Floating hardware store

Phasma

Phasma

Phasma2128
Sep 17, 2016
691
West Michigan
Boat Info
2003 360 Sundancer
Engines
Mercruiser 8.1s Horizon
I have read with interests the advice given for maintenance and repairs aboard. I came to the conclusion that if I were to prepare for all eventualities, my boat would be a floating hardware marine store. In the interest of trying to be as prepared as possible without overloading my boat, I am curious what others carry with them as far as hardware, onboard for emergency repairs.
 
Rescue tape, extra belts, fuel filters, oil antifreeze, impellers(gen and mains), duck bills(toliets), basic tools, volt meter, jumper wire, and lots of food/liquor for when all else fails....lol Might as well be fat and happy..
 
IMO priority should be given to things that would keep the boat from sinking in case of an emergency....

then it would be up to you if you want to carry things that would allow reasonable repairs to an engine that is down....but you have two engines and the likelihood of both going down at the same time is very slim....you should be able to 'limp' home or into a nearby marina on one engine then make the needed repairs to the down engine......but if not you can always call for assistance....

personally I carry very few spare parts onboard but I do keep a few tools onboard in case I need to tighten a hose clamp or some other basic task...

cliff
 
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There is a way to limit what you carry:

There is no need to carry a spare component if you are not mechanically capable of that type of repair, or if such a repair requires special tools you cannot carry....for example, some engines require a hydraulic press to remove the drive gear from the seawater pump. Why carry a spare $1000 water pump onboard if you are not capable of changing the water pump and you certainly don't carry a 10-ton hydraulic press onboard.

Why carry a spare injector if changing one requires you to re-time the injector pump with a laptop and a fast WI-FI for access to a computer system you don't have access to or if susch an injector change requires special tooling from the manufacturer?
 
fwebster is spot on .

it may depend on your boat and knowing what 'likes' to fail often at it but i carry only engine and gearoil , one extra sparkplug , an impeller and a serpentinebelt . of course a good toolbox , working lights , fuses wires and sparebulbs.

if anything more serious wents south your holiday is ruined anyway .
 
I keep all the tools I need on board for projects. This is a dedicated tool bag for the boat only. I do not keep my cordless drill on board, however.

My spare parts kit is simply what I replace every year (oil filters, fuel filters, belts, impellers, at cetera). I use the "spare parts" in the winter to perform maintenance and then reorder for spare parts the following season. This ensures my spares stay "fresh" and I have the liberty to purchase when they are at a Good price.

Kits are: a stainless set of machine scews, nuts, tapping screws, rivots along with a pack of varietal fuses and spare bulbs (especially for running lights).

Again, I keep things on the boat to do most projects that wouldn't be emergency - mainly because we are hours away from the boat. If I was only 10min away, I'd keep less on the boat. Okay, who am I kidding - I like knowing I have just about everything I need when I need it.

I'll see if I can post my tool bag items.
 
The only spares I keep on board (so far) are:
- extra light bulbs
- some fluids to top things off
- tie wraps
- duct tape
- nice little tool kit
- A few 15 mm plumbing fittings since I've had a few old ones start leaking
- small amount of wire
- just a few wire connectors
- All books and manuals (light reading)
- Tow Boat Phone App

I'm fortunate to be located at a good full service marina that has Saturday hours and plenty of maintenance parts on hand.
 
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here's the "inventory list" i started last year with my 260DA. the tool kit has remained (for the most part) the same, and of course all the spares have adapted to twin diesels.

the list grows as different projects are done on the boat.
 

Attachments

  • inventory260DA2017.pdf
    66.9 KB · Views: 143
I have a relatively complete tool kit of wrenches, sockets and screw drivers. Also a hack saw and a couple of files.
I also keep a rechargeable drill with a complete bit set. I have a container full of "spare" stainless screws, washers, bolts, nuts, snaps, of all different sizes. I have a small spool of stainless monel wire. Over the years the collection is growing from various projects and shopping trips. Its come in very handy for me or other boaters.

On the electrical front, I have a container with a bunch of electrical parts. A few spare switches, several spools of tinned wiring in the basic colors and gauges, a whole bunch of assorted crimp connectors, butt connectors and other connectors, a package of shrink tubes of various sizes, liquid electrical tape. Spare bulbs of various sizes (mostly the stuff I took out when I went all LED). Spare fuses for anything that takes wired fuses. (I buy spare fuses whenever I buy electronics. I also have a wire stripper/crimper, and a circuit tester.

I also carry a set of booster cables. Sounds stupid, but has come in handy a few times to get someone's boat started. Its a lot easier to take one battery from my boat out and connect it with booster cables to the dead boat.

