Click for YF Listing Service Click for Comfort Click for Nordhavn Click for Nordhavn Click for Delta

Recommended tool kit for 60' sportfish

Discussion in 'General Sportfish Discussion' started by Danvilletim, May 25, 2014.

  1. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
    We close on a 62 Striker with 3412 CATs next week. Yay! All tools have been removed and I want to put together an appropriate tool chest for the engine room. Any suggestions?
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Go to Sears, get the 413 piece set. Pick up an extra set of screw drivers. A large "C" clip tool (in & out) Find a chest that will fit somewhere.

    Couple of 6" C clamps. half and 1.5 lb ball peen hammers. Couple of 4" welders vice grips.

    Trouble light with low wattage, rough duty lamps. Bunch of flash lights with magnetic bases.

    Dewalt 18v everything set (drill, tech tool, mini sawzall, light) with extra batteries.
    Two drill bit sets. (alloy boat)
    Tap & Die set.

    Big ass pipe wrench set.
    At least a 10" strap wrench.

    Find the prop nut size, get two of those sockets in 1" drive & pull bar with extender pipe.


    Your mains, generators and most other things on board will have a combination of SAE & metric fasteners.

    You will also want a couple of carry trays so save multi trips from the ER to other parts of the ship.

    Mini fridge. Lots of water, cola & rum capacity.

    That should be enough to get you in trouble.

    So, you may consider a CAT mechanic cheaper.
  3. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,937
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
    A 62' Striker?

    When are we all coming down for the day? :D

    One of my fave SFs ever built.
  4. dsharp

    dsharp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Messages:
    240
    Location:
    lake jackson, tx
    I would buy 1 set of 6 point wrenches and sockets to add to the 12 point combination wrenches. They hold better on rusty fasteners. Tool companies make longer wrenches and ratchets that make breaking fasteners loose a little easier. Armstrong makes some nice tools for the money. Several sizes of channel lock pliers. 1 or 2 - 24" aluminum pipe wrenches. 1 - 3 pound drilling hammer ( short handled sledge hammer).
    A volt meter is an important tool to have on a boat.
    The previous poster gave you a very good start, although Sears tools aren't what they used to be. I guess that's true of a lot of things, though. Ebay is not a bad place to buy Snap on or Mac wrenches and ratchets. They make great tools but, they are on the high side if you buy them off the tool truck. Great boat, by the way. The 3412 Cats are nice engines.
  5. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
  6. RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
    Messages:
    1,058
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    In addition to complete tools, belts, hoses, filters, impellers.....
    I also like to have three divided boxes;

    >One box with every nut, bolt, screw, washer, or fitting that I think may ever fit on the boat or engines.

    >One box with every imaginable electrical AC and DC fitting, connector, fuse, bulb, wire, electrical tape. Including multi meter(s), test lights, and a clamp meter.

    >One box for plumbing fittings and flair tool. For Domestic water have some of those SharkBite fittings for a quick fix. some spare hydro line and fittings for steering tab lines, fuel, oil, hose clamps. And some of that emergency rubber hose rap with Velcro to get me out of trouble if i blow a low pressure hose in the wrong place.


    Additional items,
    >a heat gun can be helpful for lots of stuff like hoses or even removing varnish.
    <A torch, I prefer map gas., but propane is already aboard for bbq.
    >My favorite diagnostic tool is an IR HEAT GUN, i use the IR heat gun during my ER checks to match temps on the mains in different spots.

    Also, I have considered a small 110v stick welder, bit so far i haven't need one yet.
  7. RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
    Messages:
    1,058
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    oh yea, i forgot.

    I see a vice grips were mentioned, yes! great tools. I use them a lot and they have saved the day more than once.

    I also have an assortment of helicoils, taps, dies, screw extractors.

    My tool chest is mounted in the ER and it is really too heavy to move so i also have a small "day box" with just a few tools that i can grab and carry for small jobs around the boat.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I always had a problem chasing down a Snap-on or Mac truck. Never one in da hood when needed.
    When that screwdriver tip breaks off from using it as a chisel, when I bend a wrench or break a socket a free new one is around the corner at Sears.
    You're on an a boat. Your gona bust some sockets.

    Get a 20 gallon / 5 hp air compressor and big bad impact gun & air ratchets is phase two..
    ,
  9. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
    Torque wrench?
  10. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    + 1 on the spares kit.

    Start checking your hose / fittings sizes and make a point to build spare inventories or at least carry a decent section of Fuel Lines / Oil lines, FW hoses, etc. Don't forget about your Head System, start a spare kit for that as well.

    If your travel takes your far away from home port, get my favorite Prop Puller for those remotes ship yards with less than skilled labor, expensive but an elegant solution.

