Psneeld - We have a lot of tools on the boat for a few reasons:
1. We have a very small home with limited storage. In some repsects, I have more room for tools on the boat than at home. Also, being that home is a condo and relatively new, we don't do much in the way of projects at home.
2. Prior to the Tug, we had an 80s sailboat on which we did almost a complete refit over the course of 7 years of ownership. Needed lots of tools on the boat for that.
3. We (I) do all the work on the boat ourselves. Everything from fiberglass and gelcoat repairs, to engine mechanical. So we need all the tools and supplies with us.
4. It is a real pain to drive from home to the boat just to realize that we (I) don't have a tool that we need.
5. I was an auto tech in a prior life, and collecting good tools is in my blood. The wife never complains if I spend money on tools, as it means that something is going to get fixed/upgraded.
6. Why not? We've got the room and I use just about everything over the course of a year (except maybe the skill saw).
All that said, we do have tow insurance and a credit card. But, I actually enjoy working on the boat, crazy as that sounds, and I like to be self sufficient. The tools do take up space, but not enough to really be an issue for us.
But what are you ACTUALLY going to use while underway/cruising?
I could write a very long post about what I have repaired while underway or at anchor but I won't. Many times it's for a cruising buddy, sometimes to help a stranger.
Janice, I have never heard of a D clamp is it the same as a C clamp held sideways?? I do carry a couple of C and spring clamps on board.
Exactly Steve. And I have never seen another. Instead of a wide throat, it's deep. And yes, as a matter of fact I could use one right now. '
Mostly though, I use my multimeter, a Philips and standard screw driver, plus the vise grips. When I'm on an install kick the wire strippers are used. Ditto reamer -- just used that when replacing the switch on a light in my cabin. The new switch was a smidgen larger than the old one, so a few twists of the reamer and voila: it fit.
And now I have light.
... wet/dry vac...
Sounds like some of you guys pack more tools on your boat than I do my service trucks. Truth is a very small amount of tools is all that's needed for the vast majority of routine tasks. Figure out what those tasks are and pack accordingly.
Also determine what your boating style is. If you are a full time cruiser routinely traveling far offshore you will need to be far more prepared than a dedicated day boater such as myself. Also do not fail to pack the knowledge base needed to use your tools. Sounds odd but a close friend of mine has over $100,000 worth of Snap-On hand and power tools in his garage and cannot change his own oil, I kid you not.
The tool bag on my boat has a 6 in 1 screwdriver, couple adjustable wrenches, various pliers, wire stripper and not much else. There's precious few tasks I could not handle. Serves all my needs.
I try and go through a mental exercise every once in awhile by asking myself, what if this failed, what if that failed, etc? Can I get the boat to safety? Do I have the right tools to repair the problem? Usually, the answer is yes...it may take some jerry rigging but it would get me to shore. For those jobs that would leave me stranded at sea, a direct line to the USCG helicopter crew would be nice!Truth is a very small amount of tools is all that's needed for the vast majority of routine tasks. Figure out what those tasks are and pack accordingly..........
The tool bag on my boat has a 6 in 1 screwdriver, couple adjustable wrenches, various pliers, wire stripper and not much else.
Sounds like the kind of guys I tow sometimes....$1M boat, $50,000 in operating expenses a year, all those tools and yet bellyaches at the costs associated with a tow or buying a membership for less than $200.