Spare belts. A couple quarts of oil. A container of distilled water.
 
I am curious if the members who keep a varied assortment of things on the boat like enough oil and filters to do a service on the engines and a significant amount of tools and spare parts and all types of hardware and bulbs and electrical connectors etc. do so because they do not have a dock box to store such items in.....I also keep these things around but they are stored in one of two dock boxes I have at my slip or in the tool box in the bed of my truck......

I would never consider servicing my engines while away from my dock so I would never think about wasting precious storage space on the boat for these type items...just an observation and my opinion which is worth what you paid me for it....nothing...:)...

cliff
 
CliffA said:
agree....keep it simple......does your boat use fuses?

......;)......

cliff
Click to expand...

I learned that lesson last weekend during my spring shakedown cruise. I got about 300 yards from the drawbridge, and keyed the mic to request an opening. and bam. VHF gone, Chartplotter gone, Depth finder gone, presence of mind gone.

Fortunately I was able to lookup the Bridge's landline number and call them on my cell.
 
I think it depends on the size of the boat, I've probably got more stuff than my local West Marine under my mid-berth. Heck I think I even have a bottle of R22 in there somewhere...
 
CliffA said:
I am curious if the members who keep a varied assortment of things on the boat like enough oil and filters to do a service on the engines and a significant amount of tools and spare parts and all types of hardware and bulbs and electrical connectors etc. do so because they do not have a dock box to store such items in.....I also keep these things around but they are stored in one of two dock boxes I have at my slip or in the tool box in the bed of my truck......

I would never consider servicing my engines while away from my dock so I would never think about wasting precious storage space on the boat for these type items...just an observation and my opinion which is worth what you paid me for it....nothing...:)...

cliff
Click to expand...

I have a dock box, but there is ample storage on board for all of my "spares". Plus the dock box is full of spiders... EEEEW
 
dcpringle said:
Rescue tape, extra belts, fuel filters, oil antifreeze, impellers(gen and mains), duck bills(toliets), basic tools, volt meter, jumper wire, and lots of food/liquor for when all else fails....lol Might as well be fat and happy..
Click to expand...
Also wooden plug incase of a failed through hull. You get get a bag of these at West Marine.
 
Just based on what you all have said I believe I will rethink my stockpile of hardware. Limiting to a few things from each category. My collection seems to have grown to the point the admiral is laughing at me. An organized dock box would be a better idea for a stash. I just can’t seem to throw away good useable stuff. Is there such a thing as a hoarder in boating? Maybe I need an intervention...
 
A good set of tools is key and should include a 12 volt test light, some fuses, 12 volt connectors and whatever else you may need to snip off a worn or dirty connection and re-connect it.
I’ve found that the overwhelming majority of 12 volt problems are caused by a weathered or bad connection.
I carry some belts and hoses along with a spare float switch. I’ve had a couple of shower sump float switches fail over the years and it was always while on a trip. Most recently was last fall. Having the spare came in handy.
Most importantly, make sure you have either a Boat US or Seatow membership that includes towing. Worse case scenario, they can get you to a place where you can get any problem that may arise taken care of.
 
Boat US check, tool box check, multimeter check, assorted crimp on connectors and crimp tool check, hose clamps check, rescue tape check....everything else....dock box
 
Phasma said:
Just based on what you all have said I believe I will rethink my stockpile of hardware. Limiting to a few things from each category. My collection seems to have grown to the point the admiral is laughing at me. An organized dock box would be a better idea for a stash. I just can’t seem to throw away good useable stuff. Is there such a thing as a hoarder in boating? Maybe I need an intervention...
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a lot of stuff. What I used to do when I had the 360 is keep what I thought I might need to get back to the dock if something minor happens while out to the beach or a restaurant or???. Basic stuff, spare fuel filters, both the inline and spin ons, a belt etc beyond that your not far away to limp home or call for a tow. The person above that said whatever you need to help keep your boat from sinking is right on, that can happen no matter where you are.
Then, on a shelf in my basement or in my dock box were things that went on the boat when I was leaving the dock for a 2 week get away on vacation. Not a lot more, but a little bit. Things like a better set of electrical supplies, the multimeter, drill/driver, a kit to make repairs to canvas, a kit that had 2 or 3 different kinds of epoxy repair materials, main engine and gen impellers, dinghy repair stuff, plugs for the little outboard etc. You can take as much or as little as you want. It all depends on your abilities, where your going and how self reliant you want to be. But as I said, for everyday boating, this stuff all stayed in the dock box or home. I never ventured too far off the beaten path and figured I could always get parts pretty quick.
Now is a different story, but I have the room to store it all
 
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