Tools on board - looking for suggestions

Zach312

Zach312

Active Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 23, 2011
824
Nashville, TN
Boat Info
2008 Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSC-600
Looking to revamp tools and spare parts kept on board.

Our boat is a 2008 48 sundancer.

Looking for suggestions on tool kits that have worked well for others. Where do you store them.

What spares do you typically keep on board? We boat in an inland river system so aren't far from marinas if needed.

Thanks
 
Zach,

I keep several pretty standard boat tool kits, plus socket sets in their thin rectangular or square plastic cases they came in in the largest cabinet on the boat. The one at the bottom of the cabin stairs on the starboard side. I also have a number of unique or odd shaped tools that I keep in a couple canvas tool bags along with spare impellers, belts, fuel filters, water filters, hose parts, electrical components, plumbing parts, etc in canvas tool bags in what we call the "basement" (centerline floor storage) on either side shelf as they're very deep. I personally store them on the starboard side furthest aft as they can sometimes slide when on plane. I keep small items like replacement bulbs, hose clamps, screws, etc in those Stanley plastic storage bins with dividers and stack them vertically in one of the canvas tool bags as well. My wife always picks on me, but I've also labeled to make it easier for me to find. Hope this helps.

-Tom
 
For me the most important thing is the quality of the toolkit. Tools that never let you down when needed.
On board of others I see so many times toolboxes with a couple of this and that and poor quality. This destroys nuts and screws and anything else. When I see that I don’t wanna help anymore hahaha therefore I always take my own tools when someone needs help.
Good quality tools usually comes with a good case. Easy to store.

In the ER i made a box with spare parts (filters, seals, impeller, etc). In that box I have also some heavy wrenches and tools for the filter removal etc.

Ducktape, wd40, Grease, marine sealand, liquid gasket and polish also standard on board.

Also have a box with different (new) screws, rings, nuts, etc and a box with bulbs and some electric clams and a box with o-rings. A volt/ampere meter is also standard.

And always I have my Makita drill with spare battery and lamp with me.

Special equipment, example the tool for removal props I leave at home.
 
This has been my go to for many DIY repairs around the boat and the case keeps everything on one place. https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-kit-with-case-130-pc-63248.html

I've also had to deal with a few leaky water fittings when I bought my 98 290 so I keep a few extras on board. 2 elbows, 2 straight, 2 T's.

Duct tape, Tie wraps, Varies electrical connectors and some wire, Extra bulbs for the running lights.

Filters and fluids are all available locally so I don't keep much of that aboard unless it was an opened container left over from regular maintenance.

For future I might keep the 2 open ended wrenches aboard used for serpentine belt changes.

Much of my extra stuff fits nicely into this bag so I can keep it all together. :
https://www.harborfreight.com/16-in-tool-bag-with-6-pockets-63637.html?_br_psugg_q=bags

I live about 3 hours away from the marina so it's also nice a Harbor Freight is about 2 miles away from the marina. It has come in handy for some of the more involved maintenance projects when I needed a tool quickly.
 
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I went for this Pittsburg kit at Harbor Frieght. So far I have really like it and will get another for my other boat.

upload_2020-1-5_19-8-50.jpeg

X2 on the multi-meter.
In addition, I try to keep simple things that can end my voyage.
One replacement belt for the engine.
Two or three garboard drain plugs.
Stainless clamps of various sizes.
Healthy roll of Gorilla duct tape.
Hammer - For the engine when I can’t get it running. Better than using my fist :)
 
Here is some things I have learned about tools and spares on a boat:

Don’t waste time or put unnecessary weight onboard for carrying spares you will never use either because you do not possess the mechanical skill/ability or effectively changing out a spare require additional equipment far too large to put on a boat. For example, why carry a spare sea water pump onboard when changing one on your engine requires a press to remove the accessory drive gear and press it on the new pump?

Cheap imported hand tools usually won’t survive in a marine environment for very long. You will very likely be criticized by your family members for what you spend on tools and spares and for lugging it all in the boat.....until those tools and spares are what allows you to make it home at the desired time.
 
I keep a Craftsman tool kit with standard and metric sockets and wrenches, not a lot of junk in the kit. Also a set of pliers, and an electrical kit ( strippers, crimp tool and electrical connectors ) Rescue tape.
 
