrapper or wire for a fuse just ain?t old school. It also usually ends up being a good troubleshooting technique because the short will end up revealing it?s self. It will start SMOKING. Oh yea, that?s what TD was talking about. Hey good thread though, just throw my tool bag from the toolbox in my truck into the boat has all the above stated stuff in it plus some. One I didn?t see was allen wrenches, throw a Smitty set in that tool box.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Remember to have a spare nut/thrust washer/cotter key otherwise spare prop may be useless depending on what happens. I wouldn't worry about the waterpump impeller, be a tough repair on an OB in the water. Spark plugs for sure, plug wrench, small wire brush, rag, a good pull cord (i pull started a 200 evinrude one time it was brutal but I did it, pinion gear shot craps in the middle of the lake) a length of fuel line, clamps(few different sizes) zip ties length of wire, elec. tape, basic hand tools (as many as you can easily carry) I usually had a few spare drive fill/vent washers and whatever else you can fit that you might need you can never have too many tools/supplies.

 

[BobSim]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Spare bulbs (nav.lights).

 

[mthieme]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

We had one of these threads going a few months ago.
Plan on pulling a barge by the time all suggestions come in!
One thing I've searched for a long time and found this winter is stainless steel tools. I'm on the Chesapeake and regular tools are useless by the end of the week.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I take my tools with me when I go for the weekend and return them to my service van when I'm done for the weekend. Having plenty of room, I do keep a few assortment of hose clamps, stainless fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws), tie wraps, electric tape, terminal ends, spare bulbs, V belts, fuses, pipe/drain plugs, bungees, epoxy stick, water displacement lubricant, spare bilge pump, emery paper, distributor cap/rotor button, and a plastic tarp.

One important tool that I always keep on board is a pair of vise grip pinch off pliers. If a line ruptures, it is great to be able to pinch off the line until a repair can be made. I do keep a 6 in 1 screwdriver, pliers, 6" cresent, and a flashlight on board at all times just in case I forget my main tool kit.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Leatherman tool. Cable ties. Electrical tape. Vise grips. Fuel hose clamps. Spare Fuel connector. Emergency starter rope.

 

[redfury]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Remember to have a spare nut/thrust washer/cotter key otherwise spare prop may be useless depending on what happens. I wouldn't worry about the waterpump impeller, be a tough repair on an OB in the water. Spark plugs for sure, plug wrench, small wire brush, rag, a good pull cord (i pull started a 200 evinrude one time it was brutal but I did it, pinion gear shot craps in the middle of the lake) a length of fuel line, clamps(few different sizes) zip ties length of wire, elec. tape, basic hand tools (as many as you can easily carry) I usually had a few spare drive fill/vent washers and whatever else you can fit that you might need you can never have too many tools/supplies.

Don't forget the MATCO sticker for the side of the boat

 

[lowkee]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I'm not one for carrying tools in my boat. They rust too quickly and you never have the right tool for what breaks. Carrying a spare boat is the only way to prevent becoming stranded.

Hey, it was the only item not mentioned so far..

 

[mthieme]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I'm of the same mind outside of a screwdriver and pair of pliers.
Most people on the river simply carry enough ice and beer.
I have received calls at night on a couple occassions through the years from neighbors who had broke down but ran out of booze.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

It's good to consider the overall condition of the boat when deciding what you might need. Older motor for example would be more prone to electrical problems like bad grounds, frayed/cracking wires. In a newer boat you're most likely problem might be more along the lines of prop damage, or overheating?? It's obvious that there isn't room in most boats to bring enough tools to solve every possibility.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

Through the years I've been boating, those that don't carry tools won't have the know how to fix their problem anyway. I find that I use my tools more on helping those out that wouldn't have a fun weekend. Several times I have left the lake to retrieve parts from my house....... Its makes for new friends and beer for the fridge as I won't take any money. .......SS

 

[dingbat]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

The old adage if ain?t broke, don?t fix it doesn?t apply to boats.

