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Tools and Spare Parts
This page was last updated on June 2, 2002.
On-Board Tools
Sockets Electrical
Kit Fasteners and Rigging Kit
Spare Parts
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Maybe I obsess about this
stuff. But I dislike nothing more than being in the middle of a job and
discovering that I am missing some critical tool, part, fastener, or something
that is important to the completion of the job. Plus, I like to be
prepared for emergencies, on-the-spot repairs, and I would be happy to be able
to help out a fellow boater in need because I had some little item that made a
difference.
Therefore, I keep a comprehensive
tool set on board, and don't hesitate to buy something new if it will fill out
the inventory in a useful way. I am also building up my inventory of spare
parts for most of the systems on board, most importantly the engine. When
we leave on our cruise this summer, Glissando will be well stocked for
almost any contingency.
On-Board
Tools
I have a Rubbermaid plastic
toolbox in which I keep most of the basic hand tools needed for on-board repairs
and maintenance. The following inventory is, at this writing, off the cuff
and not necessarily accurate or complete. Later, I'll get a better list of
what's actually in the toolbox. A few of the items listed below are too
large to actually fit in the box, so I store them elsewhere on board.
I found out that this toolbox was
too tall to fit in the newly-created settee lockers,
at least with the locker lid supports in place (which are permanent and
necessary), so I ordered a couple smaller toolboxes to hold the tools
instead. This will actually work out well, as I can put the most-used
tools in one box and others, which are rarely used, in another box to lighten
the load. Plus, I hate digging through big, heavy pipe wrenches and files
that I never use in order to get the screwdriver, which always seems to be on
the bottom. So I replaced the single large box with two smaller ones,
putting the most-used tools in one box, and wrenches, pliers, and other,
less-used tools in the second box.
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 Claw
Hammer
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Rubber Deadblow Hammer
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Large Arc-Joint Pliers
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Needle Nose Pliers
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Vice Grips--Curved Jaw and
Needle Nose
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Slip-Joint Pliers
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Bastard File
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#2 Philips Head Screwdriver
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#3 Philips Head Screwdriver
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Slotted Screwdriver
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Stubby Slotted Screwdriver
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Stubby Philips Head
Screwdriver
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25' Tape Measure
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Putty Knife
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Small Philips and Slotted
Screwdrivers (for those tiny screws on electronics and such)
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Adjustable Wrench--Large and
Small
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Utility Knife
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Serrated Knife
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High Quality Hacksaw Frame
with Spare Blades
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Inexpensive Japanese Pull Saw
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Plastic Miter Box (for use
with pull saw)
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Cable Cutters (For Rigging)
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Large Pipe Wrench
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Caulking Gun
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SAE Combination Wrench Set,
1/4" - 15/16"
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Metric Combination Wrench
Set, 10mm - 17mm
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Flexible Grab Tool (Push on
the end, and a little set of jaws opens at the other end. Great
for grabbing small items from tight spaces.)
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Drill Bit Set, up to
1/2"
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Allen Wrench Set
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Cordless Driver/Drill w/Extra
Battery and Charger, and Several Driver Bits and Holders
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Prop puller (I finally got
one--I've always hated not having one)
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Filter wrenches
There's probably more, but this
is what I can think of at the moment.
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Sockets
and Ratchets
 I
purchased a pretty comprehensive socket and ratchet set at Home Depot--the Husky
brand. The kit comes complete in a blow-molded case, which is handy to
keep things organized and easy to find. It contains all sizes of SAE and
metric sockets, in normal and deep well, with 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4"
ratchets, along with a variety of extensions, adapters, and accessories. I
won't bore you with the complete inventory (although if you're not bored yet you
must be a kindred spirit incapable of absorbing too much inane
information). If there are any specific sockets or wrench sizes that for
some reason don't come with the kit, but are needed on board, I buy them.
The case latches securely on three sides, and is fairly flat for easy storage.
