What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

[wakeondude]

I'm a newbee to boat ownership and have been trying to make a list of things I feel I should have on board. My boating at this time is limited to your basic state park lakes and ski lakes but I may venture out here next season and try my hand at Lake Erie. My list keeps on growing and pretty soon I may as well have my Snap On roll away on there, it's just getting ridiculous! I think I'm over thinking it here just a wee bit.

So besides the basic safety equipment req'd by law, what else are the must have's.

Thanks for your help

John

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I like to travel light as possible, don't want to be tripping over stuff thats not needed, I carry my trusty multi tool and that's about it, anything that would require any serious tools probably won't be fixable at sea. A well stocked first aid kit, and plenty of fresh water, large towels that can be used also for blankets.

 

[JoLin]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

You don't say what kind of boat, motor or drive you have, but keep tools and spares aboard for whatever you think you can actually fix while aboard.

I'll replace a fuel filter, but I ain't gonna install a new head gasket, dig? A policy with Sea Tow or Tow BoatUS can be a good investment, too.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

there are 2 parts to your question: tools and equipment. You need to describe the boat, too.
equipment: paddle, bailer and anchor.
extra water separator in a ziplock and a filter wrench
Jumper cables
extra line
boat hook
--in addition to required equipment

tools: think about things to fix stuff with: hose clamps, cable ties, electrical wire and fittings, circuit tester, duct and electrical tape; super glue, a couple of standard sized nuts and bolts and washers for stuff that rattles loose.
Small hammer and small block of wood.
--in addition to the basic pliers/screwdrivers/etc.

 

[Bluepike]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

How about a bottle opener and a cigar lighter?

Seriously though, a flashight and a inspection mirror can come in pretty handy when you're down in the engine compartment.

 

[5150abf]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

Generally if something breaks on the water there is a part involved so all the tools in the world won't help so I just have the basics, screw drivers, vice grips,cresent wrenchblack tape, just basic stuff like that and a good McGuyver attitude and you can get some stuff fixed.

 

[wakeondude]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

So basically sounds like I can get everything I really need into one little tool box, except for spare towels. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I consider a flashlight, and a spare flashlight, essential safety equipment, but thanks for mentioning it.
One of the reason I carry tools, etc., is not just for mechanical repairs, but for the stuff and toys--fishing equipment, bimini, etc that might need wrenching on.

 

[wakeondude]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I consider a flashlight, and a spare flashlight, essential safety equipment, but thanks for mentioning it.
One of the reason I carry tools, etc., is not just for mechanical repairs, but for the stuff and toys--fishing equipment, bimini, etc that might need wrenching on.

I just bought one of those batteryless (sp ) wind up led flashlights. It's waterproof too!

 

[gene8084]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

Seems most of the obvious high points have been addressed by others.

A few specifics I'd consider given my experience.

Multimeter, spare wire (12/14 gage), clips, wire ties, caps.
Screw drivers
Pliers
Basic wrench set
Cresent wrench
Jumper cables
Guest switch with 2nd battery (starting and a deepcycle) if you don't have this setup already.
More than one anchor and line.
Spare line to tie up / tow (can't assume SeaTow).
Type I Offshore Life Vests (depending on where you boat and passenger size & health). I take my inlaws so invested in a pair beyond the minimum required.
​

I've got an older boat with an I/O (1974) so I considered what could fail that I could easily stock without a lot of weight and that I could reasonably repair on the water. Just an example:

Parts: belt, distributor rotor, fuel water seperator.
Tools: confirm a pair of right size wrenches for repalcing the belt and an oil filter wrench, and empty coffee cans with lids.
​

So, point is make the list of what you could repair, get the parts and to tools to effect repairs. Think about safety gear beyond the minimum that you can carry without overloading.

 

[badkins50]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

A policy with Sea Tow or Tow BoatUS can be a good investment, too.

No - imho - ITS ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS for boating. I think I paid like $54 for the year and it saved me from having to pay $450 for 1 tow of a boat I paid 2k for. That was a no brainer for me.

I have a craftsman tool bag with the bare bones and easy to transfer back and forth from the boat to the camper. Good Luck

 

[howlnmad]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

Condoms... never leave home without them .

All the other items were listed already.

 

[dingbat]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I carry the same tool kit that they carry in the cockpit of a commerical airliner, plus a filter and prop wrench.

