Boat Tool Kit

[jjarrell4]

Okay Gents,
I am in the process of purchasing my first real boat,
a 21' Scarab with a 454 Mag
I am looking for a nice box that I can build my on board tool kit around. Not something big because of the lack of space I have in the "cabin" more like a cubby.
Here are my current ideas:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=491&group_ID=51&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=491&group_ID=51&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Requirements:
>I would like to do a sort of foam cut out deal to keep the tools in the correct place and for not bouncing around.
>Withstand relatively wet environment
>Not soda-can thin~~best I can describe is the quality of the old craftsman hand totes, I love those but I have not come across one big enough.
>Enough room for pliers, wrenches, socket set, ratchet, some spark plugs replacement parts etc., screwdrivers, the basic tool set
Any help/recommendations will be greatly appreciated as to what box and what you would want in your ideal "boat tool set"

Oh yea and a cell phone pic of the boat!

 

[Taylor J.]

Plenty of adjustable wrenches...

 

[jjarrell4]

good call!

 

[FordF1]

I would suggest getting a pelican case and making a fold out holder for it. It would be waterproof, it would float and is hard durable plastic that wont rattle around.

 

[jjarrell4]

yea i thought of that but I didnt find one that had a good size, too small or too large or too deep
but i will check them out again.

 

[Tim Cowan]

Be sure to have a day-glo tow line included for when the tools are not just what is needed to make the fix. A waterproof flashlight is a second thought.

 

[jjarrell4]

nice !! keep em coming im making a list

 

[lipadj46]

Foam from here is good for cutouts:

http://toolfoam.com/default.asp

They will send you free samples.

As far as storage have you considered a tool bag? This seems like something that would work well in a boat:

http://www.vetopropac.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=304

 

[bad daddy]

Silicone rescue tape!

Oil absorbent rags

mechanics gloves

nitrile gloves

Hand cleaner

look at every fastener on the boat.

Carry one wrench and one socket for each size.

Don't have a 3/4 nut or bolt? Don't buy/bring the tool

a ratcheting screwdriver with a flexible 1/4 drive to take a 5/16 socket for tightening hose clamps.

 

[FordF1]

extra fuel line hoses, wires, fuses, snaps that match your cover, sandpaper (for fouled plugs)
the tools already mentioned are probably good, when you are floating around you are kind of limited to what you can get to and fix, since most problems other than fuel are related to the prop drive or trim

 

[gorilla]

I use an army surplus ammo box as a tool box in my boat. It's well made, waterproof but not very pretty. Not expensive either.

 

[Monte]

you want stainless steel tools !

 

[barney rubble]

I got a welding rod holder in my boat. Its big enough to hold 10 lbs of rods. Its water proof and has the basics. I'm not going to rebuild the boat or motor with it but thats not what I'm looking to do on the water anyway.

 

[y20dth]

Gedore has special nautical sets:
http://www.gedore.de/en/products/group_overview.html?pm_id=56531&oe_opt[list_set]=28362,56530,56531

 

[Coleman]

B.O.A.T = Bust Out Another Thousand !!

 

[Monte]

"Hazet" has a stainless steel 1/4" socket set:

"Elora" has stainless steel wrenches:

"Wera", "Wiha" and "Witte" have stainless steel screwdrivers:

stainless steel bits, hex keys, nut setters, sets:

+ check out:

www.steritool.com

www.stainlessscrewdrivers.com

 

[Davefr]

Plenty of adjustable wrenches...

Not for a boat!! Most fasteners need all the grip they can get. The OP needs to make sure he has a can of PB Blaster because boat fasteners can be a real *****.

 

[sk farmer]

there are some waterproof tackle boxes made by plano. rubber gaskets and varying sizes with and without adjustable dividers. a can't imagine you need a lot as others have said. only what you need for your boat. of course who knows what is on your buddies boat though.

 

[paramedic]

i have a 3/8 socket set, ratcheting screwdriver, assorted plier, spare spark plugs, combination wrench set, zip ties, duct tape and sealing gum? its **** i can shove in a hole to stop the water the put on a duct tape backer. saved me major one time. i have a 4 cylinder 2stroke motor so plugs are imperitvie for me. all in all i have this just rattling around in a small waterproof rubbermaid dealy.

 

[GarageEnvy]

Floating prop wrench and a cheapo spare prop. As someone who grew up with old v-drives the point of the toolbox is simply to get you back to the launch ramp where you can work on the boat on a trailer or at home. This year I am going to swap out my wrenches for some of those dog-bone styled wrenches to save a few pounds. I haven't tried it yet so I couldn't recommend it but one or two adjustable wrenches at the most. They really are awkward for boat stuff.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Congratulations on your new purchase! The best two days in a boater's life is the day he purchases a new boat. And the day he sells it!

Tools and spare parts are a must in a boat. When you're out to sea, there's no running to the store for something. I have a Craftsman four-drawer tool box filled with tools. But make sure that you have it secured so it doesn't topple over thought. All my tools are just chrome plated and have never had any problems with them rusting.

A must is extra fuel filters and water separators. Along with the proper wrenches to replace them. You'd be surprised how often they need to be changed if you put many hours on the engines in a season. But the 454 are very thirsty engines and can easily drink between 5 to 20 gallons of fuel an hour. Depending how hard you run them. Take it from one who owns a boat with two Mercruiser 454's in it....

 

[jjarrell4]

Congratulations on your new purchase! The best two days in a boater's life is the day he purchases a new boat. And the day he sells it!

Tools and spare parts are a must in a boat. When you're out to sea, there's no running to the store for something. I have a Craftsman four-drawer tool box filled with tools. But make sure that you have it secured so it doesn't topple over thought. All my tools are just chrome plated and have never had any problems with them rusting.

