Tool Kit

[sbman]

You asked for some links. This kit at Lowes is a basic mechanics toolset:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-227-Piece-Standard-SAE-and-Metric-Polished-Chrome-Mechanics-Tool-Set/1000642747

227 pieces might sound like a lot, but this is a very basic kit. It covers both SAE and Metric which you'll likely find both as you go around various systems on the boat.

The set tops out at 3/4"-1" or so in tool size so you'll find things on some of the systems, especially some of the heavier engine fasteners and drive flanges/prop shaft that the sockets and wrenches just aren't large enough for but it should cover most of the types of work you might want to do. (Change the oil, remove the valve cover, swap out a fresh water system pump)

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-7-Piece-Spline-Nut-Driver-Set/1000594219

I really like having a set of dedicated nut drivers. Great for hose clamps and every single opportunity I can find to not have to use a straight screwdriver.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-60CrV-Snips-Set/1000594671

Sometimes you need to cut stuff, and scissors won't do the job. You could get by with just one pair and not a whole set probably.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Capri-Tools-12-in-Mini-Hacksaw/1002324446

Sometimes even the snips won't cut it. Time to break out the mini hacksaw. A favorite for lopping off things that need lopping off, works in tight spaces too.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-6-Pack-Assorted-Plier-Set/1000179111

Tons of things to grab, pull, cut, bend and reach for on a boat. The pliers and cutters pack help out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-5-Pack-Assorted-Plier-Set/50029422

When you can't grab, cut, twist or bend it with the small pliers, the big ones will probably do the job.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-VISE-GRIP-Long-Reach-11-in-Electrical-Bent-Nose-Pliers/1002449996

That's my favorite style of plier. It's gotten me out of quite of few jams of the 'dropped the thing in the hole' variety. Great for fishing things out of dark, hard to reach places, also for holding things in distant spaces nice and tight while you contort your body around to reach the other side of the horrible job you are currently struggling to complete.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/WORKPRO-16-oz-Smooth-Face-Rubber-Head-Wood-Rubber-Mallet/1000003042
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-20-oz-Smooth-Face-Steel-Head-Steel-Rip-Claw-Hammer/4776979
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-lb-Steel-Head-Fiberglass-Engineering-Sledge-Hammer/50041776

No toolkit is complete without a way to bash things. You start with the rubber mallet, work up to the hammer and then graduate to the sledgehammer. I don't recommend keeping a large, heavy sledge hammer on the boat as some jobs may result in fits of rage and keeping only a small sledge hammer reduces the damage that can ensue from such a fit. The little four pounder should keep things pretty safe while still being big enough to bash things that need it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Hammer-Drill-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-2-Tool-W-Free-5-0Ah-Battery-2997-22-48-11-1850/305899988

I switch over to home depot now since I'm partial the 'milwaukee' power tools. These two will drill holes in your boat like nobody's business.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Shockwave-Impact-Duty-Drill-and-Drive-Bit-Set-60-Piece-48-32-4029/301308026

You need drills and drivers for those power tools.

Some links; plenty of tools to get a lot of jobs done around the boat. Store them in the dryest place on the boat that you can find or they will rust like crazy.

 

[PPandE]

For my two cents worth, I’m a big believer in quality tools. It’s worth what you pay for Klein screwdrivers that won’t cam out of Phillips head screws as easily or a fine tooth snap-on ratchet that won’t jam on you. Craftsman used to be very good tools but have let their quality drop dramatically in recent years. Vise-grips and channellocks didn’t become generic names for locking pliers and tongue and groove pliers because they were junk. Every job is easier with the right tools.

 

[FF]

A good sized metal serrated knife in a special place and a cut resisting glove for cutting lines , lobster pots etc from the shaft is nice.

 

[mvweebles]

At this point on the learning curve I don't think you need special tools. Any engine work requiring special tools will likely also require special knowledge. Focus on tools for general repairs and maintenance of all of your boat's systems

As others have said, a basic set of SAE and metric wrenches. Combination and socket. Good screw drivers, now those are harder to find than they should be. All I'll say on that is you get what you pay for.

