Thanks to all boaters (power and sail) who sent in their lists of “Top Ten Tools”.
We had such a tremendous response, that we not only have a list of your Top Ten Tools, but a comprehensive list of all the tools that should be in every boaters toolbox.
Since there are many types of boats, the toolkit contents would vary; but the list we have compiled from all submissions is a great starting point. Most have sample uses.
Now that spring has arrived, it is a good time to assemble/collect tools for your boat’s toolbox. Why now? Collecting tools will help get you in the boating mood to prepare your boat for spring. It might even cure the “vessel separationitis”.
Here are your Top Ten Tools
- Screwdriver set
- Adjustable Wrench/Crescent Wrench
- Duct Tape or Gorilla Tape and Electrical Tape
- Knife
- Hammers
- Socket Set
- Crimping Tool
- Flashlight
- Pliers
- Vice Grips
There were many other tools recommended, but these are the Top Ten. The complete list is in the table below. Depending on your boat type and size, you may be wise to add a few more tools and supplies or reduce some items, that could be considered duplicate like wrenches and sockets and also tools too big or too small.
Once all the tools are laid out on your home work bench, size up and shop for the plastic or heavy canvas tool box, that you will need to hold everything. Plastic or canvas is lighter than metal and won’t rust. Keep in mind the space you have aboard to house this tool box. You may need to have two smaller boxes rather than one large—one for more commonly used tools and the other for less frequently used.
“Be Prepared” is the Boy Scout motto and that is exactly what my Scouter taught me. To this day, being prepared has saved me from many situations, that could have been complete disasters.
Being prepared with the right tools, can help you deal with problems faster and more confidently to get you and your precious boat up and going again.
Doug Dawson
Queen Scout
Boat Docking Expert
Boater's Toolbox - Sailors and Power Boaters
| 2 Hammers | Large and small | To persuade something to move. Use together to flatten propeller nicks like an anvil an sled. |
| Screwdrivers | Multi-Head or Individual. Robertson (square) Philips (star), Straight | To tighten or loosen screws |
| Water Pump Pliers | Locking pliers, split joint pliers | To tighten or loosen large fittings and hoses |
| Wrench Set | Spanner Set – open ended with ratchet on other end. Imperial and/or metric | To tighten and loosen nuts and bolts |
| Vice Grips | To clamp tight and hold items like a third hand | |
| Pliers | Needle Nose & Regular | To hold, tighten or loosen small fittings, or other fittings |
| Drill | Battery powered or hand powered, plus drill bits and screw bits | To make holes and drive screws |
| Allen Keys | Kit with various sizes | To tighten or loosen Allen screws |
| Socket Sets | Imperial or Metric. With adjustable angle head | To tighten or loosen hard to reach nuts |
| Spark Plug Socket | Extra deep socket | To fit spark plugs |
| Oil Can and/or spay lubricant | Like WD40 | To lubricate and penetrate for loosening |
| Propeller Nut Wrench | With cotter pins | To replace prop and/or sheer pins |
| Adjustable Wrench | Crescent wrench | To loosen or tighten when too rushed to find correct sized wrench |
| Pipe Wrench or Large Adjustable or Large Specialty Wrench | To loosen or tighten stuffing box nuts | |
| Crow Bar/Pry Bar | To move or lift heavy items | |
| Awl | Like a heavy duty ice pick | To undo tight knots or to tighten round turnbuckles or to push a hole in canvas |
| Marlin Spike | To push apart strands of rope for splicing |
To Cut, Hold and Seal
| Sharp Blades/Multi Tool | like Swiss Army Knife, Hunting or fileting knife, box cutter | To cut rope, line, hoses, zip ties, etc. |
| Meat Cord or Light Nylon Cord | Coil | To tie stuff and hang towels to dry, plus, plus |
| Duct Tape or Gorilla Tape | To secure anything to anything | |
| Tape Measure | To determine length required | |
