www.iFourWinns.com

Thought it might be cool to make a list of all the tools you carry onboard. I have decided the best place to store my multimeter is on the boat, as I seem to need it there more than anywhere else.

Small socket set, set of wrenchs, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, butt splice connectors and multimeter. Just a start.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

Oh lord...you'd think I was a HOARDER if you knew my boat toolbox inventory

I have 1 tool bag with the advanced basics (does that make sense?) lol.
It has screwdrivers, torx bits, pliers, a few common size ratcheting wrenches (9/16, 1/2, 5/8 12-18mm), a small hammer, a cheater bar, vice-grips, channel locks, and a few other small things.

I have a small hard case rachet set I bought from ACE. It has sockets of all sizes - metric and standard, a rachet, a few adapters (1/2" to 3/8 for example).

Then I have a smaller bag. It has super glue* (a MUST have, IMO), duct tape, electric tape, a small soldering iron, several electric marine connectors of various type, zip ties of all different sizes, a wooden plug, 2 different types of marine sealant (4200 & "life caulk"), a small basic multimeter, a little 12v test light, some bulk wire in a spool and a few other small things.

THEN I have another bag (are you laughing yet?)...LOL. It has 2 spare fuel pumps - 1 low pressure, 1 high, a spare thermostat, a spare spark plug and 1 spark plug wire I saved from the last tune up, 1 set of spare belts, so many light bulbs that go to various things on the boat (NAV lights, et al), fuses, spare keys to the ignition, misc. parts for my generator, extra wing nuts for the batteries, a stainless steel fastener kit (screws, nuts & bolts), a snap kit for the canvas and a few other small things.



It sounds like a OCD hoarder's tool kit BUT I have heard of stories where people got stranded in bad situations because they didnt have (insert basic item here such as a screwdriver on board).

All in all, my aft dinette storage, under the seat, is mostly used for my tool bags/emergency supplies...lol. I also keep a marine fire extinguisher in every part of the boat (Ive accumulated them over the years, why not keep them on the boat!?). 1 in the aft cabin, 1 in the cockpit, 1 in the dinette near the galley and 1 up in the v-berth...LOL. I think I need help

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

I, too, have a very well-equipped toolbox onboard. Two, in fact. One in the engine compartment with various box-end wrenches and other engine-only tools. Then I have the main toolbox with all my hand tools stowed under the bathroom sink. Both are ammo-box style, with the o-ring seal around the top to help keep out moisture. But then I also spray all my tools with BoeShield to help ward off surface corrosion (WD40 for those not looking to hemorrhage money on cans of overpriced aircraft materials).

What I have made the most use out of has been philips screwdrivers, long needle-nose pliers (one set is 18" long) and a cheapie set of sockets. For the screwdrivers it's important to have more than one, because otherwise you WILL drop it overboard. I've got two each, short and 8" long. For the sockets you'd only need "good ones" when you're doing actual engine work (like replacing manifolds). The rest of the time you're just adjusting or replacing something that doesn't require a lot of torque. So any old cheap set from sears, walmart or the like will do.

The only really specialized tool I've got onboard is an upholsterer's tack puller. It looks like a slightly bent flat blade screwdriver with a split tip. It's key to removing the faceplate on the Raymarine chartplotter.

As for supplies, I'll suggest some silicone "Rescue" tape. Great to making a temporary seal on something.

Soldering has NO place on a boat. The joints you'd make are too brittle to withstand boat vibrations. Sure, to touch up a colder solder joint on a circuit board, maybe. But never for wire connections. For that I bought a 100-piece set of waterproof connectors. I forget the brand, but they're the same style as currently used on automobiles. As I have to replace something I remove the crappy AMP/Molex style and replace them with these. I don't "need" to keep these on-board as part of the regular tool set but they have been handy to keep around, and I have enough room for them.

Make note, fire extinguishers have an expiration date. And, correct me if I'm wrong, the Coast Guard will ding you if you've got any expired ones on-board. Same thing with flares. Best to keep them up to date and cycle the 'expired' ones back to the shop or shed at home. I believe most fire departments will take any expired flares off your hands, as disposing them in regular trash is usually prohibited.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Any reason why not to just keep the expired ones when you get new flares? I would imagine you could always use those in an emergency should you need more than the 3-4 you may normally carry. Is there an issue with old flares I might not be aware about?

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

My "kit" sounds almost identical to yours! but add Spare Prop & prop nut, cotter pins, snap kit, and a large assortment of SST hardware. Take away the fuel pumps (I have carb), soldering gun and generator parts. I guess I'm a hoarder too!