Tools I find handy on all boats regardless of engine make are:

• Vise grips, small, medium, large and needle nose.
• Pipe wrenches, small, medium and maybe large.
• Chain wrench and strap wrench.
• Irwin sells a groove-lock plier, I bought a set on a whim and use them a lot. A better grip on the nut etc than channel lock pliers and with a locking button won't change the adjustment as you reach into tight spots. Get the set, all 3 sizes, you'll use 'em.
• A collection of crescent wrenches. I have a fist full of 6" and 8" and a few bigger ones.
• A multi tip screwdriver. I bought the Megapro on a whim and find it very useful and well made. I haven't yet found a good stubby multi tip screwdriver
• A mini rachet screwdriver for really tight places. This looks like a good one MulWark 11pc 1/4 Mini Ratchet Wrench Close Quarters Pocket Screwdriver Set I got mine so long ago I don't remember where.
• Nut drivers to fit the nuts on the hose clamps on you boat. Almost certainly 5/16" maybe 1/4" as well. If the PO did the right thing and used ABA hose clamps in critical places you'll want their flex driver
• Any tools you need for changing all the filters on your boat.
• A DVM. I have several but the one I use the most is the Blue Sea Systems Mini Clamp AC/DC Multimeter. You can spend more and get higher accuracy but it's the best tool I have for finding which wire powers what in the boat, RV or any place.
• Ancor crimper and Ancor striper. I only use Ancor heat shrink terminals. If that's the way you go you'll like having a heat gun too.
• PEX tubing cutter. Lots to choose from. It is useful for far more than cutting PEX. Any soft material tube, any smaller hose that is not wire reinforced.
• Victorinox utility knife. Lots of 'em. And a first aid kit . They're very sharp!
• Head lamp(s), flashlight(s), drop light(s). You can't have enough.
• Wire brushes. Steel and bronze. Hand and for your drill motor.
• Sand paper and industrial scrubbing pads.
• A compact drill motor, it'll be less powerful than a big one but will get into those tight places that boats are made of. Cordless of course.
• PTFE pipe sealant, teflon tape and the knowledge when to use which.
• High temp silicone sealant. For use only on temporary repairs to gasketed surfaces.
• Penetrating oil. Silikroil is my favorite.
• A general clean-em-up and lube it of your choice. I prefer Triflow.

I'm sure there are more but that's what comes to mind. In Seattle you have Fisheries Supply, Seattle Marine and Fishing which I think is better than Fisheries, West Marine over priced but open more than the other two. For generic hardware in addition to the big box stores I like Hardwicks, Tweedy and Pop and McLendon.

I try to buy local because I want them to stick around. Yes Amazon is quick but not as quick and you won't find anyone knowledgeable to help you out. Well, you won't get that at West Marine either.

As you find which tools you use the most get duplicates for a number of reasons. You break one or drop it overboard. Loan it out and it doesn't come back home. And I like to keep a small tool bag with the most frequently used tools handy so I don't have to dig through the big collection.

This list is pretty close to what I have settled on over the years. For me, the 'art' has come in how my tools are organized. I started with an all-in-one set in roto-molded case that looks really well organized, but I found it took up too much space, and was not convenient at all. Invariably, I seem adept at opening them upside down, eventually the plastic clasp breaks, and it's just a mess. I'm sure they work for some people but not me. Years ago I went to fairly shallow open-top bags where I can see the tools easily, and can tell when something is missing.

1. Quick-reach. Multi-tip driver kit, combo-screwdriver, plier, small crescent wrench, knife, small tube of silicone sealant, and silicone lube in a small galley drawer.

2. Electrical set. crimpers, terminals, tester, etc. in a small bag. Easily accessible in a cabinet (versus buried)

3. Standard tool bag. Easily accessible in a cabinet. Standard assortment of hand-tools including screwdriver set (3 sizes of each Phillips and slotted), nut driver for hose clamps, some spare hose clamps, several different types of pliers (including the Irwin channel-locks mentioned above; and a second set of lineman pliers). Cordless drill, set of combination wrenches only in sizes I commonly use (3/8" through 5/8" or so if I remember), couple of file/rasps, hammer, small storage box of drill bits and driver bits for cordless driver. Also have a small divided box for common screws.

4. Specialty Tools and Rarely Used Tools. Semi-accessible. I have a toolbox for wood-work type projects; and a toolbox for more mechancial type projects. Larger wrenches, pipe wrench, rigging/splicing tool, spare hose clamps, packing pick, larger fasteners, caulking gun, etc. These have become quite the Rogue's Gallery of oddball things over the years. I also include a socket set in this category - I just don't use them too often.

5. Fabric/Sewing. I also have a Thompson Walking-Foot sewing machine (Sailrite) and a bag for fabric repairs. Most commonly used for replacing broken snaps on canvas.

Peter

 

[Ducatihottie]

Thanks all. We have so much storage on the boat that whatever I can't store in the engine room, I can store elsewhere. Yesterday I found storage under my dining area and the owner left me some tools there. I still have a lot to buy though.

I bought a Borescope on Amazon upon someone's recondition from here. That might come in handy and it has a magnetic end as well.

I also went to Fisheries Supply store yesterday for the first time. Upon check out the electricity went out in Downtown Seattle so they couldn't ring me up.

