Tools

[S. Sass]

Boat Tool Box suggestions

• Philips screwdriver 
• Flat blade screwdriver 
• Pliers average size
• Vise-grips
• Channellock Pliers 10"
• Crescent Wrench 10"
• Small wrench set
• Wire cutters / side cutters
• Spark plug wrench 
• Voltmeter / test light
• Prop wrench
• Flashlight with Xtra batteries (also a flashlight app is pretty good as a backup)
• Knife
• Jump box
• Wooden block cut at an angle (section of 4 X 4)
• Wire brush (to clean corroded connections)
• Duct tape
• Electrical tape
• Plastic cable ties / Zip ties
• Spare Prop
• Spare Prop Nut
• Spare Kill Switch cord
• Spare drain plug
• A piece of stainless steel wire about 36" long
• 6" of fuel hose
• Hose clamps
• Spark plugs
• Assortment electrical connectors 

This is not to be mistaken for a Medical Emergency Kit !  

The list above I do not take credit for as the members here and some input from researching the internet helped to create it. 

My original post starts below this line ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok since I now have a boat that I feel confident in taking miles out on the water I am interested in knowing what basic tools should a boat have on it.

Now mind you my boat is no yacht so I don't need a full blown rollaway. I just want what a typical experienced guy with a 115 Johnson outboard on a 18ft bass boat would carry. 

So let's hear what you carry and what you carry your tools in. 

Don't laugh my tools are not probably correct this is why I am asking. But so far I have :

1 Philips screwdriver average size

1 Flat blade screwdriver average size 

1 Crescent wrench 8" I believe

1 Pliers average size

Thanks for sharing 

Edited June 5, 2016 by S. Sass
Added the Boat Tool Box suggestions for easy access

[cfalco]

I have a lot of tools in my boat, even bought a waterproof tool box (small) to make sure they dont get wet or rusted.  The THREE most important things I have and the THREE things I have used over and over dont appear on your list.

DUCT TAPE

PLASTIC CABLE TIES

KNIFE

 

 

[Catt]

Channellock 10"

Cresent Wrench 10"

Phillips & Slotted screwdriver

Pocket knife

Electrical tape

Prop wrench

6" of fuel hose & 2 hose clamps

With these I can fix most any problem in your boat or truck!

[S. Sass]

Ok I always have a knife on me and one in my tackle but an extra one in the boat couldnt hurt. As for duct tape and ties I have them and will add those to the boat.

What kind of waterproof toolbox do you have? I'm interested in that as well as I have a history with streetcars and drag cars with a lot of tools. I cannot stand for my tools to rust.  They cost way to much and I am anal about them anyway.

Thanks.

[A-Jay]

Just now, Catt said:

Channellock 10"

Cresent Wrench 10"

Phillips & Slotted screwdriver

Pocket knife

Electrical tape

Prop wrench

6" of fuel hose & 2 hose clamps

With these I can fix most any problem in your boat or truck!

And I'll add a wooden block cut at an angle to go with that prop wrench. (section of 4 X 4)

and a Flashlight with Xtra batteries.

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

Just now, A-Jay said:

And I'll add a wooden block cut at an angle to go with that prop wrench. (section of 4 X 4)

and a Flashlight with Xtra batteries.

A-Jay

 

Forgot the block of wood!

Got a Q-beam in the boat just in case I'm fishing & it gets dark!

[S. Sass]

Channellocks!!! Yeah I forgot I had a pr of them on there already too. 

I see a lot of mention of spare props and prop wrenches. I guess I baby my boat a lot I just didn't think I would need them. Are they that bad about replacing? I'll see about getting them since it appears to be a sound idea.

Block of wood added and already have 2 flashlights 

[Catt]

Ohh! Forgot Visegrips!

Would not own an outboard with out a stainless steel prop!

[S. Sass]

Mine is stainless but I don't have the original. Should I still carry a spare? We don't have a lot of rock locally more wood and sand or dirt bottoms. 