| Pencil | To mark length or write notes | |
| Marker | To permanently label stuff or mark off depths on anchor rode | |
| Work Gloves | To protect hands | |
| Hack Saw and Spare Blades | Small or regular size | To cut metal, plastic, rubber, F/G or wood |
| Twist Ties | To temporarily hold things in place | |
| Clothes Pins | To temporarily hold things together or closed, separate clothes pin to create wooden wedges | |
| Wood Chisel | Sharp | To cut material to fit |
| File and Rasp | To smoothen and fine tune material to fit and smooth sharp edges | |
| Putty Knife | To spread sealant or scrape old sealant | |
| Epoxy Putty | To seal fiberglass or plastic | |
| Sand Paper | To smoothen or de-rust metal | |
| Canvas Snap Kit | & Locking Tool | To replace broken or lost canvas fasteners |
| Can Opener | Old fashioned type | To puncture holes in tops of cans like oil and other lubricants. |
Electrical & Plumbing
| Electrical Tape | Black, red and white | To wrap wires and cables together, To label negative and positive battery cables |
| Insulated Wire | Different colors | To replace damaged wire |
| Connectors & Terminal connectors | To join beared wires and to fasten wire ends to devices | |
| Crimping Tool | With wire stripper and wire cutter | To cut wire and strip insulation. To squeeze connectors onto bare wire |
| Wire-wraps or Zip Ties | Various sizes | To support groups of wires and/or hoses |
| Multi meter | Measures voltage, amperage and ohms, etc. | To test electrical circuits and diagnose problems |
| Tape/Rescue Tape | Leak-fix tape, Silicone Self Fusing Tape | To temporarily seal leaks in hoses and pipes |
| Water Pipe and Plumbing Hose with connectors | Various lengths of both | To replace damaged pipe and hose |
| Hose Clamps | Various sizes | To squeeze and hold hose ends to hard fittings |
| Lighter/Waterproof matches | To light a fire or to warm plastic pipe to stretch over fittings | |
| Plugs or Bungs | Tapered wooden dowels | To seal damaged thru-hull fittings or hoses. Tie one to each thru-hull for fast plugging |
| Hose – 6” long | With Wooden plug clamped in one end | To push over leaking thru-hull with seized sea cock. |
Spare Parts & Supplies
as per your boat and motor(s)
| Motor Oil |
| Oil Filters |
| Hydraulic Fluid |
| Transmission fluid |
| Gear Lube |
| Coolant for Closed Cooling System |
| Spark Plugs |
| Fuses |
| Water Pump hoses |
| Screws – assortment of stainless or brass |
| Nuts, Bolts, Washers – stainless steel |
| Sheer Pins - for outboard motor |
| Cotter Pins - stainless steel |
| Belts for power steering, alternator, etc |
| Cold Water (high efficiency) Soap – to wash oily bilge, tools, etc. |
| Absorbent Bilge Pads |
| Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner and rags |
| Silicone Sealer |
| Water Pump impellers – Motor, outdrive and water pressure pump |
| Fuel water separators |
| Garbage Bags/Plastic Shopping Bags |
| Inflatable Dinghy patch kit |
Sail Only - Spare Parts and Supplies
| Sail Repair Tape |
| Sailmaker’s Needle and Thread |
| Cotter Pins or Split Rings |
| Clevis Pins – Stainless Steel |
| Winch Handle |
| Jiffy Lube – silicone based to lubricate mast track |
| Track slides for boom and mast |
Other
| Flashlights - LED | Several, waterproof | To see in dark bilge, lockers and docking |
| Toothpicks & Popsicle Sticks | To stop rattles, or apply glue | |
| Telescoping Handle Tools | With mirror, magnet and a claw | To find and retrieve dropped parts and tools from the bilge |
| Pail or Bucket | 5 gallon | To bail bilge leak in an emergency |
| Diving Mask & Flippers | Good pair of lungs | To dive to cut line from prop |
| Phone | Everyone has one | To access youTube “how to” videos To photograph disassembly for easier re-assembly |
| Paper Clips | Large | Open one up to clear small jams like spray cans |
| First Aid Kit | Complete w/Bandaids | To fix the fixer and the “oh shits”. |
| Cork Screw/Can opener | Beverage | To celebrate after successful repair! |
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