I have been using the kit below for 5+ years now. As mentioned above...this bugger would not last long in a salt water environment. I have some sockets that have started to rust and that's saying something up here in the north where we see no salt. The good news (??) is that rusty sockets still work. :)

But the selection of tools has been outstanding, if not the quality. Other than wire cutters and some other misc items I rarely need other tools.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F4AVRGW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
I have a plastic craftsman tool box with sockets, screwdrivers etc the usual. Then I have dewalt bags set up 1 for electrical repairs and 1 for plumbing repairs don’t forget rescue tape!!
FD6BCE81-B01A-413D-B3BA-E70D3F2954C7.jpeg
 
What I carried on board before retirement when I never ventured too far from home port or a marina and what I carry now are way different, but then, the definition of a cruiser is "someone who fixes their boat in unfamiliar places". Even so, I know a lot of loopers that had no problem getting their boats fixed in unfamiliar places because they were never far from services. In that case it just depends on how big your wallet is and what you are capable of or willing to do yourself. But if you're out off the grid in the Islands or cruising the north shore of Superior, you're smart to have more "stuff". I would always want the basics mentioned above on board even if I never left the dock, who wants to drive to napa to get a fuse on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
 
I carry Sea Tow phone number with me.
Last time one of my motors over heated I called Sea Tow they came out and got me right back into my slip ( 4 HR tow and had to switch four different tow boats because of Sea Tow areas )
We had two other couples on the boat with us and it was a good party.
I started the generator and my wife started making appetizers and drinks, I finally got to watch a beautiful sunset and not have to worry about drinking and boating.
 
The supply of tools and spares will largely depend on the boat and how much storage you have.
They can easily get out of hand and consume too much space if you let it.
I’ve found Husky tools to be a good compromise for keeping on the boat.
Not too expensive so not the end of the world if I lose something over the side, they don’t rust, are easy to replace and are pretty decent quality for the money.
I started years ago with one of their molded plastic tool kits in the boat, then supplemented it with a plastic tool box containing other odds and end tools. When the hinges on the molded plastic case broke I replaced it with a Husky tool bag.
Now I keep SAE and Mertric combo wrenches in canvass rollups along with an assortment of pliers, screwdrivers, tape measure, hammer, etc. in the tool bag.
The ratchets and socket sets are in the plastic tool box along with spare electrical connectors, test light, multi meter and shrinkwrap tubes.
Over the years I’ve found that the unplanned “emergency” things I wind up doing most on my own boat and for other people are electrical repairs. Mostly involving cleaning and/or replacing a connection.
I’ve got a Stanley plastic tool box with some belts, clamps, impellers, fuel filters, a float switch etc. in it.
Fortunately, I rarely ever have to resort to the spares.
Of them though, the float switch and fuel filters have come in most handy over the years for myself or others who were stuck.
Oddly enough, despite having a tool bag and a tool box full of tools on the boat it seems that I find myself still having to bring things back and forth from home when tackling a planned project.
 
I've accumulated lots of tools over the years. I don't think I purchased any just for the boat. What I've found is I forget what's already on the boat and bring more to it. Last summer I went through everything I had on the boat, ended up taking near a third back home.

I've heard the 'pros' grumbling a couple times as they rummage through their tool box, some one must have borrowed their such and such they'll tell me....so I let them use mine.

I do keep my Press-n-snap tool and a small 1/4" right angle drill on board. I haven't used either very often but they've helped out other boaters a couple times.

I don't carry many spare parts, electrical connectors/some wire/some tape, impellers, filters, belt, starter relay, hose clamps, oil and antifreeze, lots of Pig pads and rags, rescue tape, and band-aids.
 
Really thanks to everyone who replied on this. I am not the handiest person but don't mind getting dirty. We have moved 3x in six years so tool inventory is low so the suggestions on what people are using is helpful.

Does anyone store there tools/spares in the engine room?

TNT8808 I will see if the floor storage makes sense. Looking for storage for a grill and was thinking of using this area.
Do you store a grill on board if so where?
 
Pretty much same stuff as above. Extra coolant, oil, OD gear lube, tool kit, spare fuel filter, thermostat, IAC, fuses, hoses, switches, pretty much keep anything I took off as prev Maint that can be reused in a pinch. For tools - if I go to the garage to get a tool to do something on the boat because I didn't have it, it stays on the boat.
 
If my boat ever gets stolen, there is plenty of my blood in the engine room for multiple DNA swabs.
 
If you have an all-chain rode, consider a chain cutter.
 
FastMarkA said:
If you have an all-chain rode, consider a chain cutter.
Click to expand...

Or you can add a small length of rope to the bitter end of the chain, which then attaches to the eye in the anchor locker. In an emergency, you can deploy all of your anchor chain, then cut the rope with a knife.

Jaybeaux
 
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