 

[Rellik546]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

this is gonna sound a bit off, but trust me. have a spare bag with toilet paper, and lady products tampons and pads(have the girlfriend or wife by them if your embarrassed .

this is assuming you do not have a bathroom on your boat or beach/dock.

we always bring the girls out... and it keeps us from having to bring them back to the dock/trailer to run to the store

Condoms have already been mentioned.

 

[raven7]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

2 more things to consider: Trash bag and a referee's whistle--Horn won't work if you end up with a dead battery.

 

[LIVE WIRE]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

My recomendation is to buy a small basic tool kit from craftsman or similar that is the plastic molded type that you can check right away for missing tools that could cause a future problem if left to bang around in the bilge . Some basic electrical stuff , 12V tester & wirenuts and connectors along with some Mcgiver stuff duct tape , that self sealing super tape stuff they sell at the boat shows, tiewire & 10' peice of 12 guage electrical wire , . I also have a seperate box for some liquids to keep a bottle of water and quarts engine , drive & hydrolic oils .

As for saftey stuff besides a good first aid kit and the required saftey equipment . Buy a good waterproof floatable hand held VHF with GPS and / or a SPOT GPS tracker ($150 + &100 yearly contract ). Cell phones dont work well if you have to go in the water and 911 connects you to land based agencies and are not prepared to react quickly maritime emergencies . I also like to carry orange day smoke signals ( nothing works better for day time emergencies ). I also like to carry a hand pump , bucket or a electric bilge with long hose , leads & aligator clips . If you should take on some water . These are all small inexpensive items you can fit in a tool box that will fit neatly in a storage compartment that you dedicate souly for this emergency equipment.

This all may seem a little extreme but if you be boating on Lake Erie . Lake Erie is big water and is no joke. A good weather day can go bad in moments on any body of water and things happen quickley so you want to be prepared .I'm a life long boater and spent a few years running search & rescue boats for the USCG . So in my opinion you cant have enough tools and saftey equipment on board . You just have to taylor it to the type of boating your doing, your mechanical skills , size of your boat and what you can comfortably & neatly stow on your boat without overloading .

Having some simple items can make the difference between a quick fix & enjoying the day or waiting for someone to come get you & possibly spending the night clinging to a seat cushion .

Being prepared is what separates "competent boaters" from those who just own a boat.

Be safe & Have Fun
Kevin

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

if you will be within cell phone signal range a cell phone in a water proof container..if not get a satellite phone.and some paper towels..leave every thing else..

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I carry alot of tools and spare stuff on board my boat... She is 24 years old... I got a small tool box I carry that has just about everything remove anything on the engine.. It's pretty heavy, but fits perfect under my jump seat in the rear.. I carry a extra bit of wire, spare fuses (small ones and the big ones that run the trim motor and stuff) electric tape, a hammer(cause sometime hitting it will help) Got a multi tool.. Good knife.. Lighter.. 2 good flashlights.. First aid kit.. Tie wraps... trim oil...some engine oil.. small can of WD-40. Spare belts

Now so far the best spare I had on the boat was a extra trim relay... Had the outdrive stuck up one time cause of one of the relays failed and I just so happen to have another in the glove box.. I coulda got the drive down without it but, popping one in there was alot easier than going back to the ramp with no trim control... So I for sure keep on of those jewels on board from now on...

 

[df909]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

I also carry a floating cushion with about 70' of rope attached. If anyone goes for a swim or needs help getting back to the boat I can through the cushion to them and still have the rope to pull them to the boat.

Another thing that has come in handy is a rope throw bag. It's a small yellow bag with a handle and I have about 100' of rescue rope in it. It's the bag firefighters carry with us in case we need to bail out of a building or something like that. You can fairly accurately throw the bag to someone in the water (it floats), throw it to another boat that needs help, or to someone at a dock. The weight of the bag and rope inside make it easy to throw.

If you do have something like that, don't coil the rope in. Just stuff it in hand over hand- it won't be pretty but it will pay off properly when you throw it. If you were to coil rope in it nice and neatly it won't pay off correctly and you'll get a bunch of tangled rope just when you need it the most.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: What equipment/tools should I carry on my boat?

If you're on the smaller inland lakes, a VHF radio will do you no good whatsoever and you'll most likely have cell phone coverage anyway. In an emergency, you'll be depending on other boaters or the sheriffs department for help. A distress flag will go a long way toward letting others know you need help.

Tools are going to be a matter of you determining the mechanical condition of the boat. Preventative maintenance will be your best tool. Over time, you'll sort out the weak links and repair them or have a fix handy.

If you're overly conservative, you may end up towing a spare boat with all the parts when everyone knows the spare boat is really for extra ice and beverages!