tooling up

Putting my tool box together and was wonder what you think are the most essential tools in your tool box. I guess what engine you have is relevant as well. I am tooling up for a FL135.

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. 10mm wrench(s)/socket(s). You may say "I'll never need that size." BUT if you do, it's the only size that will fit. You can "fake it" with an SAE tool kit for most metric sizes except for 10mm and 17mm with 10mm being, by far, the most common of the two.

sonas said:

Putting my tool box together and was wonder what you think are the most essential tools in your tool box. I guess what engine you have is relevant as well. I am tooling up for a FL135.

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The one you need right now and don't have. It also depends on what amount of repair work you're going to do. As an example, if you're not going to adjust the valves of align the engine, feeler gauges aren't going to be important. It might be a good idea to give us an idea of what level of repair or maintenance you plan to do. Planning on only doing oil and filter changes is one level. Swapping out the starter, alternator, fresh or raw water pump mighr be another level. Swapping out the damper plate will require even more.

Ted

I put this list together when we bought our first boat. Have most of these on the new boat organized by tool bags.

Tools and Spare Parts

Misc spares from Jeff Cote YouTube
Wire
Connectors
Alternator
Bilge pumps
Water pumps (raw, fresh etc)
Fuse holders
Terminal strips (bus bars)

Tools:

Boat is built with Standard fittings. Motor with Metric
-Measuring tape
-1/4-inch ratchet and standard and metric socket sets
-3/8-inch stubby ratchet and socket set
-Socket extensions
-Standard ratcheting combination wrenches
-Stubby ratcheting combination wrenches
-Long nose vise grips
-Wire cutters
-Wire strippers
-Wire crimper
-Ziptie cutter
-Pliers
-Needle nose pliers
-Adjustable wrenches
-Hose clamp pliers (to pinch hoses)
-Snap ring pliers for thrusters
-Pex hose cutter
-Teflon tape
-pipe sealant
-Flashlight
-M12 Milwaukee right angle drill
-Ratcheting stubby driver
-Driver set with Square Heads #0, #1, #2, #3
-Square head screwdriver #2
-5/16 nut driver for hose clamps
-Allen wrenches (standard and metric)
-Variety of screwdrivers
-Butane torch
-Electrical tape
-Multimeter with AC clamp meters
-110v outlet tester
-Zip ties
—Sharpie
Various blade fuses (see owners manual)
-Heat shrink wire connectors
-Folding utility knife
-Rigid E110 9-1/2” offset hex wrenches
-Gearwrench 2320D heavy-duty oil filter wrench 3-3/4” to 4-1/2”.
-1/2-inch torque wrench for belt tensioner. 52 ft-lbs for belt on D4
-Small length of clear tube for priming the diesel system after changing the fuel filters.
Pigs for fuel and oil filter changes
Twist connector to 110v pigtail
3/8-1/2 socket adapter.
Teflon paste
-Rubber mallet
-IR thermometer
-Battery terminal puller
-Flexible magnetic and claw retrieval tools and mirror
-Magnetic tool retrieval
Marine Heat shrink tubing connectors of various sizes

Handheld depth sounder
-dry silicone lubricant for sliding windows
-Spare Main Eng. Impellers.
Small gas can for priming Diesel filters after change. (Ocasionally pour contents into main tank & refill)
-Volt Ohm meter.
-Spare fuses that may be tucked behind dash or out of sight my and be old style glass.
Outboard motor gasket set for carb & fuel pump.
-Spare fuel filters for Main. Eng & gen.
A "Remove Before Flight" Red Tag to leave on helm so as NOT to start.

