Basic Tools

[Lazy Flamingo]

What is suggested to carry on the boat for "basic tools" ?

Recommendations appreciated .... 8)

[heymagic]

Get a plastic tool box or two. Plastic doesn't scratch gelcoat or leave rust stains. I have an all in one socket set and wrenches in a case. Everyone has them , marine stores, parts stores maybe even Sears. I then have Channel Lock pliers, big screwdriver, hammer, visegrips, some long handled wrenches,picks, chisel, scrapper/putty knife, zip ties, electrical tape, Bowie knife, oil filter wrench, wire, wire cutters, crimpers and some misc junk in the regular toolboxes. In reality if a major problem occurs you're walking..or swimming. :wink: . I have 10's of thousands of dollars of hand tools at the shop, Snap on, Matco, Mac and that quality just isn't needed for messing about on most boat repairs. Gene

Socket set (including deep sockets), rachet wrenches, and extensions
Open end or combination wrenches
Pliers: needlenose, regular, locking
Screwdrivers: flat and regular
Allen wrenches
Assorted wire terminals and crimping tool
Assorted nuts, bolts, washers, screws
Pocket-sized multimeter
Long (10'+) test leads made from 12 Ga marine wire and alligator clips (the wire can be used to rewire something in an emergency)
Electrical tape
Tie wraps
Rigger's tape
Assorted hose clamps
Funnels: oil, coolant, trim tab fluid
Oil
Coolant
Boat Life Caulk
2- part epoxy repair kit
Cerveza

Check that your wrenches fit most of the bolts/nuts on the boat and engine.

I carry the tools in a soft-sided tool bag.

Raul

Remember... this is a 19' runabout :D

[Go Aweigh2452]

spare fuses... a bucket to bail and wash with and a nice boat brush and boat soap, oil, hydrolic fluid for the power steering... maybe some tools, basic set from West Marine or your fav marine store is all you will need for the next few years... oh yeah, 5200... ;} :roll:

[Lazy Flamingo]

Gene & Raul,

The list of tools you suggest would cost more than the boat .. :shock:
If I got all that, I'd be a sea going tool repair shop.

I know you guys have much larger boats than this 195, so please make
a revised list of "basic tools" for a bowrider .... :roll:

NOTE:
The boat is the Bayliner 195 Capri Sport - 19'5" Bowrider
MerCruiser 4.3.MPI - 220HP

Canvas tool bag or a couple of small boxes that'll sit in the bilge or under a seat somewhere would be item #1

Then think about the types of repairs you're likely to be doing out there.

- essential "Get ya home" stuff
- "Man I wish I had a screwdriver stuff"

Here are some ideas:

Screwdivers (1 ea type)
Crescent wrench (1 large, 1 small)
Filter Wrench
Leatherman Tool
Channel Lock Pliers
Small Vise Grips
Mag Lite Flash light
Spare fuses
Spare crimp-connectors
Electrical tape
Uncured rubber tape (bubble gum tape)
Spare Keys
Spare Drain Plug
A few basic wrenchs (that fit key components on YOUR boat... alternator, etc)
Spare fan belt
Spare Fluids

[Seapuppy]

this is gonna sound wierd...but a few kotex's and or tampons...they stop leaks real nicely....
all the basic hand tools in a canvas bag will store anywhere....
I have 2....one for tools and one for soft things like zip ties and spare orings and velcro straps and stuff like that.....tape, silicon seal, clear and white.....and anything else that fits in there as an emergency repair item..they both will store nicely in a cubby under the seat..... :argh arrr

[Go Aweigh2452]

FWIW, I keep that kind of stuff in a plastic clear tray with a snap/hinged top about 12x18x2 inches...

[3788sam]

Al,
On our small boat all we keep onboard for tools is one of the kits that come in a plastic case that you can get fron Costco or Harbor Freight. Its great to fix small problems like loose screws and nuts or removing a fan belt.
We keep a floating prop wrench and spare prop on board, fuses, spare belt and filters as well as some of the other things mentioned above.
If I ever needed more tools then that, the repair probaly would mean pulling the boat out of the water.

My friend with a 19' Maxum has pretty much what I listed stowed away just fine. My canvas tool bag can easily be stowed in a small boat and has 90% of what I listed in it. Maybe you can do without the socket set, funnels, etc.

As far as cost, I used to think it was OK to buy cheap tools for one-time emergency use on my motorhome, motorcycles, etc. I learned the hard way that cheap sockets break when you need them the most and cheap combination wrenches are so thick that they often don't fit in a wrench relief machined into a part. Do yourself a favor and buy good tools such as craftsman.

Raul

[3788sam]

Norton's right! A kit from Harbor Freight will be on the over chromed cheap side.
I got lucky at Lowes and picked up a Kobalt kit that was being discontinued and was 50% off. Good tools will make any repair easier!

I forgot something: Enough line to tow the boat with.

Raul

[Lazy Flamingo]

Thanks for all this input, it is appreciated very much.

As stupid as it sounds, I kept virtually no tools on any of my antique
mahogany boats. I guess I was very fortunate I never needed any.

All my past boats were wood and had outboards, and now I have gone
and entered the modern day of fiberglass and I/O's, so I think it would
be smart to have some tools on board .... :roll:

Now, I never thought about having a tow rope .... for the 195, about
3000 lbs w/ fuel and gear, what is recommended for a tow rope ?

[Go Aweigh2452]

if you have an anchor line, that'll do in an emergency... this is only a 19' boat with little in the way of weight... and a little stretch in the (assuming synthetic) line will be OK...

[Lazy Flamingo]

I have the following for anchor & line:

5/16" x 50' Nylon Anchor Rope
#13 Super Hooker Anchor / Chain / Shackle

Thats what they recommended I buy .. :roll:

So, could that line could also be used for towing if needed, or should
I get something a little heavier ?

Depends on how deep the water is there... you might want a little more rope than that... At least as a precaution in case something breaks and you just wanna sit tight for awhile.

[Go Aweigh2452]

you're fine... 10 feet of water is deep where you are right??? and the anchor line will do just fine too. happy cruising...

[Randygh]

I like to carry a small container of WD-40 or penetrating oil. I agree with Mike's (SS) list. My boats tool kit also contains a circuit tester light and spare light bulbs for running and anchor lights. A vice grips saved our arses last summer when my steering cable broke. I was able to limp into Roche by
pushing in and pulling out on the stub of the cable with my vice grips.

[Lazy Flamingo]

Thanks for all the input, it was appreciated .. http://www.binaryrhyme.com/ubbicons/thumb.gif
I have decided just to buy a "Snap On Tool Truck w/Inventory"

Seriously, I have made note of all, and will sort thru and see what
will be practical in my case.

[Seapuppy]

Al...don't forget to carry spare parts for the boat...like plugs ...serpentine belt...spare rotor and distr. cap...fuses...and a few other little odds and ends..... :argh arrr

[Go Aweigh2452]

ah com eon guys... he really won't need a thing for the next few years except boat insurance... (with extended tow)... :lol:

[Seapuppy]

yeah...and a trailer to haul all this stuff in.....or........... :roll: ....a bigger boat!!! :argh arrr

[coolchange]

I knew if I looked carefully I could find the one or two tools that you guys would miss recommending, and they are:

Air compressor and impact wrench set :P

and then a for real: a service manual, or at least photo copy of basic trouble shooting and repair sections.

[Go Aweigh2452]

on a 19 ft boat? :roll:

At home maybe with all the other big butt tools...