Let's talk tools!

Besides the usual sockets, end wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers...

What are some of the tools that you folks have found most helpful on your boats?

Also, any cool organizers, like basically I'm thinking within the drawers of a tool chest, but also items you can carry around...

Hi Bob,
I would add the basic electrical tools, wire strippers, wire crimpers, millimeter.

Voltmeter/electrical tester.

Personally, I have use for the electrical tools much more often than any of the mechanical tools. In that regard, besides the common stuff, I keep a signal tracer on board, as well as a field signal strength meter, but an oscilloscope (which I bring from home) has proven to be very useful in tracking down noise. And I am always using the AC detector before putting my hand anywhere.

Good pans, good pots, sharp knives, yes I am cooking more often then I do repairs while underway

JustBob said:

Besides the usual sockets, end wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers...

What are some of the tools that you folks have found most helpful on your boats?

Also, any cool organizers, like basically I'm thinking within the drawers of a tool chest, but also items you can carry around...

Click to expand...

Impeller puller, strap spanner and/or oil filter remover. Signal probe works very well for tracing wiring.

Richard

I always seem to find a use for a strap-wrench, beyond the standard oil-filter removal application. I have a small one and a large.

Also, for cleaning my raw water heat exchanger, I've graduated from bamboo skewers to the smallest diameter dowel you can find at a hardware store. They're much longer than the skewers which I find are just a bit too short.

MYTraveler said:

I keep a signal tracer on board, as well as a field signal strength meter, but an oscilloscope (which I bring from home) has proven to be very useful in tracking down noise. .

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You have to be an electrical engineer. I can understand occasional needs for a scope but what is your need for signal strength meter? The reception is fine or it isn't.

About the only exception to most other replies here in the thread, I keep all my canvas tools along with assortments of snaps and grommets onboard.

Tools that stands out in my collection include a Leatherman and a hammer!

Credit card

When I was in the Navy, before we went to sea, the engineroom guys would take a collection and go to Sears and get a few Craftsman sets. We threw the government issue stuff over the side.
I've found a strap wrench to be really, really handy when other tools do not seem to fit in the tight spaces. The older I get, the more I like my LED headstrap flashlight, knee pads and magnifying glasses. Good quality vice-grips help when one-handing things, and of course, duct tape fixes everything.
I keep the most often used tools in a canvas bag, with the heavier socket sets and big wrenches in a large toolbox. I have knives all over the boat, with stainless Mora knives permanently next to the winch and aft line areas, at the helm, in the engineroom and on my person. I carry a knife and a Leatherman multitool. I use WD-40 Specialist to wipe down the tools after each use.

"Must have" in my toolbox are dedicated nut drivers. Not the replaceable head type but one size per driver, with a handle like a screwdriver. The minimum you want are 1/4" and 5/16". These are the only real tool to tighten or loosen hose clamps. If you have anything that might have metric hose clamps you need 7mm. PS. Good luck finding a 7mm nut driver.

The shopping list so far is great! I had to learn these one trip at a time to the hardware store or Amazon. One of the most useful things I have found if you do a lot of mods is the Marson rivet nut setter with stainless rivet nuts. What a time saver. The best answer so far is the credit card

bayview said:

Credit card

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You MUST be a wife!!!

A snake for running wires.

Band-Aids, lots of Band-Aids, lots of sizes. There are places on my boat that my 6'2" 240lb body are not meant to go, but go I must.

I take this tool bag with me everywhere- on the boat, camper, car on long trips. It has saved my bacon countless times.

Anything big or specific I keep in the garage and pull out as needed: wheel puller, torque wrench, 1/2" drive sockets, etc.

But 90% of the time, the bag has everything I need.

A set of pics kind of like dental tools usually come one pointed like an ice pick the one with 90* bend and one with a hook at the end. A pair of needle nose pliers with 90* bend. I like to have several of those very inexpensive (under $10) screwdriver/ ratchet sets with a bunch of bits and sockets, one in the engine room, salon, and one on the Flying bridge. They are not great quality but cheap and will take care of most jobs, so not to have to drag out the big heavy tool box.
Don't forget a hacksaw and hammer.

PS. Good luck finding a 7mm nut driver.

I feel your pain. Here you go.

