What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

[airdvr1227]

Putting one together and looking for recommendations.

 

[freelancer]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

Putting one together and looking for recommendations.

Don't forget the Duct Tape.

 

[_chris_]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I cary all tune up parts
Impeller
Duct tape
Zip ties
JB Weld
Starting fluid
Socket set
Screw Drivers
Pliers
Hammer
Fuel Line
Piece of rubber inner tube from bicycle tire(For whatever reason)
Hose Clamps
Tie wire
Electrical wire and crimp on fittings
Electrical tape
Fuses
Inline fuse set up
Gasket maker
Roll of gasket material
I am sure there is more but I cant remember

I can pretty much rebuild my boat on the water. Just think my boat is 37 and is probably more prone to breaking down.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

It would be nice to carry my entire roll around box... but since space is limited, I only bring items that can be used to fix true "emergency" type situations, (not enough to rebuild the boat). If you have something you need to work on, it should be done out of the water anyway...

that being said here's what I typically include:
General:
Spare set of spark plugs (in case one fouls or fails)
Spark plug socket w/ rachet (to change the plugs)
Spare drain plug(s)
Wire cutters/crimpers (sometimes a wire can corrode/break like for a bilge pump)
Small length of spare wire (to fix that wire break)
Fuses for the boat (whatever type it uses)
Electrical tape
Starting fluid
A "basic" set of tools (Screwdrivers, pliers, etc.)
Spare fuel filter
Small length of fuel line w/clamps (in case yours breaks)
Extra container of whatever type oils the boat uses (I.e. some trim/tilt fluid, 2cycle oil, etc.)

Thats pretty much it for general items that would work on almost any boat

If an I/O:
Spare set of belts (in case one snaps on the water)

Optional (but nice to have):
A jump pack or a spare battery


Hope that helps!

 

[rp23g7]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I carry fuses

Electical wire, connectors and crip tool

full socket set

pliers

Gorrilla tape

screw drivers

adjustable wrench

adjustable pliers

Jumper box

Spot light

Quart of oil

Zip ties

hammer

I need to go buy a spare prop

 

[dingbat]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

My tool kits consist of a simple waterproof tool case, a spare prop with hardware, a prop wrench, a spare fuel filter and a fuel filter wrench.

The best advice I can give you is that a good preventative maintenance routine will trump the need to carry a roller box of tools around with you.

A fuel line failure should not surprise you. You should have already known it was suspect and replaced it. Parts falling off should not be a surprise. You should be regularly checking the hardware for tightness. Get the idea?

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

If you have an I/O make sure to get some extra drain plugs that go in the block and exhaust manifolds. Had one crack on me out on the water and was pumping alot of water in the bildge. A $3 platic plug cost me an evening of boating. Oh well, Live and learn!

 

[JoLin]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

My tool kits consist of a simple waterproof tool case, a spare prop with hardware, a prop wrench, a spare fuel filter and a fuel filter wrench.

The best advice I can give you is that a good preventative maintenance routine will trump the need to carry a roller box of tools around with you.

A fuel line failure should not surprise you. You should have already known it was suspect and replaced it. Parts falling off should not be a surprise. You should be regularly checking the hardware for tightness. Get the idea?

+1

I carry a few basic hand tools, tape, some wire, zip ties and a fuel filter, but that's it. I take my cue from the 40 years I've been driving cars. I have yet to have a parts failure I could actually fix on the side of the road. Change a flat? Resecure a loose wire? Sure. Swap out a broken water pump or do a tuneup? I don't think so. I have AAA to take the car to someplace where the repair can be done properly and safely.

Some may carry enough spare parts and tools to rebuild their motors and outdrives, but I'd love to see them actually try to do it in water over their heads, in a rocking boat.

I maintain my boat and have towing insurance in the event of a breakdown.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

Shame on all of you, not one of you mentioned wire tester!!! All the other things mentioned are wonderful and all that, but a wire tester has gotten me up and running twice now in the past three weeks, I can't just look at a wire and tell that its a bad wire, Always have a wire tester with you!! it could make a difference on starting her back up and underway again or getting towed back and loading her and taking her home just to find out that it was a loose wire.
I also bring a :
SCUBA MASK> incase any thing is stuck in the prop
Emergency TP> you know that one
Knife
FIRST AID KIT> for those unexpected moments
A basic socket set> at least up to 9/16
and a lot of other stuff already mentioned, Tape,screwdrivers etc...

 

[5150abf]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

The things you can actually fix on the water are pretty limited, normally if your engine quits it is a part gone bad and a fully loaded Craftsman tool box won't help you.

On the boat I have a phillips and straight screw driver, 2 small crescent wrenches, small vise grips, a spark plug wrench and pliers and a pair of plugs of coarse and a can of MacGuyver.

In the truck I have a small 80 peice tool kit with ratchet and all that but like I said, normally when the boat breaks it is broken and tools won't really matter.

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I have a basic Stanley tool set in a molded case that includes allen wrences, socket set, crescent wrench, needle nose, screw drivers, etc.. Got it at Wallyworld for $20. In a dry box I carry engine oil, lower unit oil, WD40, Sta-Bil, some wire, spark plugs (pre-gapped), fuses, and rags.​

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

Cell phone and charger. GMRS radio and batteries.
Leatherman, electrical tape, pliers,screwdrivers, 7/16" wrench (covers 75% of the nuts and bolts on an old 40). Hose clamp.

 

[45Auto]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

Since you have an I/O, a good thing to have onboard is some way to splice a broken water hose. Most people don't change the water hoses as part of their preventive maintenance. A broken hose means you either shut down the motor or burn it up in a matter of minutes.

Most auto part stores have a "splice kit", with some plastic fittings, etc, you can use to make a temporary repair. A length of the most common size hose on your motor could be very handy to have. Sometimes enough duct tape wrapped around it will get you home.

 

[SKIBUM1M]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

on an older motor there is one very essential tool that anyone who had a car from the 60's or earlier should know and that is a book of matches. why you ask? the striker can be used to resurface the points and the thickness of the cardboard is close enough to the pont gap to get you to shore.

 

[MushCreek]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

A marine radio and a credit card should cover most things......

I agree with dingbat- PM is your best friend out on the water. Things can and do happen, but they happen less to people who keep their rig ship-shape. I carry a basic tool box, and a few tune-up parts. Since I run antiques, a pack of shear pins is a must. A spare prop is a good idea, too.

 

[Capt Ron]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I have a leatherman in the pocket of my life vest, period.

More than likely if I break down I wouldn't have the right tool no matter how many were on board so why bother.

However, the one tool that I had wished for that I never seem to have is a 12oz. ballpeen hammer. And there's a reason for it's absence...a couple of motors would have been beaten to pieces, not to fix but to put them out of service permanently. Problem solved!!!! Good thing that I don't drink.

Capt Ron

 

[mrdancer]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I keep an old cell phone and charger onboard. By law, the cell phone should be able to dial 911 in an emergency, even if it doesn't have a service contract.

 

[Thad]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

And don't spend $$ on top name brand tools. What I have on the boat is good enough to do minor diagnosis and repair. And everyone of them can be dropped in the water and I would not think twice about it.

Unless I had found the problem and the tool I needed was the one I dropped

Just saying, consider them expendable.
Among the the items listed I also carry a spare fuel fliter and fuel/water separator filter.

 

[StoutMann]

Re: What to have in a boat emergency toolbox?

I have a leatherman in the pocket of my life vest, period.

+1