The Boat Improvement Bible

You always need to carry some tools on board your boat for maintenance, and a toolkit is essential if you are undertaking boat improvements. The more jobs you carry out yourself the larger your toolkit needs to be, but here are some of the basics.

You can choose between open-ended spanners or ring spanners (or a combination spanner has one of each). Alternatively an adjustable spanner might be the right tool, but may not grip the nut so well. A socket spanner is a deep ring spanner with an extra ratchet handle, allowing more force to be exerted.

You will need both crossheaded and flat-blade screwdrivers. The correct type of head should be used to avoid damage to the screw.

Used to grip a metal objects, which a spanner cannot grip because it has no ‘flats’. Although useful, they can cause damage to the metal surface when in use so should be used with caution.

Attachments to masts and booms are often made using tubular rivets, which need to be worked with a pop riveter.

Rechargeable tools are probably the most useful power tools on the boat. For heavy duty work mains-powered would be a more practical option than battery tools.

A set of twist drill bits is all you may need. Go for good quality bits that won’t need to be sharpened very often.

A basic set of tools is required for installing and improving electrics on board.

A pair of wire cutters is useful to cut the size of wire to the length you need.

Designed to be safer than ordinary screwdrivers to use on electrical jobs because they are insulated against the possibility of touching a live wire.

These are useful for holding things in awkward places where ordinary pliers are too big.

Used to fit cable connectors to electrical wire. The ratchet type makes a more secure connection.

Soldering irons come in many different wattages and may be mains-powered or powered from a 12-volt system. For soldering small wires a 25-watt iron will be fine.

Woodworking tools will be useful for many projects. Stow them in a strong waterproof box so they don’t become damp and rusty.

A tenon saw is used for more accurate cutting and it has a rigid spine and small teeth. A rip saw has long flexible blades for fast cuts.

For most jobs a set of bevel-edged chisels will be adequate, but they need to be kept sharp.

Used for rounding off edges on a piece of timber, although a plane can be used on longer pieces of wood.

Rasp planes and smoothing planes are used to improve surfaces on sawn timber. A longer jack plane is used when you are working on larger surfaces.

OTHER TOOLS

Also useful:

Bolt cutters

Hole saw

Bradawl

Oil stone

Multi tool

Sanding block

Mastic gun

Tape measure

Torque wrench

Vernier gauge and micrometer

Multimeter

Jigsaw

Circular saw

Set square, bevel and clamp

Polisher