The best tool in any on-board tool box is a comprehensive preventative maintenance program. Outside of self inflected problems like dinged props and such, very few problems just pop out of nowhere

When was the last time you inspected the fuel system from the pick-up in the fuel tank to the fitting on the intact to the carbs? When was the last time you inspected the hose and clamps on the water pump?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I have a stainless 6 in one screwdriver (4 bits and 2 nut drivers), as well as stainless pliers. Have a few combo wrenches there. Plus some cable ties, spare fuses, and a spare drain plug. Optimally, I will be replacing the loose combo wrenches, with just stuff I could actually use on the water - spark plug socket (spare plugs too), socket for starter solenoid on my '75 40, wrench needed for recoil starter on 4 horse kicker. Only the specific things I need for the things that I can fix on the water, or that break more commonly, so I can change them on a trip, if I am far from home. I do need to get a multi meter in there. I have been SOL because I didn't have that with me to know which wires I need to twist together when a switch goes bad on my trolling motor or something.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I personally bring a jump starting pack with me..Its been helpful a couple times.

Ditto^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Helped twice already jumping boats. It can be taken around the boat and used for power failures due to fuses, etc. I even loaned my second battery once to keep an I/O running back to the dock, so I needed all the tools necessary to pull it; and electrical tape to tape off the ends of my cables....

I also carry a cheap multi meter as well..

Just changed to a stainless prop, so dont carry the spare anymore!

 

[LOW-LIFE]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I run a strinless (19p) prop with alum (21p) backup onboard for damaged prop or just to go faster, 1-1/16th prop tool, flat head screw driver, jumper cables are in my truck but may be good to swith to the boat when on water, wanna get some spare hoseclamps and a driver or scredriver to fit on board, pair of needle nose pliers, zip ties are a good idea and i carry a ton in my truck, and a knife. i hink i can fix or rig most things to get me back with that, im sure im forgetting some things that i have yet to pickup and plan to keep on board. i really like the idea of a waterproof box like was stated on other page.

 

[rlk]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

A good flashlight and extra batteries. I have Surefire a flashlight that uses the Lithium 3 volt batteries that have a 10 year shelf life. Make sure there is an extra bulb in the flashlight tailpiece.

If you are running an outboard, I would have a replacement fuel line with bulb and spare connectors and hose clamps.

Not something for the toolbox, but I carry a hand held VHF radio and GPS with spare batteries for both. If the main boat battery goes out, the permanently mounted electronics will not work, therefore the hand held.

I also keep a couple of $20 bills hidden on the boat. Several times I have taken the boat out and realized I forgot my wallet. Fortunately I did not need gas on these trips. If it happens again, I'll have cash on the boat to purchase gas to get back in.

Last year we had a brainstorm (at our age it's hard for my wife and I to have a brainstorm, but we did). We purchased a small soft sided cooler from WallyWorld that has pockets on the outside. The cooler has a zippered top where we keep all the boat papers in a zip-lock bag.

In this cooler and pockets we keep the boat key; the spare VHF radio, the hand held GPS unit; a razor knife; the flashlight; a couple of ponchos that fold up really small; extra batteries; my wallet (assuming I don't forget it); a small first aid kit; extra bulbs for the navigation lights; cell phone; some snacks (power bars, granola bars, and things like this that will not melt or spoil, and that are in a waterproof wrapping); a map of our lake; pencil and paper; emergency phone numbers; etc.

I know this sounds like a monstrous cooler but it is not. The cooler is about 14 inches long, 10 inches deep, and about a foot tall. It slips right under the captain's chair on the pontoon boat. It has a shoulder strap to make for easy carrying from the golf cart to the boat.

We found that by having these essentials in the cooler we don't have to worry about whether we forgot something or not.

Bob

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Onboard Tool box contents

I have a cleaned out mayo jar with a big mouth that i keep my wallet and keys and cell in. Screw on top and i put the hand held gps in there, and when i leave the car i take the mayo jar with the wallet and gps in it and jump on the boat.

Start the boat put the gps in the holder and when it warm pull away.

Spare prop is a must i spun one on the water and had to change it out.

I have a cheap electric dc fuel pump on board that i used to pump the tank when i got the boat.

And a friends fuel pump went and i drove over on the water, and he hooked it up ran good all day.

But we changed out the pump the next day. Saved me from towing him in and we finished out the day.