Tool Box Essentials

[Water Lilly]

I'm trying to put together a tool box for my 19' bay boat with on OB motor. I'm looking for suggestions and recommendations as to what I need to keep on hand. Thanks for any input you all can give me.

 

[areoseek]

-Spark plug socket and wrench

-Prop wrench
-Spare spark plugs
-Spare fuel filter

-Spare section of fuel line

-Screwdrivers that fits your cleats

-spare drain plug and wrench for it

-battery terminal wrench

-wrench for the bolts that hold your seats in

-spare fuses
-hose clamps

and a spare prop if you have the $$$. been there, done that.

 

[alldodge]

12 AWG wire
Electrical tape
Duct Tape
If your OB uses a prop with shear pins, bring some of them

 

[MH Hawker]

mine is

metric socket set with deep wells
metric wrenches
channel locks
vice grips
2 sizes of adjustable wrench
roll of 12 ga wire
assorted electrical connectors
wire strippers and crimper
volt ohm meter
tape
spark plugs
fuel filter
fuel fittings and pipe fittings and barb connectors
extra nuts n bolts
extra prop and nut and thrust washers

and at least 5 pounds of assorted stuff

 

[Stumpalump]

A rope to pull start your engine with a bit of practice so you know what to expect if needed. I run desert vehicles as well and one trick is to always work on the vehicle with only the tools I have on board. If I don't like a particular tool or need one I modify what I carry. It's amazing what you can fix when you have to with a few of the right tools and spare bits.

 

[Illinoid]

Good LED flashlight
Cheaters (glasses if you need them)

 

[keith2k455]

Harbor freight seems fervent tool kids for around $20 on sale with coupon by signing up to their mailer.

I add a c clamp to the list and a hand pump.

 

[Stingrayaxe]

Spare light bulbs for every light on the boat. Scrap of emory paper to clean contacts.

 

[bruceb58]

In my Wellcraft, I keep a toolbox with pretty much everything I would need to work on the boat when I am in the water. When I work on my boat on land, I always use the tools inside the boat. If I need to go get a tool, I add it to the toolbox.

 

[H20Rat]

Everybody has missed the obvious one... Zip ties! Get an assortment, and find a couple stainless steel metal ones also. In a pinch you will be amazed what you can do with them. (I'd put them above duct tape, that really doesn't have much practical use for repairing stuff.)

 

[airshot]

Everything on here has been great suggestions however to simplify things......what do you feel comfortable repairing while on the water. There are some that will tackle most any problem and others that will only tackle the simple repairs and or then call for a tow to let the experts make the repair. So.....carry whatever tools you will need for any repair you feel comfortable doing on the water. Think about what may go wrong and what you are willing to tackle and what tools you would need to fix those problems. If I had to carry everything I needed for whatever scenario might come along....hell I would need a bigger boat for all the tools!! LOL

 

[JoshOnt]

I don't carry much as I am limited on room and what I am able to do while on the water.

Screwdrivers
wrenches
extra fuses
electrical tape
crimp eyelets
needle nose pliers
wire stripper
1ft of spare wire
and some other crap that I can't remember right now

 

[shrew]

Do ALL of your work out of your boat tool box. Consider the jobs which you'll only do in spring and fall or only when the boat is out of the water, then REMOVE those (do you REALLY need an oil filter wrench? Probably not). I make a smaller kit for winterization and spring commissioning. The things you need will get added, then things you don't should get removed. look hard a 'uni-taskers' and duplicates. (If you need some deep sockets, do you also need regular sockets?) I only have one place that uses a 1/4 driver. I keep JUST that size in 1/4" for example. It will work itself out for you.

 

[bruceb58]

One of the most valuable tools to have on the boat is an inexpensive meter. That is the tool I have used the most. I was offshore 17 miles at an island troubleshooting a voltage issue. Found a loose connection. Would not have been fun getting towed in from there.