Spare Parts:
Oil filter
Fuel/water filter
Webasto heater fuel filter
Impeller kit
Belt
Potable water pump
Macerator
Assortment of fuses (see manual)
Motor oil (2 quarts)
Transmission oil (2 quarts)
Coolant (1 gallon)
Penetrating oil
Bilge pump with float
Shower bilge pump with float
Thruster shear pins
Nav/anchor light replacement

Other Stuff
Daly’s teak oil for raw wood
Pledge or Murphys oil for urethane
Ammonia free window cleaner
Clay bar for windows
Fresh microfiber cloths



Wetsuit for maintenance

I might have missed it as that was a very comprehensive list but an impeller puller comes in handy (much easier than using pliers or screwdrivers). Also a hose removal tool is a godsend for old hoses. Both are cheap at Harbor Express.

Bob Smith, one of the people that marinized the Ford for Lehman put together this list.

As a current mobile tech who just cleaned his van out wow I got a lot of stuff. All depends on your skill set and how deep are you going to get into it to fix it in all honesty. Electrical meters, amp clamps I’m partial to Fluke for all of my meters, rethreader kit, induction heater, good wire crimp set with strippers and terminal ends, vice grips, Hose pliers, hose pick, mini pic set, chisel and punch set with a hammer and dead blow hammer, socket set, a quality bit driver set, brass punch, files, as well as a socket 1/4 to 1/2” sizes up to 1” and 27mm or so and wrench set. Ratchet wrenches could be on the list to, mini ingnition wrench set, long reach pliers, telescope magnet, mini telescoping mirror, caliper guage, breaker bar, pipe for breaker bar, certainly ratchets, drill bits, left handed jobber bits, drill, extensions for sockets, I have my power probe 3 kit if you get into dc electrical,

I can think of a lot more and some was mentioned like pullers and souch. In The end it all depends on skill set and how deep are you going to get into it. Look all over the boat see if you can fix it and make a list of tools you think you need. I just kept collecting as needed for over 20 years so what I might bring could take over its own room and be my workshop.

if you buy a multimeter, be sure to buy a decent one that has clamp DC Amp function (most clamp meters are only AC amps).

sonas said:

Putting my tool box together and was wonder what you think are the most essential tools in your tool box. I guess what engine you have is relevant as well. I am tooling up for a FL135.

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Sae and metric wrenches
Side cutter pliers
Channel lock pliers
Vise grip
Needle nose
Adjustable wrench
Wire crimper and asst crimps
Hammer
Electrical tape
Complete screw driver set
Allen wrench set sae and metric
Multi meter
Maybe a hacksaw
All fit in this box

The answer is you can never have enough, but having tools you do not know how or what to use them for does you no good. We carry alot of tools and spares, but after 20 years with the same boat the collect keeps growing when discover you did not have the right tool for a specific task. just my 2 cents

After getting my Jefferson 45' I had the same thought . Already had a tool box on board that I had used with other boats. One rainy day sat in the engine room and went through the box . Kept sockets / wrenches that I could use on repairs that I could / want to do . Looked at everything and made note of tools needed to fix it . Found it or got it . Still needed tools thru out ownership and would get a HF tool if only needed a few times . Better tool for ongoing repairs . Your list it grow and if you find you don't use it ,put it on shore .

Oil/fuel filter wrench.

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sonas said:

Putting my tool box together and was wonder what you think are the most essential tools in your tool box. I guess what engine you have is relevant as well. I am tooling up for a FL135.

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My Visa card.

Don’t forget;
3/8inch electric drill and drills bits
Saw, vibrating and blades
Hack saw and blades
Crowbar

I would argue that if folks are asking what tools they need, they have never before used tools.

not that it's bad, it just points out the differing life experiences of boat owners.

ksanders said:

I would argue that if folks are asking what tools they need, they have never before used tools.

not that it's bad, it just points out the differing life experiences of boat owners.

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Even if you don’t use the tools much yourself, having a diverse/decent array of tools, as suggested above, as well as kit boxes of SS screws, nuts/bolts, cable ties and hose clamps (and long flexible shafted hex headed driver) will provide a useful start for anybody jumping into the engine room to lend assistance.
When you consider the cost of boating generally, investing in some tools pails to insignificance ;-)

I keep a multi-bit screwdriver (not too long) and a Leatherman at arms reach and I know where my wire close hanger is stashed in the ER.