Best cordless tools for sailboats

[tms]

I need to upgrade some tools. I really like the Milwaukee cordless tools, but there are too many choices.

Does anyone have a strong opinion on 12v vs 18v? I like the idea of being small and light, but don't want to be short on power?

Does anyone have a strong opinion on 3/8, 1/2, or 1/4 in sizes?

Anything to keep in mind with these or are any of them just fine?

[Rex Delay]

Completely dependant on what you want to do. For power winches, Milwaukee M28, for misc tasks Mikita 18 v hammer dril/driver combo are my choice.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Rex Delay

Completely dependant on what you want to do. For power winches, Milwaukee M28, for misc tasks Mikita 18 v hammer dril/driver combo are my choice.

Another vote for Makita 18 volt drill driver, and add the angle grinder to the package, just about all the power tools you will need.

[Cotemar]

My Vote would be for Ryobi 18V ONE+

1/2 compact drill P1811

Vacuum P713

Battery 2 pack for $99 P122

I use all of the Ryobi Ryobi 18V ONE+ tools including saws, sanders and buffers.

They are perfect for a boat and come with fast chargers.
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[boom23]

I like the Bosch 12V cordless tools. They are compact and powerful.

[a64pilot]

I like hitachi drills cause best price for Lithium batts.
Larger electric tools I use 110V tools off of an inverter. Much lighter cheaper and usually more powerful than battery powered tools.

Usually higher voltage battery means more power and of course size, weight and expense too.

[Suijin]

They are all basically made by two companies these days, and rebadged for various brands, so you're basically getting the same thing with different housings no matter what you buy.

That said, I have abused my Milwaukee 12v driver/drill/impact to no end for five years and it keeps coming back for more. It came in a set with the dedicated impact driver, which I resort to when the combo unit can't cut it. It's very rarely that I encounter a circumstance where I wish I had an 18v or something larger than 3/8". I have a corded 1/2" Rigid for that.

If you buy a cordless drill/driver, get one with a light. Best thing since sliced bread. Not sure if they all have them now.

Quality corded tools are so ridiculously inexpensive these days that it does not make sense to saddle yourself with some heavy rechargeable for the 4% of jobs where it's needed vs. the lighter and more compact (and less expensive) 12v alternatives.

[travellerw]

I have multiple 18V Ryobi lithium on my boat. They have survived 10 months of cruising in the Caribbean with serious abuse (left in the rain multiple times).

Quality affordable tools.. Plus I can buy spares (batteries) in Puerto Rico or USVI at an affordable price.

[Soton]

A half inch chuck makes sure that you don't get caught out with the odd attachment such as hole saws.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Don't forget the key, critical, specialty tools. Like the Commercial Kitchen Blender that you wire directly to a D8 battery
Hamilton Beach 990 1 Gallon Commercial Food and Beverage Blender - 120V

Gotta have proper refreshments when working on the boat with those other tools

[brianlara 3]

Fwiw. In OZ most builders/carpenters etc use only Makita.

[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by travellerw

I have multiple 18V Ryobi lithium on my boat. They have survived 10 months of cruising in the Caribbean with serious abuse (left in the rain multiple times).

Quality affordable tools.. Plus I can buy spares (batteries) in Puerto Rico or USVI at an affordable price.

I've got an 18v Ryobi battery that survived a trip into the ocean. Yup, the Ryobi tools are not top-notch. But they're OK, and much cheaper. They also have a lot of tools that run on the same battery.

For higher quality stuff I'm partial to Milwaukee these days.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by tms

I need to upgrade some tools. I really like the Milwaukee cordless tools, but there are too many choices.

Does anyone have a strong opinion on 12v vs 18v? I like the idea of being small and light, but don't want to be short on power?

Does anyone have a strong opinion on 3/8, 1/2, or 1/4 in sizes?

Anything to keep in mind with these or are any of them just fine?

Extra power is mostly a tradeoff for time, space and weight.. On a sailboat, you should have plenty of time to use a tool that is slower to do its job but not so much space to store said tools plus maybe you might be weight sensitive.

I've chosen to go with Milwaukee 12v. I'm hoping they come out with a charger that will recharge off of 14v source (i.e. alternator or solar panel).

[Training Wheels]

Love my Makita.

[BambooSailor]

I like Makita tools too, but I also like RIDGID from Home Depot. Well built, rugged, but what attracts me is a lifetime warranty, including batteries, free replacement for life. That is important for me, as I had to replace Makita's batts twice, at @ $70 a piece (I need a pair) and my current ones are on their last leg.