Must-Have Tools for Live aboard Boat Life

Let's talk about tools. This is my list of Must Have tools. These are the tools you should buy first and solve 90% of problems you will be faced with.

correction: that Canadian screw driver is Robertson not Roberts

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[LaughterOnWater]

Engine tools, plumbing tools, electronics tools, sail and sheet tools… you could do a whole series on minimal and extended toolkits needed for total boat sufficiency. As always, stay safe out there!

[derekwallace]

I am 63 now and I have my dads old tools ! And I love them. One tool I have is a manual drill. Put drill bit in the chuck and drill away. Of course now we have battery drills. But I just love the old tools. Thanks for a really enjoyable video. Derek

[josephclayton]

🤠, you start to talk tools and look at all of the old guys coming out of the woodwork to comment, I love it!

[dfhepner]

I have found that the tool to make a hose clamp out of wire the best thing to have. Clamptite. I carry it with me and a spool of stainless steel wire all the time.
Also the original Vicegrips have hex slot in the adjuster knob so that you can get them really tight after they are closed. The knock offs don’t have that.

[patric]

To help with rust on tools use a corrosion-inhibitor that becomes dry to the touch. Wax based inhibitor works but some brands can make the tools a bit slippery. Shop around and find some that works for you.
Makes tools stay good for many years, just don't use a wax-based corrosion-inhibitor on stainless parts.

Another way is to buy some bluing liquid and apply to your tools. Makes oil penetrate a bit into the surface making them almost rustproof while not making them slippery and feel dry to the touch. Don't use on stainless and some hardened parts and only works on pure steel. Requires re-oiling them from time to time depending on use. Worked great on my adjustable wrenches. Some brands come pre-blued from the factory.

[kbbarton]

I have one of those 4-in-1 cheap screwdriver tools that you mentioned, and not only is it very useful but it has also held up well over 12 years in a saltwater environment. Brilliant!

[richard]

Great video, don't have a boat yet but once I get her will definitely refer to this vud.

[scottcarlson]

Great useful video. Thank you. Fair winds and following seas. 😊

[jsneds]

Multiple GOOD magnetic "grabbers". Telescopic, keep them soaked in WD40 or similar product. Small and big ones, One of the best life savers for boat work. Endless uses. And wrenches!

[matatooie]

Clark, remember, they call those screwdrivers six in one for a reason. The sockets that hold the screw bits are actually sockets;) 1/4 inch and 5/16, which are incredibly helpful when tightening or loosening hose clamps. Most hose clamps use quarter inch head on the screw head.

[rhirwin]

My 44' sailboat is 2" lower in the waterline for all the tools I carry. 6mm-32mm open end wrenches with no skips! Angle grinders, hydraulic crimping tools, TIG & MIG tools. Carpentry tools, ... machinist tools...Painting and refinishing tools...Electrical tools... VOMs, current probes, digital oscilloscopes, test probes, RJ45 & RJ11 crimp tools. Thank you for trying to constrain my addiction.

[johnnylightning]

I don't have a sailboat but I do have a motorhome which in many ways just a square boat with a bigger engine and wheels. I couldn't agree more with your selection of tools especially when it comes to buying brand name vice grips. The only knock-of that comes anywhere close is an OLD Craftsman one which is no longer available but the OGs are still better. As one of the previous posters said some safety wire and safety wire pliers can be a lifesaver. I got a pair of the pliers from Harbor Freight and they aren't half bad. Keep the good stuff coming Clark.

[annhysell]

Definitely saving this video. Great short course on necessary tools. I will be watching for more. And the roll storage bags, necessity on a boat, the plastic boxes are awful. Thank you Emily & Clark.

[hurdurdurrl]

Water pump pliers. The ones that ... well a plumber uses ... you can get incredible amounts of torque and compression for desperate moments (oh and those moments will find you, no doubt about that). In case you are very skilled at rounding nuts i would also recommend a file, so you could restore (or add) a flat surface to grab with wrenches.

[TheCornucopiaProject-bdjk]

It’s a good list
I like to have “dedicated” tools. One bag for outboard, one for electrical and so on. It means I have often duplicates but reduces time looking.
My biggest pet peeve is that only come in “collections”, set. And something like a #10 wrench or socket, I need more than one of but the rest of the set becomes dead weight.

[scottkrebs]

I will agree 100% with all of that, but add at least one essential tool that you prolly didn't "forget" to mention... a \sharp/ knife, hopefully in a sheath or scabbard at your side for use at a moment's notice - arguably this should be included in your safety equipment tho so maybe not a toolbox item. Extend that thought to include your mention of things to have on hand even if you don't know how to use them just yet: Lansky knife sharpener (I use WorkSharp at home but the Lansky is in a much more compact case / better for sailboat-sized storage). Other nice to haves: massive/obscenely large channel-lock pliers, crimpers and a box of butt connectors, multi-meter... If I am going further than day sailing in the bay then there's likely 17 other things that I won't be leaving home without lol :) but I am the old mechanic which you reference at the start. Cheers!

[Seafariireland]

Excellent lesson, thank you. SkipRay, Kerry, Ireland.

[mvintrigue-trawlerdiy]

As usual spot on. But I would add 2 things. A combination wire cutter and stake crimper and I now have to include a few of the Knipex pliers. Clark, , if yo havent tried some of the Knipex stuff recently it is something to investigate. Especially the smaller one. Super useful and one of my "go to" tools now. Especially the Knipex pliers/wrench and the Knipex Cobras. This is also one of the few times brand matters and you must go with Knipex. Thanks for all your videos, they have been truly helpful.

[Darthtonious]

I’ve been looking for a video like this for a while now!

[rickcarpenter]

Consider Japanese "+" drive screwdrivers. Not only do they fit perfectly with Japanese JIS screws, but they fit Western-style Phillips screws better than Phillips screwdrivers.