Mechanical items to carry onboard?

Firemedic181

Firemedic181

Active Member
Aug 5, 2021
229
MacRay Harbor
Boat Info
2000 510 Sundancer
Engines
Cat 3196's
We have a 2000 410 sundancer and am going to put together a “tool box” of items that may be needed while out on the water and looking for some things and tools everyone would recommend:
These are some things I was thinking:
-Duck bills for vacu flush toilets
-Fuel filters for engines and generator
-Socket set and adjustable wrench
-oil,coolant,coolant hoses

Thanks for suggestions and come on warmer weather!!!!
 
I've resigned myself to the idea that if one engine is still running there are very few repairs I'd be willing to make whilst on the hook. So my spares carriage is pretty sparse.

Fuel filters
Oils (engine, trans, steering)
Belts
Impeller (for the generator only, mains are major surgery for my setup)
Tow Boat US card :)

And...that's about it for me. Perhaps add to your toolbox set a turkey baster. Makes getting coolant into your gen easy. I actually have a second one for steering fluid too...

Ohh I also have one of those strap filter wrench thingy's (that is definitely the technical term for it). I use it on oil filters, fuel filters, all that stuff.
 
Breaker bar to change the belt....no sense in carrying a spare belt if you cant release tension on the idler pulley!

Oh, I'd also strongly recommend carrying a portable high intensity LED light for any bilge repair work....for any repair work for that matter! It's come in handy zillions of times!
 
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I have added to my tool box as time goes on. If I have to get a tool from the garage that is needed to make a relatively simple repair, it stays on the boat. After 7 years have quite the "boat" tool kit. I have a small one for when close to home and a larger assortment of tools and parts when cruising for a longer period.
 
Firemedic181 - if your name is also your profession, we think alike. I am a recently semi retired Maryland FF/Paramedic of 43 years. The specialized training we go thru certainly helps in many aspects of life. Tanks for your service.
 
Korkie said:
Firemedic181 - if your name is also your profession, we think alike. I am a recently semi retired Maryland FF/Paramedic of 43 years. The specialized training we go thru certainly helps in many aspects of life. Tanks for your service.
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I appreciate that and thank you for yours as well
 
Stee6043 said:
I've resigned myself to the idea that if one engine is still running there are very few repairs I'd be willing to make whilst on the hook. So my spares carriage is pretty sparse.

Fuel filters
Oils (engine, trans, steering)
Belts
Impeller (for the generator only, mains are major surgery for my setup)
Tow Boat US card :)

And...that's about it for me. Perhaps add to your toolbox set a turkey baster. Makes getting coolant into your gen easy. I actually have a second one for steering fluid too...

Ohh I also have one of those strap filter wrench thingy's (that is definitely the technical term for it). I use it on oil filters, fuel filters, all that stuff.
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I agree with this. Having limped home on one engine many times I found my items just collected dust. Basic wrenches, sockets, screw drivers, plyers, fuses maybe, a fuel filter, one main engine belt, that's about it. Even oil/fluids do not make sense to me anymore. If I need that much oil/fluid there's a more serious issue. And as much as I like to think I would do it, I am not replacing a raw water impeller on the water. Difficult enough at the dock to do.

Anything related to the head, well that's what the river/creek/bay water is for ;-)

For extended trips I used to carry a 10 gallon container of fresh water in case we ran out and needed it. Never did though. Also started saving gallon jugs from home to bring fresh drinking water to the boat versus buying bottles, wasting plastics, etc.
 
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Funny story; we purchased our 330DA spring of last year I moved most of my boat tools from 2700 Maxum straight over and had everything I needed to get the season started. Throughout the season I found a has so much storage space on the 330 that of course I filled them up with parts, fluids, tools, and junk. When I cleaned the boat out in the fall I found 7 fuel filters, 5 oil filters, various generator parts, 3 impellers (2 used?), 4 funnels, oil-stained rags/ baking trays, 3 parts organizers. And then 4 different tool storage boxes (plastic ammo cans), bags, and kits. So bottom-line I didn't use a 3rd of that stuff, but it was my first season with new to me boat (w/ twins & genie). I anticipate this coming season will more organized.
 
Not exactly mechanical...
Spare bilge pump and related butt connectors, wire stripper & crimper.
 
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Shaps said:
Spare bilge pump and related butt connectors, wire stripper & crimper.
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You mention this...I've been tossing around the idea of fashioning some kind of "crash pump" with a spare 5,000gph bilge pump. Though I'm not sure how useful it would be in an actual taking-on-water emergency...
 
Someone here, on a different thread, mentioned they designed there engine seacock/strainer/hoses to quickly pull water from the bilge (I am paraphrasing what I read). I thought this was clever.
 
Keeping a few assorted, SMALL BLOCKS OF WOOD has always come in handy with assorted mechanical chores.

I also keep one long piece of 1" PVC pipe with a piece of electrical tape to show my absolute required depth. If storage is an issue, a this can be shortened and then put together with threaded PVC fittings.

This can be VERY VALUABLE if one ever gets into skinny water, or drifts outside a channel.

BEST !

RWS
 
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