Favorite Boat Tools Thread !!

[Maine Sail]

Hi All,

I though it would be a good idea to start a favorite boat tools thread. We all have our favorites that we can't live with out so what are they??


I'll start. The "Skill Tech Pocket Caliper" available at Sears is one of my all time favorites. They are a small handy and perfect boat tool. This little tool is made of brass so it doesn't rust like most tools will, on the boat, and the numbers are very easy to read. Plus at only $7.99 it won't break the bank! I have many more tools I can't live without but this little gem is one of my favorites..

So what tools do you guys love??

Measuring for my new roller furler:

[sailingdog]

Two of my favorites would be the Leatherman Surge pocket tool and my Gerber Recon LED flashlight.



The Core is an improvement over the older pocket tools, since it has a decent size set of scissors and a saw that has replaceable blades.



The Gerber Recon works on a single AA, and provides you with selectable Red, White, Blue or Green lights via a rotating filter set. The red filter is identifiable by touch so you can set it and not ruin your night vision.

[Wayne25]

I'm actually looking for a good tool to use with my turnbuckles for adjusting. I have enclosed turnbuckles and they have a very small hole in the center for turning the turnbuckle housing about 1/8" hole. I have been using a long allen wrench but it bends. An awl is too large a diameter. Any thoughts?

[jrd22]

I've just started using this tool and it is already a favorite. Dewalt 18V impact driver. We have almost removed all the deck hardware and chainplates on the boat and have about half of the teak decks unscrewed and this driver saved us a BUNCH of time. You can unscrew just about anything with it without having someone on the other side holding the other side and I undid all the 3/4" nuts on the chainplate bolts with it. It's very small so you can get into a lot of places that a regular cordless drill can't fit. Model #DW056, about $100 without batteries.

2nd on the list is a good LED headlamp like Black Diamond, can't do anything on the boat without it. We have several on board.

Nifty little caliper, Halekai.

John

[Wayne25]

[IMG][/IMG]
You can just make out the hole in the center.

[teshannon]

SD, that's a pretty neat light and only $21.50 at Amazon. Got to get one. Thanks.

[sailingdog]

Wayne-

Don't hi-jack the thread... BTW, I highly recommend that you get open turnbuckles. They're a lot less prone to corrosion and the lock nuts are less safe than the cotter pins used on an open body turnbuckle, since the locknuts can work loose and tend to put more stress on the threads.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by jrd22

I've just started using this tool and it is already a favorite. Dewalt 18V impact driver. We have almost removed all the deck hardware and chainplates on the boat and have about half of the teak decks unscrewed and this driver saved us a BUNCH of time. You can unscrew just about anything with it without having someone on the other side holding the other side and I undid all the 3/4" nuts on the chainplate bolts with it. It's very small so you can get into a lot of places that a regular cordless drill can't fit. Model #DW056, about $100 without batteries.

2nd on the list is a good LED headlamp like Black Diamond, can't do anything on the boat without it. We have several on board.

Nifty little caliper, Halekai.

John

If you can't afford the DeWalt, Ryobi makes a very nice impact driver, seen here: that also works with their 18V ONE+ system. The tools are not DeWalt/Porter Cable/Makita/Hitachi quality but they are surprisingly robust. I now only use my inexpensive Ryobi stuff on the boat so my good tools don't get rusty or corroded internals.

I second the "one person" aspect of using an impact driver. I can remove and replace all of my stanchions without another person as the nut "magically" torques from just one side...

P.S. Black Diamond makes the finest head lamps on the planet! My life sometimes depends on them while winter mountaineering and I would not trust using any other headlamp especially at 25 below zero when making a night ascent in NH's presidential range..

That being said, the Princton Tec's are reliable as well but they are no Black Diamond..

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by teshannon

SD, that's a pretty neat light and only $21.50 at Amazon. Got to get one. Thanks.

TE-

I got mine at REI.com for about $15 or so. Don't think they carry anymore though.

[poopdeckpappy]

I have 4 favorites

Topclimber
Rescue Tape
Cordless Dremel
BernzOmatic mini torch