Most Useful Repair Stuff to Carry on Board

[James Baines]

Along with all the usual stuff we carry “Just in case” and other than Duct Tape which can be used to virtually rebuild your entire boat, what other oddball “Must Have” repair materials are there that folks won't leave home without?

I have found dozens of uses for strong cable ties, you can get 100 of the 12” long ones for about $3.00 and a couple of “Temporary” repairs I have used them for are shamefully, still in place.


I keep a couple of tubes of Super glue and a can of Epoxy Cement handy, and wire coat hangers have saved my skin once or twice, as did a pair of pantyhose when an engine belt broke one time. I carry lot's of other unlikely things and I'm curious to know what your most unlikely “Problem Solvers” might be.


Don't tell me about the normal stuff, just the unlikely stuff that can be used for purposes light years away from its original design intent.

[SaucySailoress]

Doh. I came by to say "Duct tape and cable ties, duh." But you've stolen my moment, so I shall slink away again....

Oh, no, wait - I've got one.... Pattex!!! Oh no, you've already got glue. Hmm. Not a lot else one really needs is there?

[Jentine]

Gorilla Glue, sheet gasket material, sheet thin rubber (synthetic), good collection of nuts, bolts, screws (both machine and sheetmetal), specific spare parts that have a high rate of failure

[barnakiel]

Insignia cloth (stickyback dacron in sheets).

Pieces of rod and flat battens.

Webbing.

Bulldog grips.

Sheet plywood (and a good cutting tool).

Pieces of sheet plastic wood.

b.

[doug86]

I love Rescue Tape. Spash Zone. JB Weld. MarineTex. ( no connection with any)

A variety of C-Clamps, bar clamps. Scraps of Starboard, teak, lexan, aluminum, maple, plywood and PVC pipe. Ratchet straps.

[savoir]

A reel of 1/8 nylon string plus a reel of 3/16 poly string.

Several packets of plastic cigarette lighters.

[S/V Alchemy]

A tap and die set and a varied supply of machine bolts, nuts and washers, both metal and plastic.

Fibreglass or otherwise heat-resistant tape for wrapping around disintegrating parts of the exhaust system.

Rebuild kits for head pumps.

Only the best SS hose clamps. If it's not SS, you'll find out soon enough.

A handheld, battery powered label maker. Can't express how important this is, because eventually all the red 12 ga. looks alike. This is not so much a "spare" as "label everything before you go".

[pullord]

MUST HAVES ARE BUNGS-if you dont know these are tapered wooden plugs similiar to large bottle-corks and are used to plug through-hulls you break while repairing or that break on there own while boat is in water,,a couple of wooden baseball bats and a woodsaw are also recommended if you need to create a custom sized bung in a hurry,,PS always be delicate with brass bolts cleaning through-hull filters for if you break them you will need a bung fast while you drill and rethread/replace,,you do have drill/bits etc,,proper sized through-hull bolts?,,because if you fail in this simple maintenance procedure you will sink your boat examining through-hull filters{especially rusty old ones that snap easy},,gorilla wrench grip NOT recomended,,cheers

[smurphny]

• Lengths of stainless steel flat bar 1", 1 1/2" X 1/4"
• Plenty extra all sorts tape: rigging, elect, duct, masking
• Assorted glass:mat, roving, cloth, >=Gal of epoxy & activator, thickener
• Slickseam
• Lengths of assorted pcs wood: 1X, 2X
• Ductseal (electr. product)
• Scotchkote (ditto)
• Tools: All you have room for and old hand tools like braces/bits and every possible engine tool for complete rebuild.

[mbianka]

I second Marine Tex both Grey and White.
Same for cable ties:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: DAMAGE CONTROL
Rubber matting
A few odd pieces of wood.
Life Chalk
3M 5200
West System Epoxy
A few bungee chords
Box of Nitril Gloves

[St. Elsewhere]

A 1/8" rod (mine is fiberglass) that is a bit longer than your engine's heat exchanger. If it's tubes get plugged, "rodding it out" will get it working again.

[smurphny]

Great thread. Someone ought to compile a list when it is done.

• Rags/paper towels
• Acetone
• Sandpaper
• bungs=hang 'em on thru hull locations
• s.s. seizing wire
• hand cleaner

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by James Baines

.............
Don't tell me about the normal stuff, just the unlikely stuff that can be used for purposes light years away from its original design intent.

Is it just me or not but almost all the stuff mentioned so far is what I call just normal on board repair items and are being used as intended by its original design intent.

How about cutting up your wetsuit for a temporary rubber gasket or seal or using some earwax in lieu of silicon grease .

i am hoping to hear of the un-normal stuff.....

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Is it just me or not but almost all the stuff mentioned so far is what I call just normal on board repair items and are being used as intended by its original design intent.

How about cutting up your wetsuit for a temporary rubber gasket or seal or using some earwax in lieu of silicon grease .

i am hoping to hear of the un-normal stuff.....

My thoughts too!......i2f

[SaucySailoress]

OK - here's one which came in valuable last week....

I used a rubber band to make an o-ring for the seal on my coffee mug lid....