A must is extra fuel filters and water separators. Along with the proper wrenches to replace them. You'd be surprised how often they need to be changed if you put many hours on the engines in a season. But the 454 are very thirsty engines and can easily drink between 5 to 20 gallons of fuel an hour. Depending how hard you run them. Take it from one who owns a boat with two Mercruiser 454's in it....

What boat have ya got? It sounds like it would get up outta the water pretty quick.

Do you have any issues with the drawers sliding open?

 

[Skyline]

Definately go stainless. And if you decide on one of those waterproof cases, (which I think is a good idea), make sure to include some moisture absorbing material inside.

 

[c_mccann]

I have 2 boats and I use soft-sided tool bags, those bucketmouth zippered ones that are so popular. I then segregate the tools inside in those Klein tool pouches so things are easy to find. I also only use Craftsman tools on the boat as when you drop them in the bilge (happens alot) and they rust or slip on a stainless fastner, they replace with no questions. Figure a 3/8's and a 1/4" set with flex and deeps is a good start. 6 point wrenches as well, and channellocks that can fit on your largest thruhulls. A couple of six way screwdrivers are key, as they also act as hose clamp nut drivers. Spare parts depend on your motor(s), you are running a big block GM, a set of hoses, raw water pump (a whole pump is easier to replace on the water than a impeller kit, you can rebuild the bad one while on shore), plugs, a couple of wires, a spare cap, a spare prop and nut, a thermostat, gasket, gasket maker, wire crimps, a couple short pieces of wire, light bulbs for the running lights, dilectric grease. As far as special tools, a prop wrench for your drive, a serpentine belt tool, a voltmeter and whatever strap wrench you use for the fuel filters on board. The key with a gas boat is clean gas, ethanol has a short shelf life, take out the fuel or stabalize if the boat is going to sit. Also an easy, clean way to pump out the oil is a must, I like the Jabsco vane puppy pumps for that reason, they can drain a Detroit 671 (7 gal of oil) in less than 10 minutes. Spare lines, ducttape, a way to safely fill batteries with water if you have wet ones, a bulletproof battery system and load test the batteries every six months. Last, and most important, VESSEL ASSIST membership with trailer assist.

 

[jjarrell4]

Anyone know of a place that sells hazet?
Is it cheaper overseas?

 

[arkangel06]

how about buying a smaller Cman box and not paying premium for a china box.

 

[lipadj46]

This is a nice budget 4 drawer ball bearing box, under $100:

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=WATPMX2604BU

I was going to suggest it but thought it may be too big for a boat. The most important tool to have on the boat is one of those emergency transmitter things and a cell/satellite phone.

 

[caper]

Buy two of everything so when you drop one overboard you'll have a spare.Floating screwdrivers are real handy.

 

[UncleJoe]

A good multimeter, tape, connectors crimpers dielctric grease and heat shrink. Electrical problems on a boat can get tricky. I live on the coast of North Carolina and the best boat mechanic I know says most of the electrical problems he sees on boats are from corrosion or bad/weak grounds.

Look around for good heat shrink when doing boat electrical repairs. I use the same stuff on my motorcycle. Most cheap heat shrink tubing shrinks 2:1. I found some on-line that shrinks 3:1 and is lined with a sealer/ adhesive. When you heat it it rally grabs the connector and you can see the adhesive squeeze out the ends. Makes a really strong and sealed connection.

The other tools may be location specific. I live in an area that has a large crab fishing industry. On the water are hundreds of wire mesh crab pots. In a perfect world these are tied to a marker buoy and never placed in the channel. I wish I lived in that perfect world. Marker buoys come off and pots do end up unmarked and in the channel. If you hit a crab pot it will wrap around your propeller and has to be cut off. A good set of cutters can save the day.

 

[Simz144]

I have been working for 2 years as boat tech here in quebec. What I've learn.
Metal tool box isn't de best, they scrap and even break gel coat. I've use this kind of tool bag, way better.

*Shrink tape (not the one for electrical propuse) but the one for patching holes in shrink ( here we wrap boat in plastic shrink for winter) this tape stick very very weel to everyting.
*magnetic pick up tool; for socket, bolts....
*non-magnetic pick up tool; For everyting that don't stick to magnet!
*ty-rap...
boat usualy don't have a lot of fuse but check on yours, wich one it could need.
* A good booster pack; It happen often to have death batterie for alot of resson!
* drive oil, power steering oil in ketchup style bottle
* engine oil!!
*11/32 wrench or socket; for under the dash
*5/16,3/8,7/16,1/2,9/16,5/8,11/16, 3/4 wrench. (personaly, I mostly use flex ratching wrench)
* sk ¼ socket set. metric and sae set. semi-deep have work good for me.
* 10-12 3/8 sokcet. check what you need. think about a spark plug socket
*hallen key set both metric et sae
*screw driver. I know down in state you don't use square (roberston) screw. but think about bring some for the mutli-bit screw drive.
* 1/4 hex ratchet save me a couple of time
*extra fuel/water separateur with wrench for it.
*spare proppeller WITH NUT!!, a small 2x4 wood block to help changing prop

 

[c_mccann]

Yeah, steel tool boxes are a no-no on board. You will hit your first swell or boat wake and hear a clank clang.. that will be that box re-adjusting itself and banging the heck out of the boat. A week later you will see rust stains. Soft bags only. Another thing I wanted to add is with your electrical supplies, make sure they are tinned connectors and tinned wire, big difference from auto grade connectors in the marine environment. I recommend Ancor brand connectors and Wire, you can buy at West Marine. Also, plenty of rags!