Bosun's Bag, What's In Yours?

[Ocean Girl]

Yes, it is 2am and I'm dreaming of goodies for my bosuns bag

Right now my bosuns bag is a box, full of fids and lighters, tape, whipping twine, etc. Each day I learn about splices, I add something to my box that I hope makes my splices better. Or I break some cheep tool that was touted to make my splicing easier.

I just added the Marlinspike Sailor to my amazon wish list ( I thought I had it but cannot find the darn thing)and was wondering what your favorite tool is, or what you think has been of most value creating the perfect clean splice, knots and such.

So, what's in your Bosuns bag?

[delmarrey]

Here's a tool that comes in real handy at times.

[captain58sailin]

I like a hollow fid for splicing stranded lines. Sheffield makes a replaceable blade razor knife that I like they even have one that will store 5 blades in the handle. They are not the same as a sheet rock knife, they do use the same type of blades.

http://www.peaktrading.com/image_library/1273.

[nigel1]

Swedish Fid
Sailmakers needle's and palm
Hot Knife

[Tingum]

I have had mine for over 30 years and it is stuffed! Full set of fids for braid, hollow fids for 3 strand and wire, wooden fids for pickin, needle nose, dykes, heavy cutters, two spools of waxed dacron thread, tube of wax, spool of SS wire, plastic mallet, tape, scissors, cheater book on splices, box of various needles, roll of sail tie material, grommets and grommet tool, various pieces of sail cloth, hot knife, riggin knife, several marlin spikes. Only thing lacking is a first aid kit and a bottle of Rhum!

[minaret]

I keep the cat o' nine tails in my red baize bosun's bag!







Lol, seriously, here's a pic of my marlinspike. Made from a marlin's bill. I like to keep my rigging bag traditional as well as modern.

[estarzinger]

Rope work kit . . .



I have two ceramic knives I use for rope work, but neither are stowed in this kit. One I carry (a folder) and another (a fixed blade) is in my 'most frequently used' drawer. I have a sail palm in another bag somewhere (with extra thread and tape), but don't use it much . . . I use the small vice grips shown to push and pull needles.

over the years, pretty much the only thing that has changed with this work/kit are: (1) the thread - more sophisticated than when I started sailing (when I mostly used dacron carpet thread and waxed twine), and (2) the ceramic knives.

There are separate kits for 'webbing and fabric work', and for the sewing machine.

[Bestathook]

Mine has palm and needles, a gob of beeswax, nylon and linen twines, a net needle, assorted wire ties, a torch head and striker, net twine, bic lighter, fids and marlinespikes, pliars, duckbill pliers, diagonal cutters, cotter pins and rings, sandpaper, lanyard with snap on clasp, rigging knife, tube of silicone rubber, eye drop jar of oil, felt tip pen, and masking tape.
And a very useful Craftsman 3in1 accu-cutter, that cuts line better than anything I've seen.

While it doesn't stay n the bag, Ashley's Book of Knots is used with the bag, and is, in my opinion, the definitive book on knots and rope splicing.

[S/V Pearl]

I have most of what others have mentioned, but have a pair of Brion Toss cotter pin pliers that come in handy and a pair of Felco C7 cutters that are great for cutting cotter pins and are the best thing for cutting vectran line which will dull any knife. Also if you use split rings on your clevis pins, a pair of split ring pliers will enable you to start and turn split rings with one hand and save your fingernails.

Cheers

[Bestathook]

Split ring pliers?

Didn't know they existed!

I googled them, and they are now on my Christmas Wish List.

Thanks.

[captain58sailin]

minaret, that is a most beautiful marlin spike.

[seacap]

Tarred seine twine, never leave home without it. Perfect for seizing and lashings. Also good for fancy work. Lasts out in the sun for a couple of years in the tropics.
Tarred Nylon | R&W Rope

[Scott Berg]

Two (2) palms... One left and one right. Great for herringbone stitching when repairing a long tear. I use two needles and work from both sides. A good, sharp awl helps to pre punch multiple layers and the small vise grips as Evans mentioned.

[captain58sailin]

I love tarred nylon line, both dbl braid and 3 strand.

[Ocean Girl]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware of the ceramic knives, guess I live a sheltered life they are 8.5 on the mohs, cool.

That's a good idea to have two palms, I want to incorporate a long herringbone stitch in one of my next projects( well three projects down).

Captainsailing58-the link doesn't work, and I tried a good old fashion razor blade cutter, disastrous.

Any tricks you think of please post. For example using hot hot water to melt heat shrink, instead of flame, dental floss( thanks Estazinger), the double palm (Scott) etc.