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| Electrical
Kit
 Has
this happened to you? You're trying to sort out some minor electrical
issue or another, or are wiring up some basic piece of equipment. You
suddenly realize that you're missing ____________ (fill in the blank). It
doesn't matter what the item is--a little connector, a piece of wire long enough
for the job, or even a proper crimping tool: the job is over until you get
the part you need. No thanks--I'll pass on this annoyance if at all
possible. That's why I have attempted to put together a really good,
well-stocked electrical kit. I keep a variety of primary wire on board,
although most of my wiring is the same size, so I really need to keep only that
size on board, and my large kit is filled with most of the connectors, tools,
crimps, wire ties, fuses, bulbs, etc. needed to complete nearly any wiring job
or repair. I say "most" because, even with my efforts, I usually
find that there is some connector I am missing. When that happens, I buy
more of that type than I need, and thus add to my inventory. Some of the
items in my electrical kit include:
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Ratcheting crimpers
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Wire stripper/crimping tool
(decent)
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El-cheapo junkie wire
stripper/crimping tool (just in case)
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Large and small wire cutters
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Stubby screwdriver for
driving electrical connector terminal screws in tight places
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Electrical tape
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Heat shrink butt connectors,
various sizes
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Ring terminals of various
sizes
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Assorted other terminal ends
(insulated spade, etc.)
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Assorted fuses
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Heat shrink tubing
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Small butane torch and extra
butane
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Various wire ties and cable
clamps
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Battery cable crimpers and
terminal ends
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Coax crimpers
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Spare PL-259 connectors
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Spare Centerpin PL-259
connectors
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Scratch awl (for creating
pilot holes for cable clamp screws)
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Other stuff that I'm surely
forgetting
The electrical box fits under the
starboard settee.
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Fastener
and Rigging Kit
 Fasteners
are my nemesis, and I'm determined to build up my kit so that I have everything
I need. It irritates me to run out of a certain screws, nut, washer or
small bolt. Therefore, I typically buy these items by the box, so
that I end up with extras for the kit. Similarly, I like to have plenty of
spare rigging parts on hand too--cotter pins, cotter rings, clevis pins, rigging
tape, etc. My attempted solution is to have this fairly large box on
board, filled with as many things as I can.
In this kit, I keep a variety of
stainless steel screws in the most common sizes I use, with a variety of
heads--oval, flat, and pan head. I also have an inventory of machine
screws, larger bolts, and nuts and washers of many sizes. I recently
reorganized the kit to remove some old gear that had been in there, stuff that
had no use on the boat now.
In addition, I use this box to
hold some other minor spares that tend to accumulate--tape, Teflon tape for
plumbing fittings, a drill and tap set (frequently used in conjunction with new fasteners),
some small deck and rigging fittings (cleats, blocks, that sort of thing).
I also have spare brass fuel line fittings and propane line fittings, plus a
special adapter that allows us to connect one of the little camp bottles of
propane to our main LPG system should our large tank run out.
The kit is far from complete, and
with every project I add to it--leftover fasteners, different bolts, etc. While
it is impossible to keep a perfect inventory on board, I hope that the contents
of this kit would at least allow me to jury rig just about anything to get us
out of a jam, or to help a fellow boater.
The fastener and rigging kit fits
under the starboard settee.
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Spare
Parts Inventory
This section is under
construction, as I am only just beginning to build up the inventory.
As I get new parts, I'll list them here. These are parts that
I have deemed necessary or desirable to have on board for the type of cruising
we do, or are planning to do. It's almost certainly overkill, but I'd
rather be prepared than not.
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Spare lid seal for Lavac
toilet (1)
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Spare seat seal for Lavac
toilet (1)
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Spare parts kit for Henderson
Mk IV waste/bilge pumps (3 pumps on board--kit will fit any of them)
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Racor fuel filter
cartridges--primary 1 (2)
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Racor fuel filter
cartridges--primary 2 (2)
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AWAB hose clamps, assorted
sizes
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Sheet gasket material
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Various lengths of hose,
several types
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55-amp alternator (came with
the engine; we replaced it with our high capacity alternator)
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Engine half coupling
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Drivesaver (left over from
the old engine)
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Engine wiring harness
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250-amp fuse in electrical
system (see the schematic
for location)
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Spare raw water pump
impellers (2); Globe Nitrile # BRC-06541
Other spares that we're
collecting, or preparing to collect, include:
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Raw water impellers.
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Secondary fuel filters
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Air cleaner elements
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Oil and oil filters
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Spare gaskets for impeller,
oil filters, sacrificial zincs, thermostat
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Spare wire for longest piece
of rigging on board, along with Stalok terminals
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Spare turnbuckle
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Thermostat for engine
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Engine zincs
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Fuel line copper washers (for
banjo fittings)
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Alternator and water pump
belts
More to come. This is the
list as I can think of it now.
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