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SailFastTri · 17-12-2010, 18:29

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the most versatile tool for the small jobs: Cash.

.... the most versatile tool for the large jobs: Check or credit card.

Both can be a real back saver.

DRS · 17-12-2010, 18:42

Beat me to it SFT. My answer was
Visa
MasterCard
Amex

wolly · 17-12-2010, 18:46

Y'all forgot the 52-hundred

Chief Engineer · 17-12-2010, 18:56

Don't buy anything Chinese, Indian or Japanese.

Those tool kits with socket, drivers in a plastic case=junque.

When that rachet pops and you knust your buckles..&^%$(*&+

You will wish you bought American Made Brands

When that socket coveniently rounds off your bolt

You will wish.............................................. ....

Tools I don't use? Adjustable wrenches (small) I have one big one I use on some stuffing boxes.....

Best tool from a flea market? A pipe wrench type of tool that has smooth jaws.....people say it comes from old Model T's....????? for stuffing boxes.

Do not waste your money on any stuffing box wrench that any marine store sells....they look like a fork.....are not worth a fiddlers' phalanges.
Diecast, pot metal crap.

bljones · 17-12-2010, 22:10

Fids
Sailmakers palm
needles
Twine
Speed stitcher (when you don't care about pretty but you DO care about NOW.)
Index the fasteners on your boat- most boats and engines have less than a half dozen different sizes and styles of fasteners. Buy those sockets, bits and wrenches, and then buy a duplicate set. You will lose sockets overboard, even if you are working belowdeck. store your tools in tool rolls with a couple of those little DNE packets of silica gel to keep things dryish.
Electrical tape
Rigging tape
Quality crimper. If you don't wince at the price and pause before buying it, you're not buying the right tool.
big hammer,
small hammer
an assortment of hardwood dowels and wedges and blocks, to allow the hammers to do what they have to do.
A big prybar.
A small prybar.
Big slotted screwdrivers, aka big prybars.
An assortment of fasteners, electrical hardware and just plain stuff- all the tools in the world won't help if you don't have the parts to fix what is broke.
A micicrotorch flux, and solder. A good microtorch will do what big torches will and also double as a soldering iron.
A drill and a small circular saw.
Cobalt bits. if you can only have one set of bits, buy the ones that will do the job.

**boatman61** · 17-12-2010, 22:20

1/ Cork screw
2/ bottle opener
3/ can opener
4/ nail clippers
5/ nasal trimmer
6/ good knife (in case then can opener breaks or gets lost)
7/ wind resistant lighter
8/ auto pilot
9/ coffe grinder
10/ someone good at rolling cigarettes for when your hands are wet and cold

ozskipper · 17-12-2010, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannago

1. hammer
2. hammer
3. hammer
4. hammer
5. vise (cause after hitting your fingers 4 times trying to hit something with a hammer they start getting sore).
6. hammer
7. hammer
8. hammer
9. drill
10. grinder

AND A bigger hammer!!!
Cheers
Oz

unbusted67 · 17-12-2010, 22:55

fuel/oil filter wrench

**boatman61** · 17-12-2010, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by unbusted67

fuel/oil filter wrench

I love lady mechanic's

onestepcsy37 · 17-12-2010, 23:22

advice from red green;

if it's supposed to move and it doesn't - wd40.
if it's not supposed to move and it does - duct tape!

David_Old_Jersey · 18-12-2010, 03:28

My only 10 list would be different to the 10 most used. and different from the 10 most useful when used.

Not in my 10 most used, but I wouldn't be without these screwdriver attachments - on (a 1/4" drive) conventional socket wrench.

And just to stretch the subject..........

.........I would argue that good tool storage makes tools more useful. A place for everything. and everything in it's place