Tool/Repair kits

[Thinblueline22]

I am outfitting a small toolbox with things that I may need to take care of small problems while out in the boat. I have a 17 foot Bayliner w/ an outboard motor. What are some of the items that you would have in the toolbox?
- Extra plug
- Extra Spark Plugs
- Rachet/Socket for said spark plugs

What else???

Keith
1988 Bayliner Capri 1700

 

[oops!]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

wrenches and rachets and sockets.
pliers, vicegrips, multi bit screwdriver, electrical tape, spare wire and crimp connectors, and crimping tool, spare hull plug, light bulbs.

very small pkg, easilly stored

cheers
oops

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

spare prop, duct tape.

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Spare fuses.
12 volt test light.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

If you have an older outboard that uses them, shear pins and cotter pins.

If you can, customize your tool kit for your specific boat and engine, adding only tools needed for the fasteners on your engine, along with all small parts that might fail or be lost.

Along with the spare prop, it's wise to have a spare prop nut and thrust washer to match. If you have to change a prop on the water, those two things are the most frequent losses.

Even more important than a tool kit, though, is a good first aid kit. That could save a life.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

I have seen threads like this before and by the end of the thread there is a lengthy list of tools that are recommended to you. Too many tools means extra weight on board. I would be careful not to over stuff your on board tool kit. I personally like my on board tool kit to contain multi function tools. These are tools that can be used for more than one purpose. A tool like a Leatherman, Swiss Army knife, or an adjustable wrench come to mind. For my garage tools I want a good quality tool that I can use for its intended purpose, but on the water I am willing to improvise a little to get out of a bad situation. When at home I prefer sockets or combination wrenches, but I find an adjustable wrench works just fine when I need it. I have also been known to drop a tool in the water, so I like to keep cheap tools from Harbor Freight on board instead the high quality tools I have in my garage. Just my $0.02.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Yea i can see someone bringing like this big 3 level snap on tool box on wheels that weighs 3600 pounds. LOL Take one of the seats out so that way you can restore your boat right on the water. Heck with restoring in the garage. You can go boating and restore your boat at the same time. Just bring a fishing pole with a bobber alarm and work on the boat inbetween fish. Hey you could bring a generator so that way you can grind on the hull whyle you are out there! LOL

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

I would recommend one of those toolboxes that comes with a assortment of tools and all fits in a case. Easy to store. All you have to is find one that fits your needs the best. I got one for about $50 and its been invaluable to me at home an on the boat.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

I always carry a long set of jumper cables and a multi-meter.

I've never had to jump start my boat but it seems like I jump several people every year.

 

[fishntoss]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Yea, What the others said.. I'd put my two cents in, but, I'm one of those who winds up bringing way too much. Just in case...

Don't do what I do.. In most cases, if you can't fix it, there's someone out there who can get you back to the dock.

Ditto on the first aid kit...

 

[Lakester]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

some books to read in case... all these extras are of no help. and u have to wait for help.

regards
lakester

 

[TonyNoriega]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Back in the 90's I took an outboard rebuilding course at Pinellas VoTec, and the instructor, a very experienced marine mechanic and veteran of many hours on the water, said that he doesn't take ANY tools on board with him.

His logic was that if you were fortunate enough to diagnose the problem while bobbing in the water, you most likely wouldn't have the correct tool to fix it.

I personally didn't heed his advice and carry some tools including open end wrenches, a multi screwdriver, adjustable wrench, wire with alligator clips on the end to do electrical testing, spare baitwell pump.

I've been fishing Tampa Bay since 1962 and the things that have gone wrong are few since I'm strong on maintenance and preparation - but I occasionally have a bait pump fail and once I had water in the gas.......luckily I had bottle on board to pump the corrupted fuel in to.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Got me curious so I checked my tackle box to see what I have thrown in over the years..

Plugs and socket with hex end
Pliers
Small vise grips
2 small Cresent wrenches
Straight and phillips screw driver

As noted above the couple times my motor has quit on the water it wasn't something you could fix, lower units blowing up and clogged jets, can't imagine rebuilding a carb on the water "Crap, I dropped a jet in the water!"

Take basics like I have and add things as you see you need them, better to keep up on your mantainance and avoid the things you can.

 

[KETELS]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Previous person said spare prop.
D'ont forget the spare prop nut kit.
Easy to drop in water if bobing arroud. Has not happend to me , but has happend to others.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Ya'all forgot the most important tool to have on board : VHF Radio,be it a fixed base (preferred) or handheld.

 

[F_R]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

I'm one of those very experienced mechanics that doesn't carry tool #1. If I was commanding a Navy destroyer half way around the world, I'd have a machine shop on board, capable of making a new rudder if need be. But here in the bay, nah!

I did lose a prop once. That was plain not necessary to happen. Note: always use Stainless Steel cotter pins!!

When I go way up the rivers into the wilderness, I carry a 3hp kicker.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Ya'all forgot the most important tool to have on board : VHF Radio,be it a fixed base (preferred) or handheld.

Depends where you boat. Here in Minnesota, on the small lakes where I boat and fish, a VHF radio would be useless, but a cell phone works great in emergencies. OTOH, on the Mississipi river, a VHF radio is an essential.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

If you keep up on your maintenance on land there should be no need to repair things on the water. I can see the need to drain or replace a filter / separator because of a bad load of gas or replace a damaged prop but other than that I just don?t see it. The two times I?ve had issues on the water no amount of tools in the world would have saved me without the part that failed.

Case in Point.

My first failure was the cap on the 2S oil tank cracked. A piece of plastic warp from a sandwich slowed the leak enough to get us back to the dock.

The second time it was the high end of the stator that went out. That time I was able to limp back the 15 miles to the dock running at 2500 rpm. Had I had a spare stator and a flywheel puller on board we would have been able?.ya? right.

The best tool on the boat is my Seatow unlimited towing card. I've never had to use it but I know that I'm getting back to the dock one way or another and I don't have to carry a parts motor and a roll around tool box just in case somethng should happen.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

good quality rope so a friendly boater can tow you back in LOL

 

[Thinblueline22]

Re: Tool/Repair kits

Depends where you boat. Here in Minnesota, on the small lakes where I boat and fish, a VHF radio would be useless, but a cell phone works great in emergencies. OTOH, on the Mississipi river, a VHF radio is an essential.

Yeah, I have never taken my boat out on a lake where I would need a VHF radio. I can just jump out and swim my boat to shore in most instances. If I were to ever take it out on the river or one of the larger lakes, I would probably invest in a radio or just bring along my duty radio.

The replies so far have been helpful. I purposely chose a pretty small toolbox so that I would not bring too much. I also decided to throw in some spare fittings for my bimini top and spare lightbulbs for the running lights. Electrical tape and duct tape will also be included.

Keith