 

[wkearney99]

Understand that corrosion WILL get to the tools. Do your best to clean them after each use and periodically check their condition. A light spray of WD40 will help keep surface rust off them. For stuff that's going to go unused for a while I use Boeshield instead.

I've been pleased with these tool boxes:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/plano--extra-deep-dry-storage-tackle-box--5379466?recordNum=4

The orange Plano extra deep is great for my 'regular use' tools. Ones I'll use for simple tasks. Screwdrivers, allen keys, pliers (needle-nose and vise-grip), diagonal cutters, crescent wrench, utility knife, hammer, wire stripper, crimper, etc.

For the engine compartment I've got a pair of MTM Spud7 dry storage boxes. One holds spare filters and belts. The other has less frequently used tools like a bigger hammer, longer wrenches, filter wrench, etc. The parts one is black (and who knew the rubber from the filters and such stinks SO BAD?). The tool one is orange, like my other toolbox.

https://www.amazon.com/MTM-SPUD7-Sportsmens-Plus-Utility/dp/B00T9CCMJW

I also have a separate socket/open-end wrench set. Just a generic one with a 3/8" drive ratchet and various sockets up to about 19mm in size.

The regular use toolbox and socket set are kept in the salon, in relatively air-conditioned space. The boxes in the engine room miraculously fit perfectly snug between some stringers.

I also find it handy to keep a mechanic's pad AND some gardening knee pads onboard. It really helps to have a way to keep my knees/back comfortable while crawling about.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073GQ6DDJ
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011O0Y32

 

[Ducatihottie]

Great price. The owner left me a kneeling Matt and knee pads.

 

[Frosty]

...(and who knew the rubber from the filters and such stinks SO BAD?).

You can say that again (Racor spin-ons here) I wrapped mine in aluminum foil plus put them in one of those plastic "Ammo cans" as you did.

 

[wkearney99]

You can say that again (Racor spin-ons here) I wrapped mine in aluminum foil plus put them in one of those plastic "Ammo cans" as you did.

I know, right? They're noxious. Really stinky. Glad to keep 'em in the sealed utility boxes.

 

[firehoser75]

Brian,
Good advice so far, especially like the list from Portage.
When you have time , check out the sbmar.com website, especially Tony's Tips and the forums. Tony Athens is a well recognized marine diesel guru (especially for Cummins) who has over 35 years of experience. He gives great, free advice (and sells products). When the time comes, change out the Sherwood raw water cooling pump for the SMX replacement pump. If you buy his replacement impellers, they come with their own very handy impeller puller so no need to buy a special puller.

You asked about what spare filters to carry. You should have at least one oil filter, a couple of "on engine" fuel filters, and at least a couple of primary (off engine) fuel filters (often Racors). Same for the generator, but not as important for most people. I advise that you learn how to replace the fuel filters and to "prime" or bleed the fuel system. It can happen (hopefully not) that you may need to do this while underway or actually drifting due to a plugged filter. It is not really difficult, but again, you weren't born with this knowledge. I added Tony's "squeeze bulb" priming system to my boat, and it makes it really easy (and safe) to do.
Keep your spare filters in zip lock bags inside storage "boxes" to keep them dry and clean and rotate your stock as you use them.

 

[FlyWright]

There have been MANY threads here on TF that address tool kits and best tool uses. Snoop around for the old threads and read up on what's already been recommended.

There's no one size fits all tool kit. You'll need to evaluate the suggestions based upon your boat and your knowledge, skills and needs. I carry both metric and SAE, just in case.

 

[FIRE]

Been building a list for years for my soon to be recognized move from land to sea (at least temporarily anyway). I would have sent it in Excel but the system won't allow it and had to send a screenshot. Great to have this in a spreadsheet format as you can add, subtract and move items as you see fit....

 

[jeffnick]

Here's my favorite tool.
https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Power-...9&sr=1-1-191b1ae3-0539-4250-ad39-b698e0b800f6
There's always a second battery in the charger.


And these are real handy...
https://72land-n-sea.blogspot.com/2014/04/wire-clamp-maker.html?m=1

 

[IH82BL8]

Start out with a good Craftsman tool kit. Then as you find the need for another tool, add it. You can probably find one in the $100 range that will last your lifetime and your kids can fight over it when you are gone...

That's good advice. I bought a 100-pc Craftsman tool set in 1986 and still have all of it. For a boat you might find that you need both SAE and metric because so many components are from various 3rd parties.

Start with combination wrenches, ratchets, sockets and screwdrivers and build on that.

 

[Ws1c]

Craftsman are Chinese just like Harbor freight. Last time I tried warranty at Sears big hassle, and now sears is gone. Harbor freight replaces no question. I think they are ok for boat where they will rust in a few years. For day in day out professional use, Snap On.