Defender.com Search Results: Hose clamp tool

I didn't say it would be cheap.

A medium vise with at least a 4" jaw and a couple "C" clamps to hold it to a board or other flat surface. I recently replaced my old one with a swivel base vise, which is a great improvement.

Things like cold chisels (For removing head or nut off rusted bolts) and hack saw come in handy too. Also a good collection of stainless bolts, nuts, washers, barrel connectors, fasteners, various gauge electrical wire, spare light bulbs, fuses are essential too.

I use several plastic parts organizers to keep fasteners sorted. The flat ones with a lid are best for storage in small places. (think I'm up to 5 or 6 of them now)

Paul M said:

A snake for running wires.

Click to expand...

Another handy snake is the Roto Rooter type for clearing drains. The one I have is made by Rigid and it's saved my bacon a couple times.

Greetings,
ALL excellent suggestions thus far. May I suggest to the mods that this be made a "sticky". There have been at least 2 other threads dealing with "tools". Perhaps combine them all, including this one.

I like to think I have a fairly good compliment of tools aboard and I have mentioned this one in the other threads mentioned above... A 3" grinder/wire wheel combo.
Similar to this: 3" Mini Tool Grinder/Polisher I replaced the buffing wheel with a wire wheel. Definitely NOT heavy duty but great for sharpening up scrapers/cheap chisels and cleaning out threads on rusty bolts.

So much is boat and boat use particular.

A wooden boat needs one whole set of tools, a modern all glass boat needs another.


A day tripper/weekender can get by with the minimum, a world cruiser needs almost every tool one knows how to use.

Things like strap wrenches are useful, but I have specific filter wrenches for the filters I need them for.....strap wrenches for odd projects.....but then again I am a liveaboard, cruiser where a weekender doesn't need a filter wrench aboard at all.

Having a bunch of standard sized wrencheds aboard a mostly metric boat might be a waste, while some boats need both sets.

I just moved every tool I own aboard that was practical......there was room for all but some stationary tools.

Have I used the set of giant wrenches that I used on my trucks and last liveaboard caterpillar engines? Not yet, but I will for a few things like prop nuts, engine mounts, etc.....

Two of anything important that you are likely to drop overboard. I lost a 14mm wrench last weekend.

MYTraveler said:

And I am always using the AC detector before putting my hand anywhere.

Click to expand...

I always have a cheap multimeter, but your post reminded me: I have an AC "detector" (I assume like yours) that chirps anytime it is near an energized wire. Does anyone make something similar in 12v. In my 45 year-old boat, circuits are poorly marked and unorganized. It would be a godsend to be able to pull a wire out of the "nest" and establish it is the one I am looking for.

'prof

Prop nut wrench, and self defense tool. ?

foggysail said:

You MUST be a wife!!!

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Wifey B: You MUST be divorced!!!!

You didn't think I was about to let that pass did you?

Greg S said:

If you have anything that might have metric hose clamps you need 7mm. PS. Good luck finding a 7mm nut driver.

Click to expand...

Home depot; $4.97 for a Klein. I have a Vaco 7mm. Great for the Swedish clamps that don't fall apart in salt water.

gorilla tape for any links big or small

cardude01 said:

View attachment 63325

Prop nut wrench, and self defense tool. ?

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This, and the dive gear to go with it and the almighty Algonac prop puller.

AlaskaProf said:

I always have a cheap multimeter, but your post reminded me: I have an AC "detector" (I assume like yours) that chirps anytime it is near an energized wire. Does anyone make something similar in 12v. In my 45 year-old boat, circuits are poorly marked and unorganized. It would be a godsend to be able to pull a wire out of the "nest" and establish it is the one I am looking for.

'prof

Click to expand...

For about $50, you can get a multi-meter with built-in AC detector -- Extech EX330. As for detecting 12vdc, I believe I have one but never use it, so I may be mistaken. But I know I have two, one yellow-capped, which I use for AC (for safety), and the other is red, but since I am not afraid of 12vdc (which almost all of the dc circuits on my boat are, and the ones that aren't, thruster and windlass, are obvious by their high amperage wiring.)

The other tool I find very handy is a boroscope -- I can snake that anywhere (within about 3 feet) to get a mouse-eye view.