What Tools Will I Want?

[Jay Jennings]

We don't have a boat yet, but in the next few weeks we're selling everything we own that doesn't fit into the pickup truck. We're heading out of Alaska in a few months and the goal is to be shopping for a sailboat to move onto by the end of December.

My question is, what kind of tools do I want to hang on to so I don't have to repurchase them when we get onto a sailboat? Things like socket set, wrenches, and screwdrivers seem obvious to me, but its things like electric tools (rotary saw, sanders, biscuit joiner, jigsaw, drills, etc.) that have me wondering.

In your opinion, which of those kind of things am I going to want to hang on to?

Thanks.

Jay Jennings

[Patrick_DeepPlaya]

If you have the tools, I'd keep 'em all. You can always get rid of them after you fix the inevitable stuff that needs fixing before you untie from the dock.

[Jay Jennings]

Thanks for the advice -- I was hoping to weed things down to keep from driving them from Alaska to Florida, but I'll keep hold of them for now and throw out some of the kids' things to make room. =

Jay Jennings

[Evan]

I'd skip the circular saw and biscuit jointer unless you are going to be doing a lot of cabinetry. You can do a lot with a good jigsaw. Sanders - can't have too many. Drills; well 1 is probably sufficient. I like corded drills because they are loads cheaper and the battery never dies when you're in the middle of a job.

[Daddy's Dream]

I borrowed the original list from another Forum. But it seems to be the best list I've seen so far. I added a little to it.

STILL ON MY LUST LIST

• Head lamp
• Wood Files
• Protractor
• Small label maker
• Small butane torch
• Knee pads
• Stuffing box wrench x 2
• New soldering gun

NEEDED, BUT CAN WAIT UNTIL I GET THE BOAT

• Bosun chair or mast climber
• Quality Oil filter wrench
• Small fluid transfer pump, (I hear a turkey baster works very well).
• Small vise.
• Stand alone plug in drill for the heavy duty jobs

HAVE

• Vice Grips, one big, one small one with long nose.
• C Clamps.
• Good Screwdriver/Multi driver set
• Multi meter.
• Screw extractor set.
• Bolt extractor set.
• Wire strippers.
• Crimpers.
• Electric tools. I have an 18V battery set which has sander, jig saw, flashlight, and multispeed drill.
• Jig saw, plug in type.
• Spade bits and normal bits.
• Swivel joints
• Measuring devices (tape measure, calipers, protractor)
• Dremel with all the accessories and attachments except the drill press or the router.
• Small tap and die set.
• Hole saw set.
• Wrenches, both metric and standard.
• Pipe wrench Small & large
• Cresent wrench. Small & large.
• Ratchet set 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive, including various sizes of extensions, and swivel joints.
• Pliers, long nose, needle nose and regular.
• Side cutters.
• Heavy duty scissors.
• Small vise.
• Hacksaw, small handsaw, and coping saw.
• Grabber. Small flex device with a plunger activated claws which can grab that one of bolt which you dropped into the bilge just out of reach of your fingers. Magnetic ones don't work.
• Soldering Pencil.
• Good Quality sharp knife
• Razor blade knife
• Razor blade scrapper.
• Nut splitter for striped nuts.
• Fish tape 1/8" x 30', (for pulling wires).
• A nice multimeter and two cheaper ones.
• Metal files
• Jewelers tools.
• A belt sander, (3" x 15").
• One disc sanders, (for electric drill)
• Pipe/tube cutter

I'm sure someone here will let me know if I left anything out.

[Boracay]

If you have a tool then you brought it for a reason.

The tools that you have will suit how you like to work.

Every tool that you mentioned could be used on a boat.

There is nothing quite as satisfying when, in the middle of a tricky job, you can pick up just the right tool.

When you pack them all up properly you should find that they do not take up too much space...

[GordMay]

Every tool that you know (or could easily learn) how to use.

[mobetah]

If you purchase a boat with a lot of teak ..... Keep your heat gun or buy a good one. Also a good orbital sander is a MUST (IMHO).

Good Luck

[ssullivan]

I agree with all above who said keep 'em all.

You need so very many tools on a boat. Tools were the reason I had to drive to FL to get my new catamaran. I couldn't check them in to fly. It cost me a fortune to drive down and then get storage for tools when I was down there waiting to close, but you know what?

It was a lot less $$ then re-buying all the tools.

You'll be very happy you have that one little thing when something breaks and you have the perfect tool to fix it.

[imagine2frolic]

When I joined the boat in St. Maarten after the purchase. I spread tools through 4 large suitcases, and it still cost me several hundred dollars in extra weight. The P.O. left tools on the boat, and once arriving back into the states with the boat. I have since added more tools. You need enough to rebuild the whole boat, and then you will always need something you don't have, or can't find, because there are too many tools.

[Joli]

I guarantee the one you get rid of yesterday will be the one you need today.

[imagine2frolic]

That would be a very safe GUARANTEE!......LOLOLOL

[David M]

Jay,
I dont know what they are called but I would get one of those flexible grabbers that you grip at one end and has a pincher like a claw at the other end. You push a button down and the claw pinches closed. They are typically about two or three feet long. This tool is great for picking things out of the bilge under the engine or other places where things like nuts and bolts and other tools have gone that you cant quite reach with your hand.

A little makeup mirror is also helpful for seeing around things....and touching up your lipstick...LOL

A light that mounts on your forehead is also helpful so you don't have to hold a flashlight while turning a wrench or doing whatever else.

David

[Lodesman]

How about a small wet/dry vac?
Is an inverter welder useful, or overkill?

What Evan said about battery drills got me thinking - most everyone I know who has owned cordless drills has a collection of drills for which the batteries are shot, but has found that a new drill set with 2 batt's is cheaper than a replacement batt for the old drill. One of my old one's just happens to be 12v - I've thought of wiring it to plug into the boat's 12v system. My little trailer sailer has 12v (lighter style) socket - do cruising boats (usually) have 12v sockets/receptacles?

[Boracay]

I've got as far as putting the wires into my old Ryobi to convert it (left the batteries in place...).

A 12V outlet and extension cord is on my to do list.