Tools

[oldawg]

Been doing spring cleaning in anticipation of summer cruising and trying to generally de-clutter my boat. I carry a 5 drawer tool chest with enough stuff to build a battleship. Truth is I am not leaving the country and not really into, or really qualified, turning wrenches anymore. Thinking of going to a nice compact automotive package supplemented by crescent and pipe wrenches plus my electrical stuff/spares. I'm tired of carrying all this stuff I don't use. What do you guys do?

 

[Sailor John]

I have often wondered the same. I have always carried my 'best' tools and the 'most' tools on board any boat I ever had. Mad Hatter is no exception. Overkill? maybe. Full mechanical, most electrical (including meters) and most plumbing. It seems like a lot, and it is, but if something goes wrong....well, you just can't nip down the local Home Depot...
Sailor John

 

[Pascal]

Are you really "carrying" it? . All it takes is one time when you need to get to a bolt that's hard to reach to regret not having a full set of tools!

I have a bag with basic stuff but still keep a full craftsman set in the ER just fit such a day where it will make the difference between 1 minute or 30 minutes or worst.. Game over

 

[MikeP]

"I have always carried my 'best' tools and the 'most' tools on board any boat I ever had. Mad Hatter is no exception. Overkill? maybe. Full mechanical, most electrical (including meters) and most plumbing. It seems like a lot, and it is, but if something goes wrong...."

I do pretty much the same.

 

[RT46]

I have a full set of tools in the ER. Maybe 150-200 pounds including the chest....

I also have a case with several of every bolt, nut, washer, screw that I think I might ever need.

I also have another case for plumbing with every fitting I could ever need.

Another case for electrical fittings, fuses, multi-meters, clamp meter

Hose clamps, hoses, spare parts.....

Rechargeable drill, saws-all, electric drill, grinder, sanders, drop light, heat gun, shop vac

I bet it is a total of a few hundred pounds.

I also have extra oil, filters, belts, fluids

In one of the drawers in the Salon I have a one of those interchangeable screwdrivers, a vice grip, and an adjustable wrench.

The tool I use the most it the interchangeable screwdriver, and my leatherman.

I can do most minor repairs and maintenance with what is on board.

I have three friends who have almost the same inventory on their boats. When we get together we could build or repair almost anything from our inventories.

Maybe I have too much stuff aboard, but it is reassuring knowing that I have ALMOST everything that I might need onboard already.

I bet I would gain a knot or two if I got rid of some of that extra weight.

 

[SeaEric]

"Those best prepared for battle, never need to fight."

 

[jim rosenthal]

Well, I used to have a big tool box on board, and my boat is smaller than most here. A few years ago I decided I didn't need that any more and I went to a Craftsman tool kit which has the basic wrenches I need, plus a set of their screwdrivers, and then various specialty tools- big wrenches for things like the rudder logs, oil filter wrenches, hose clamps, etc. I got tired of tripping over a lot of stuff or having no room in all the lockers, plus I didn't want to haul all that weight around.

For work I recently did (water pumps, cleaning HEs) I brought additional tools over from my house. But I have the luxury of a slip close to my house, I can run home to get tools if I need them; I think if I didn't live near my boat, I'd still have a big tool kit on board.

Now the big cleaning kit? The detail bag? It's still there.

 

[RT46]

Funny but I often have to go to the boat to get tools for the house or the cars...

 

[rmatt]

I keep the tools and supplies on board for jobs that I can do at sea. Making temporary repairs to get back to port. Many jobs that can be accomplished at the dock are very trying at sea. Just my personal thoughts. I know this sounds vague, however after many years of addressing the gremlins, you get a handle on what is needed.

 

[Bill Allen]

You never know what you're going to need till you need it. I also have a tool bag I keep handy for smaller minor stuff, with the rest of them in the engine room mostly in racks hanging on the engine room bulkhead. I don't really have room in my engine room for a big toolbox so I have most of the stuff on the bulkhead. I cut hatch's under the vee berth's and gained a ton of parts storage which I quickly filled up. In my trips up and down the icw from Jersey to the keys I've pretty much used damn near eveything at least once. I'm a big believer in carrying everything I think I might need. Old boat in good shape but a boat non the less. I don't enjoy being a someone else's mercy when the boat has issue's. Besides the fact that is some places you can be a way from what you need, so I carry it. Bill

 

[Fanfare]

Just yesterday I loaned a filter wrench to the boat next door. I would rather have the tools and spares I need then be canvassing the waterfront in a strange location in desperation.

 

[thoward]

I carry a ton of tools as well however, I have been looking consolidate to a set that is more portable for those tight spots. The best I have come up with so far is this set.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...0932821000P?prdNo=12&blockNo=12&blockType=G12

3 issues with it.
It stops at 11/16 in the hand wrenches and I know I use 3/4 regularly.
It would be nice if it had a set of 3/8 deep wells.
I would like the sockets to be positively locked in.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I have something like that, but I paid less. They go on sale pretty often; I have bought a couple of them for friends as well as myself. Like you said, bigger box/OE wrenches are what is missing, esp that 7/8" one I need to change most of my engine zincs.

 

[wsdemmer]

Since we live full time on our Hatt we have outfitted our added aft cabin (10x14) to be a full workshop which makes everything easier with a great tool collection but having to pay an additional 170.00 per month dockage is a downer. On the other hand our aft deck above the wk shop is priceless!

 

[geofish]

Tools suck, boats suck but I need them both to keep my life from sucking.can't live without either it seems!