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Since tools on boats don't seem to stay very pretty, I use the Craftsman Evolv series. Cheap, and good.

Standard socket set from 3/8 to whatever on those plastic sticks
Standard wrench set
Screwdrivers
Pliers
Crescent Wrench
Small wiring tool kit with some spare wire, connectors, wire crimpers
Prop wrench
Multi-tool
Can of penetrating fluid
Bottle of oil (drive and engine)
Spare prop
Sea Tow membership card

That's it. I keep it all in a dry bag for the most part. When I owned Volvo Penta I carried a spare serpentine belt just in case it broke so I could get home (to drive the water pump) but now that I own Mercruiser that headache is gone.

If I owned a cruiser and took extended trips, my "tool kit" would include a bunch of spare parts. Fuel pumps, filters, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, impellers, hoses, clamps, etc. Basically anything needed to fix the boat.

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

That sounds about like what I have in my bag. I keep the duoprop removal tool in there as well. I have a set of industrial picks that come in handy particularly with the impellers. The open area around the tip out waste basket in the cockpit has some great storage room and my bag goes in there along with my supply of microfiber towels. Don't laugh but I keep notes on the tools required to change out the impellers on both the engine and generator. I hate getting down in the engine compartment and finding out I need another tool or item. Ditto on the multimeter.

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2008 Vista 278 Volvo Penta 8.1 Gi 375 hp
1999 Horizon 220 5.7 GSi

haha... you guys had me forget about the prop wrench and spare props. I keep those elsewhere though.

I also have a piece of hose I keep on board and a manual (hand) bilge pump. I use the manual bilge pump mainly for our 10' Raider inflatable. The air pump (foot pump) I keep on the boat too.

I had the spare soldering iron that I threw on board, not to solder marine connections (ive got a huge marine grade connector set on board for that lol), but I cannot tell you how many times we've been at the boat club island or out on the hook with friends and a plug-in air pump for inflatables stops working, the cell phone charger dies, etc.... Its saved me and other people grief because I can repair connections right there, with the soldering iron running with the generator on or the plug-in inverter

We are destination boaters and overnight on the hook every weekend. Sometimes at the island for a boat club event or out in a bay somewhere. It sucks to be without something, and when Im on the boat - especially in the early spring or fall where I cant get in the water yet, I get fidgety...lol

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

To follow up, they're Weather Pack connectors:
http://www.weatherpack.com/

I've used them to replace the connections to several of my bilge pumps, some speakers and where there were some of the AMP/Molex style in the engine compartment.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I have all the basic hand tools, an oil filter wrench and a spare fuel filter, spare cooling hoses, spare Cobra impellers in the housing ready to install if needed, an IR temp measuring gun, spare set of plugs, points, condenser, cap n rotor, feeler gauge to set points if needed, and after my little incident a few weeks back, a spare 2000 gph bilge pump with alligator clips and a bilge hose hooked up. Just in case....
Also spare VHF with terminals on it so it could be hooked up quickly if the main one died....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes to most of the above... We have our 268 loaded down with so much stuff, it's not even funny...I hate being somewhere and needing something I don't have. I'm seriously gonna have to swap down to a 20p prop from a 22p just to be able to plane with more than four peeps aboard...but we are well stocked for any reasonable situation we might encounter.

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Jack
2005 268 Vista - Sold

2001 Silverton 35C 8.1L Crusaders

We have a ton... Actually, I have more tools on the boat, then I do at home.. Little bit of everything on her, and when dock neighbors need something, they come to me..

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

Duct tape and zip ties!
If you can't fix it with those, F it, it's broke!!!!

Just kidding...
I carry a craftsman kit in it's carrying case and added metric allen wrenches and a socket to fit the prop nut, an assortment of stainless fasteners and cotter pins, extra fittings for the bimini top, impeller, motor oil, drive oil, trim fluid, some quick set epoxy, electrical terminals and some wires with alligator clips on them for jumpers, etc. (I do carry duct tape and zip ties). I don't carry my spare prop in the boat because of storage, but we boat on lakes that I could get back to the dock fairly easy to get it out of the truck.
One of the best things that I USED to have on board was a rechargeable jump starter (until my daughter's DA boyfriend lost the charger for it.) Asking Santa for a new one this year.

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1999 180 Horizon LS 4.3 L GL Volvo SX
1994 Powerstroke
2002 Jeep Wrangler
not@work.gon
Happiness is an Empty Boat Trailer!!!

Beer! It fixes everything

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Beer and a hammer!

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings