Narrow boat Tool kit

[SandyD]

Hi,

 

As soon to be a new boat owner, I am thinking of putting a tool kit together for my new (to me!) narrow boat, being a practial sort of person ( I have maintained and repaired old cars and agricultural machinery). So far I can see that I will need a multi meter and duct tape, what else should I take? Metric spanners? pliers? screwdrivers? Are there any specialist tools I should be thinking of?

 

TIA

 

Sandy

[Tony Brooks]

I suggest that you have a read of my website (tb-training.co.uk) to mug up on the marine side of things. There is my idea of a tool kit on there.

[SandyD]

Perfect, Thankyou Tony, I shall raid my toolshed tomorrow!

 

[Tony Brooks]

16 minutes ago, SandyD said:

Perfect, Thankyou Tony, I shall raid my toolshed tomorrow!

 

 

I bet when the chips are down the tool you need will be back in the shed!

[Chewbacka]

19 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

I bet when the chips are down the tool you need will be back in the shed!

More likely the tool you need in a crisis is not at home but on the boat!!!

[Alan de Enfield]

44 minutes ago, SandyD said:

Hi,

 

As soon to be a new boat owner, I am thinking of putting a tool kit together for my new (to me!) narrow boat, being a practial sort of person ( I have maintained and repaired old cars and agricultural machinery). So far I can see that I will need a multi meter and duct tape, what else should I take? Metric spanners? pliers? screwdrivers? Are there any specialist tools I should be thinking of?

 

TIA

 

Sandy

 

Having an assortment of spares is just as important, even if you don't have the knowledge to fit something, actually having it on board caan be a life saver when the mechanic comes, sucks his teeth and says "It needs a left handed thumb widget I can get you one but its a 4 week delivery time" you say "I've got one here, whilst you are here can you fit it ?"

 

Get a spares list to suit YOUR engine - not just a generic pile of spares.

[harrybsmith]

What's also really handy is to have a list of filter cross references, especially if your engine is a bit odd, eg the oil filter on my Farymann FK3 is the same as a Daewoo Matiz, which makes going into motor factors to get bits possible. 

 

Magnets and mirrors on poles are often handy too as engine bays can be a swine to get in 

[agg221]

Something I now carry on board is a roll of this:

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bostik-flashband-grey-10m-x-100mm/57969

 

It won't stick to a wet surface, but it will stick to pretty much any dry surface and is instantly waterproof, and holds up indefinitely. Any leaking thing can be temporarily made to not leak any more with it. It needs white spirit to clean it off. On that point, white spirit, a roll of cleaning paper (not really sure what it's called) and some mid-sized bin-bags are very useful - far more convenient for dealing with clean-ups than bins and cloths.

 

For spanners, check what your engine is based on - metric or UNF. Don't forget a set of allen keys, some string, some wire and a number of split pins in various sizes. Many things can be lashed up to keep you going to the next convenient point with the above.

 

Having dropped both the disc clamps off the angle grinder in the canal last weekend, I can concur with the above statement re. a magnet. A quick fishing trip with a Seasearcher saw the job continuing within 5mins, having fished both out none the worse for their dunking.

 

Alec

Edited October 4, 2022 by agg221

[Higgs]

I've been collecting tools since I was a young chap. This week, I finally found a use for some rivets (nearly all) that I've had for about 35 years, they take a small bolt. As the boat is my home, it's packed with plenty of tools. It's probably a good idea to keep your tools organised for different jobs - plumbing, woodwork, mechanical. electrical. 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Higgs

[Momac]

I think you will not know what  you need until you get to know the boat.

A few ideas below

 

 

 

 

 

[Momac]

As well as  spare belts and filters I have plenty of electrical connectors and some automotive cable .

 

I suggest tool boxes  that are not too big so they have half a chance of finding a storage space on the boat

[Higgs]

Also found that going around a car breakers can be a good supply of bendy and supple water hoses for some odd bits around the engine. Just measure the pipe and lift loads of car bonnets. 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by Higgs

[fatmanblue]

Head torch.

Jubilee clips.

PTFE tape.

Electrical contact cleaning spray.

Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure.

Spanners / sockets that fit your engine mounts and shaft couplings.

[Bod]

Another for head torch.

Rechargeable torch

Mirror on a stick, both large and small.

Multi-meter, with DC clamp.  ( be carefull with cheap ones the clamp will be AC and useless for battery systems.)

Very good knee-pads

Disposable gloves.

Wiping down paper.

 

Bod

[Puffling]

Wire cutters

Wire strippers

Crimp tool

Work light (my £5.99 one from Wilko doubles as a stern tunnel light as it has magnetic inserts)

Small set of metal files ( Screwfix set of three does most jobs)

Self amalgamating tape

Wire brush

G-clamps in different sizes

[Tam & Di]

A big bag full of money.     😁

 

Tam

[LadyG]

I've now got three small soft tool bags plus a  container with all medium screwdrivers.,best they are different handles for different screw types and a small multi screw driver kit.

 

 

 

 

 

[robtheplod]

belts and both types of morse cables....

[Peanut]

Wire coat hanger, and duct tape.

[Ianws]

I've got a head torch but also one of these, which I find invaluable in cramped spaces. https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637190789/4w-1w-smd-led-rechargeable-slim-inspection-light

 

It's magnetic and can be manoeuvred to illuminate the working area in most circumstances. 

 

Other brands and suppliers are available  

[Tracy D'arth]

A hammer, not the lump hammer which is useless in tight spaces.

[Ianws]

Spare tub of grease for the stern gland greaser. Something to remove various stuff via the weedhatch when it gets wrapped around the prop shaft. A search on here for will offer lots of preferences for preferred tools. 

Edited October 5, 2022 by Ianws

[Ronaldo47]

I only hire boats for holidays, but after my first hire I  bring at least the following, mainly  for dealing with stuff caught round the prop:

 

Junior hacksaw;.

wire cutters;.

pliers/mole grips;.

Stanley Knife with new blade;

Swiss army knife;.

Long screwdriver ( serves as a lever);

Roll of duct tape; 

Length of cord to tie to tools to prevent loss when you let go in the cold canal water.

 

All of these have been used at least once in the past 50 years.

 

.N.B. Not a tool as such, but a useful hint I read on this forum, but fortunately have had no occasion to try, is to pour some warm water in the weed hatch when the canal water is chilly: being less dense than cold water it stays there and makes working with your hands under water less unpleasant. 

 

 

 

Edited October 5, 2022 by Ronaldo47
typos

[system 4-50]

Starn gland grease.

Rag for removing said grease from hands after sorting stern gland.

Rag for removing said grease from cupboard door handle whilst looking for the previous rag.

Rag for removing grease from **** whilst attending to urgent toilet trip whilst on way to cupboard.

Rag for removing grease from toilet handle.

Rag for removing grease from forehead whilst removing close-up glasses on way to cupboard.

Rag for removing grease from mirror whilst checking forehead clean.

Finally spare expletive for use after noticing stern gland still not fixed.

[BEngo]

20 hours ago, Ronaldo47 said:

. Not a tool as such, but a useful hint I read on this forum, but fortunately have had no occasion to try, is to pour some warm water in the weed hatch when the canal water is chilly: being less dense than cold water it stays there and makes working with your hands under water less unpleasant. 

I thought you were supposed to pump the weed hatch out.

N