What's in YOUR toolbox?

thataway said:
We get very spoiled by going to the parts store and finding exactly what we want. Most of the world "makes do". For example I neede a new alternator mount in Greece, and went to a machine shop--I figured he could weld me up one in a few minutes. But no--the machinest, started with a block of steel and a hack saw. It took several hours, but he fabricated an exact copy of the original. I could have done it faster on the boat, since had power tools, but it was fastinating watching what can be done. If you send time in 3rd world countries (and I am not necessarily putting Greece in that category)--you will find that many mechanical items are running on just that type of what you call " McGiver" techinques.
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Bob, I agree, we are spoiled. I've just completed restoring a 1975 BMW R90S and while I've fixed a few parts like the fiberglass fairing, I've been able to source new parts from around the world (starter, alternator, stator, diode board, carb rebuild kits, brake master cylinder, brake levers, mirrors, valves and on and on). With such ease of parts availability and a forum that is comparable to C-Brats in skill and good humor it was a great project and I am spoiled to have a like-new R90S.

My son recently pulled off a minor work of magic when the shift linkage in his '98 Jetta broke. The linkage near the transmission is a piece of plastic and he fabricated a substitute with fuel tubing washers and a bolt. He did this in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. My point in bringing up the story about my son (in addition to being the proud Dad) is to carry material that can be crafted or be willing to cannibalize when you need to.

Delightful comments! Thank you.
 
Prop wrench and spare prop.

I probably missed these in there somewhere but since I just put these on my boat about an hour ago I'll mention them.

Great thread! It feels good to be prepared. :thup
 
Roger,

Here's a Fresno. It's a hand operated scraper, pulled by a pair of mules, or (in our case) a small tractor. Run by the handle sticking out back. To dig dirt, lift the handle partway up, when full, push the handle down. To dump, lift the handle straight up. Between a shovel/wheelbarrow and todays earthmovers. The bolt with a square drive is in the middle of the red circle.

Of course my brother (older) drove the tractor and I (younger) got to run the thing. This Fresno was old when I was young.

Fresno_1.jpg

Boris
 
I keep a notepad, pencil, pen, Sharpie, China wax pencil, small first aid kit, waterless handcleaner, alcohol hand sanitizer, darn-it trophies in the tool box
 
Here's the combined list from the excellent posts. If I've missed a tool or spare bit, it was my error.

Wrenches:
. SAE open end wrenches from 7/16 to 7/8"
. SAE sockets from 1/4" to 7/8"
. Two cresent wrenches
. Metric open end wrenches from 8mm to 15mm
. Metric socket set from 8mm to 19mm
. SAE allen wrenches
. Metric allen wrenches
. Torx wrenches
. Strap wrench
. Prop wrench (27mm socket)
Pliers:
. Needle nose pliers
. Duck bill pliers
. Wire cutters
. Large Vise-Grip pliers
. Solderless crimper
Cutting / Sawing / Shaping:
. Swiss Army knife
. Files and rasps
. Hack saw
. Rechargeable electric drill and bits, include a rotary rasp
. Hatchet
Screw drivers:
. Standard blade screw drivers
. Philips screw drivers
. Square drive screw drivers
Electrical specialty:
. Volt-Ohm meter
. Electrical tape and duct tape
. Soldering kit
Lubricants, solvents, adhesives:
. GE Silicone
. Spray lubricant - I prefer white lithium grease
. Rescue tape
. JB Weld
. Epoxy
. WD-40 (solvent and "Water Displacement" not a lubricant)
. Adhesives: 3M 4200, Marine Tex (epoxy filler), Gasket maker, contact cement, mixing sticks, putty knives
Specialty tools:
. Jumper cables
. BIC lighter
. Flash light (e.g LED "head light")
. Steel wool
. Pry bar
. Ball peen hammer
. Calipers
. Upholstery sized sewing needles, heavy duty nylon and polyester thread
Spares and bits:
. Spare light bulbs
. Assortment of fuses
. Zip ties, including several huge zip ties
. Assortment of hose clamps (several smaller than 1" dia and several approximately 3" dia)
. Fuel filter
. Water-fuel separator element
. Oil filter
. Set of spark plugs and spark plug wrench
. Several feet of fuel line
. Gasket material
. Assortment of stainless screws (machine, sheet metal) and nuts
. engine oil
. Spare wire in several gauges, connectors and crimper
. Cotter pin assortment (especially for prop nut)
 
DaveM-

Thanks! I was think of doing the combined list myself, but hoping someone else would beat me to it!

Ought to be made into a "Sticky" and put somewhere easy to find.

I think I'll make one into a checklist and put it in the boat, too!!!

Thanks, again!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Anyone who intends to carry all of this stuff, please raise your hand. Seems to me each person has to make his own choices from the universe of tools, parts, equipment and materials available out there. Either that or get a bigger boat.
 
Socrateur":2dglocin said:
Anyone who intends to carry all of this stuff, please raise your hand. Seems to me each person has to make his own choices from the universe of tools, parts, equipment and materials available out there. Either that or get a bigger boat.
Click to expand...

Jay-

No, I don't plan on carrying it, all, but it sure makes a great checklist to see what you want to carry and what you're willing to leave behind, depending on your boating plans. :wink:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I carry the basics that will fit in a small tool box. Spare fuses and fuel filters are probable the most important. It’s imposable to be prepared for everything so in port inspections and preventive maintenance are at the top of my list.
 
With regard to socket wrenches, Lowes' Kobalt brand tools has a line wherein the sockets are gripped by the ratchet on the outside of the socket with space through the socket and wrench to allow its use on most any sort of bolt. In other words this set provides for use as a regular socket and deep socket. An equally "hollow" extention reaches very deep. This saves having to carry both regular and deep sockets. It also has both SAE and Metric sockets.

Harper
 
I also carry some extra snaps, as well as a small setting anvil. (I have the dies which go onto a set of vise grips at home)--but losing a snap on the canvas can be frustrating.

minature screwdrivers in phillips and straight blade.

I prefer a dremel tool (rechargable) to a drill--you can get drill bits up to about 3/16", and if any larger, then you can use one of the rotary bits. The cut off wheels are often very useful. The Dremel tool is smaller than a drill and is more versitile.

(I cannot get on my Tom Cat yet, so cannot check all of what I have)

How much room does all of this take? The socket sets are in "blown cases", and fit at the bottom of lockers easily. The rest of the tools are if in one canvas bad. The hatchet and folding shovel (especially if you go to Powell or other sandy lakes) can fit somewhere outside if there is no room inside. The spare parts go into a small "Plano" tackle box, which has cam latches and clear lids, so you can see where the items you are looking for are located.

Maybe these would be a problem for a 16, but not in a 22 or larger boats.
 
Most outboards have a spacer behind the prop. It will stick to the back of the prop long enough for the prop to clear the shaft. Then the next thing you hear is PLOP ! :crook

I carry a spare.."Any thing you can drop in the water while changing a prop". Be it nut, cotter pin, washer, or spacer. :thup

Jack :smiled
 
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