Chuck,

I have more tools on the boat than I do at home. Others do it the other way. Some bring tools with them each time they go to the boat, but I tried that and it got tiresome quite quickly. I have verything I eed, built up over time, but full sets of sockets simply means two things: 1) you have too many and some simply don't get used; 2) if you didn't have the full set, you find something you'd need an odd size for...:)

There's a good tool list in the Appendix of this journal:

[url]http://cblights.com/cruising/SignificantDeviation_ICW-Bahamas.pdf[/url]

Most useful boat tool ever is a good cordless drill. Along with lots of bits and a brass wire wheel bit.

Also I have a drawer full of 'big ass' tools: big ass hammer, big ass crescent wrench, big ass vice grips, big ass channel locks, and big ass straight screwdriver ( / pry bar).

The other tools like socket sets I often take off the boat. The big ass tools will get you through most stuff.

Chuck..... I go with Stu... I have pretty much of everything. In particular I'd recommend two wrenches sufficient to adjust the packing nut if necessary (you don't want to find it leaking when your cruising and not be able to adjust it) and a filter wrench so you can easily change filters if necessary. I have the kind that looks like a big wrench that fits on any type of filter.

You may think you wont be changing filters on an unplanned basis but I can promise you you will at some point. I had an overheating situation once (which damages the oil so I had to change it) and another time I had a bad fuel contamination problem which required me to change the filter a few times on the way home. For the same reason I find it convenient to carry my electric oil change pump.

I could probably build a new boat with the tools and spares I keep onboard. I have an el cheapo set of socket and box wrenches in a plastic case; didn't want to put my expensive tools onboard and that danged thing is still rust free and functional after 20 years and two boats. Big adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, wire strippers, hammer, oil filter wrench, digital VOM. Spare oil and fuel filters, fan belts, several spools of wire, box of assorted crimp on connectors. Manuals for everything. I'm sure there are plenty of others. I'm sure all that weight would cost me a race, but I don't race, so not really a concern. It's unusual for something to break that I don't have the means onboard to fix it; but there's always something ;)

Ditto; have a mostly complete set of "boat tools" built up over time. Definite musts are a reasonable socket set; "big-ass" wrenches and screwdriver, including sized to fit packing gland; possibly some electrical connections and tools (butane solder iron), plus as many spares as you can afford....

[QUOTE=Nimue;21889]
Also I have a drawer full of 'big ass' tools: big ass hammer, big ass crescent wrench, big ass vice grips, big ass channel locks, and big ass straight screwdriver ( / pry bar).[/QUOTE]

In the enhanced derrière category of tools, a pipe wrench (or two) might be included (known as a "Stillson wrench" in the UK, I believe). Not an elegant instrument that one should use on anything delicate, but can be handy at times when nothing else will work. As to hammers: A good rubber mallet and a metal ball peen are in our box (no reason to ever have a claw hammer on a boat that I can see).

One of them magnet-on-an-extendable-wand-thingies is great for grabbing parts and tools that inevitably fall into places one can't easily reach (behind the galley stove is one of them).

Don't forget at least one good headlamp. Flashlights can role around, compounding the difficulty of repair job at night.

Well, I must admit that I do have a Harbor Freight 4-drawer took kit on board, mostly because it fits nicely in several places and every tool has a place so you can inventory your set from time to time. Some of the tools are trash, but I got tired of lugging my good set on and off the boat. Aside from what's in the 4-drawer kit, a couple of must-have extra items:

o Dremel tool with sanding drum, cutoff wheels, spiral bits, stainless wire wheel.
o Drill motor with cobalt bit set
o Multimeter and a few 24" alligator clip leads
o Solderless crimp tool set with wire strippers
o Two large adjustable wrenches (12" or larger)
o A complete set of combination box/open wrenches, SAE and metric.
o A complete set of allen wrenches, SAE and metric

The above covers about 95% of day-to-day and many emergency tasks. Certainly there are some tasks that might require a propane torch, sledge hammer, cold chisel, hole saws, etc., but few and far-between.

One tool I forgot to mention that I find very hand is locking pliers. I had the bolt that holds the shift lever in place break a couple of times on my C30 and I can tell you, that wrench made all the difference in being able to shift into forward and refverse and get back home... clamp it on and you have a good, temporary, lever. its obviously good for other tasks too.

Adjustable pipe wrenches are great tools to have. I bought a couple of ones made of iron, an 8" and a 12" in a set. After hefting the things around for a few years, found some aluminum ones that work just as well and are easier to manipulate. A set of "birdshead" type adjustable pliers (channel lock) are a really good investment as well. Make reaching some things a lot easier than with straight pliers.

There are lots of good suggestions above for tools... I keep most of my smaller ones in sealed clear plastic kitchen boxes, and spray in a bit of oil to keep rust at bay. These stack nicely, and I have 'holding' tools in one, 'cutting' tools in another, and so on.

I like to have an angle grinder that is less than 500W so will work with my 600W inverter.

West Marine sells a nice boat tool set which includes sockets, pliers. screwdrivers, allen wrenches, and needle nose pliers as well as various socket attachements for small screwdrivers. To this I have added a medium sized hammer, channel locks, hacksaw, volt meter, rigging tape, white electrical tape, white Gorrilla tape, hose repair tape, rigging knife, and clamp wrenches for all oil and fuel filters. In addition I carry a spare parts kit from the engine manufacturer, spare fuel and oil filters, and engine oil for oil changes and spare oil absorbing pads for below the engine. I also carry spare light bulbs for each type of bulb on the boat. Prior to each cruise lasting a month or more I have a diesel mechanic go over the engine and exhaust systems and I install a new water impeller keeping the old for a back up. This approach has served me well with the longest cruise lasting 7 months.