    PropSmith Home

    If you have the time and the boat is in dry dock, have the props re-condition to ISO Class S with certificates, and replace your cutlass bearings, nice to start from ground "zero".

    Tolerances for the manufacture of propellers
  11. Jimbo1959

    Jimbo1959 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2010
    Messages:
    77
    Location:
    Stockton, CA
    Don't forget multiple different size pry bars.
    Thanks Jim
  12. dsharp

    dsharp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Messages:
    240
    Location:
    lake jackson, tx
    Come on man, how much does a chisel cost? Five or six dollars. Every boat needs a couple of chisels and a couple of punches. Actually several size punches. Actually that made me think of something, a set of pry bars come in handy as hell and the 3 piece set doesn't cost all that much. A torque wrench is good to have if you're not sure about how tight to tighten things. Beats the hell out of breaking off bolts.
  13. dsharp

    dsharp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Messages:
    240
    Location:
    lake jackson, tx
    I type too slow. + 1 on the prybars. Be sure and watch the zinc anodes on that boat. Any aluminum boat needs special attention in that area. Make sure the electrical system is kept up and keep any wiring high and dry and well insulated.
  14. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    So now, you purchased up 3 isles at sears (or like). AND, you're just getting suggestions for spares. Your go fast boat just lost 2 knots.

    Are you a long range cruiser? Can you keep a mini warehouse close to your slip? Or a shed?

    Are you really going to tackle a 3412 or call in a tech?

    We have an old Bert 58My. My spares (and personal projects) take up a whole 10 x 20 mini warehouse. My heavy tools (for busines also) take up a second mini warehouse.

    It's a thought and mind battle when we go on long range deployments but so far have had all we needed, when we needed anything. To carry every tool and spare would really hurt (already poor) MPG.

    Not be meant as negative, hopefully helpful.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Come on man, how much does a chisel cost?

    Did not mean to cut chisels from the list (on an alloy boat), But my comment was to make example for the no problem warranty exchange at sears.
    No matter what the failure is or how it was caused, if it says Craftsman and it's broken, they will replace it.

    AND you don't have to chase a tool van down that may not replace the tool.
    I remember a Cornwell tool van I did find one day, Had some of my fathers cracked sockets. WELL, I did not purchase them, nor from him. No replacment.
    Left them on the side of the road after he drove away.

    In an marine environment where extra abuse is in place. Better warrantied tools are good. There going to break some day, make life easy.

    I don't work for Sears and really don't like their companies, But for tools, it's still a better vendor.
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    All of these are good suggestions, I also like a large pair of water pump pliers as well......I like the Large Craftsman kit in the plastic tool box, + vise grips, pipe wrench, more screwdrivers, small/medium/and 12+ " adjustable wrench, a bendy long handled 3/8" drive rachet and long extension, heatproof gloves, good shop lights, headlamp, wire cutters/dykes, good 1/4" socket set in it's own little box, One thing not mentioned....

    A GOOD ELECTRICAL KIT.
    Multimeter, wire stripper/crimper tool, small wire cutters, heatshrink butt connectors of all sizes, mini torch for heatshrinking, plenty of tie wraps assorted sizes....heatshrink terminal ends, spare bilge pump/float switch I used the Plano tackle box (small) with the 3 slide out plastic compartment cases for my electrical kit.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    3412s use that D#$% Sherwood raw water pump. Order the proper pulling tool from Depco Pump. And what Gen-set you have, get the puller for them.

    Your ship just lost another 1/8 knot.
  18. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2011
    Messages:
    794
    Location:
    isleton, ca
    I was just thinking where this will all be stored. Boat comes with a truck load of spares which I haven't seen yet. Cat tech is scheduled for tune up including value adj and 2 28kw phasor gensets.

    Just need enough tools to feel comfortable to cruise around california and Mexico. Looks like almost all the suggestions can be had at Sears,com for around 600. And need to see where it will fit ..
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Be very careful with an Aluminum boat as nothing metallic, such as steel can stay in contact with the Aluminum.....especially the hull.
  20. Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2006
    Messages:
    1,164
    Location:
    Gold Coast Australia
    Danvilletim,
    Please post on this thread in 12 months with what you have on board.
    Fact is, within 12 months, if you do a lot of your own maintenance and general type of work, you will have so many different types of tools that 2 large toolboxes will not be enough to contain them!
    There is no "First Aid Kit" type answer.

    Take my word for it.
    I have 2 drills, a Dremel with multi attachments (an awesome tool if you learn how fast the RPM's are when you sneeze and take out the wiring or part of the galley cabinet!), 2 toolboxes with ratchets, monkey spanners, Imperial spanners, metric etc. etc.)
    You can and will never have enough tools, which is why the local hardware store or chandlery is our best friend, especially at closing time, just before an extended cruise.