Vise grips added 

[Catt]

49 minutes ago, S. Sass said:

Mine is stainless but I don't have the original. Should I still carry a spare? We don't have a lot of rock locally more wood and sand or dirt bottoms. 

Vise grips added 

Never had anything wosre than a few nicks in a stainless prop from hitting concrete ramps (no I wasn't driving).

As for stumps!

I fish Toledo Bend, ya gonna hit stumps if you're outside marked boat lanes!

Just don't do it at WOT

[Vayned]

I always carry a Leatherman Wave where ever I go.

[GetBent]

Good sharp pair of wire cutters for hooks. You ever get treble hooks in you, clothes, net, etc etc you will be glad you have them. Something big and orange you can wave around if you need help isn't a bad idea either. 

[Scott F]

A voltmeter. It is a big help troubleshooting electrical issues. 

[Way2slow]

You would think since there's nothing about one I can't fix, I would have a good supply of tools and spare parts.  Just the opposite, I keep a pair of channel locks to change the prop and a spare prop, some electrical tape and tie wraps, some extra sparks plugs and something to change those, plus a jack and something to change a trailer tire. There are always a couple of Leatherman Multi-tools in the boat, and that's pretty much my tool kit. 

I learned a long time ago, most everything will give you a few warnings before they break.  If you heed those warnings and go ahead ahead and fix the problems initially, and do regular inspections you usually don't get in a bad situation.  For those rare breakdowns that come without a warning, it's normally something that's you would not be able to fix on the spot anyway, so all the tools in the world are not going to do any good.   I'm a firm believer in preventive maintenance, replace fuel lines every few years, keep dielectric grease in all connectors, look for loose, worn or missing parts.  You would be surprised how many times you can spot a potential problem before it becomes one just by doing regular inspections. 

I don't even keep jumper cables in my boat because using them can blow your charging and ignition system.

[crypt]

also extra spark plugs,socket,ratchet. hose clamps.small wrench set,pliers,block o' wood,prop wrench. electrical tape,zip ties.basic stuff. most important tool is cell phone.also I keep a new jump box,bout the size of a sandwich.comes in handy.

[Catch 22]

All good ideas. For me, add a piece of stainless steel wire about 36" long.

[S. Sass]

OK I have went through all the responses to this point.  Trying to keep in mind what the original idea I had in mind when asking the question,"What basic tools should a boat have on it? " Obviously I took what were repeated responses or tools that would be redundant and came up with this list.

Tools suggested

• Philips screwdriver 
• Flat blade screwdriver 
• Pliers average size
• Vise-grips
• Channellock Pliers 10"
• Crescent Wrench 10"
• Small wrench set
• Wire cutters
• Spark plug wrench 
• Voltmeter
• Prop wrench
• Flashlight with Xtra batteries (also a flashlight app is pretty good as a backup)
• Knife
• Jump box
• Wooden block cut at an angle (section of 4 X 4)
• Duct tape
• Electrical tape
• Plastic cable ties / Zip ties
• Spare Prop
• A piece of stainless steel wire about 36" long
• 6" of fuel hose
• Hose clamps
• Spark plugs

Note: I edited my first post to make it easy to see the list for others looking for such information.

These items I agree should be had. These are more subjective as to if you think they belong in your specific 24/7 boat tool box.  As some people carry a cell religiously and probably will have it but not one left in the boat 24/7. I will make sure I have a lug wrench that actually fits the boat lug nuts and suggest other new boaters do as well. You factory tow vehicle lug wrench may not fit. 

• Cell phone
• Jack
• Lug wrench 

Since I am the only one pulling my boat I will keep appropriate tire changing tools in my trucks tools. This will save space, and save weight and on my boat. Also they wont fit in my smallish toolbox keeping them from ending up a rusted mess.   

Thanks to everyone who helped.