Tool Set Recommendations?

NSM said:

I bought a set of these ratchet extenders for the shop. May buy an extra 3/8 to keep on the boat. They let me reach places my fat hands can’t get to.


https://tite-reach.com/products/tite-reach-extension-wrench-pro-pack

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Been looking for that....thx!

Positive-Waves said:

As an aircraft mechanic for 30 years I have learned there is only one set of tools to get that is Snap-on
nothing makes a job go smoother than a good set of high quality tools.
the cost of the tools is high
the cost of busted knuckles can also be high.

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Nice to see another aircraft mechanic out there. Totally agree on Snap On. Can't afford all of them so got the ones I use most and then some specialty tools.



Did you know Marion Gregory, past CEO of Snap On? Great guy and had a hangar in the Ozarks where he had all the tools that Snap On made. Kept a boat down there.


I still use my A&P and IA and stay current. But most of my great tools are in my hangar. I have duplicates on the boat.


And, yes, still buy some Craftsman or HF stuff, for places where the tool needs to be modified, bent, ground down and don't whan to do that with Snap Ons.

Newbie question: I see sockets listed as 6 point or 12 point. How do you pick which one to use?
thank you
Rob

nakika_guru said:

Newbie question: I see sockets listed as 6 point or 12 point. How do you pick which one to use?
thank you
Rob

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I prefer the six point sockets, very rarely do I come across 12 point nuts and bolts.

Tools

As a certified tech and once the half-owner of the Ford Lehman dealership, as well as Cummins and CAT I highly recommend a very simple set of tools specifically selected for your vessel and not someone else's. For almost 95% of the service we used to do at the docks, I used a simple metal Snap-On or Chrafsmen toolbox that I could carry. It was carpeted along the bottom 3rd.

My tools then were all Snap-On as that was my daily profession. And when customers saw how organized and clean we were they always commented favorably. There is no tool like Snap-On. The way they are organized has no equal.

BUT... before y'all harp all over me, believe me, I get it. I don't even know what they cost anymore. I'm sure it's thru the roof.

That being said, NO you do not NEED Snap-On. If money is no concern check it out.

I would stay away from cheap tools like Husky and the like for marine service. You made a massive investment in your boat.

I guess my point is to see exactly what you need and nothing else. Keep it very simple to exactly what you will be doing. You DO NOT need a full set of everything. You will have to determine if your vessel uses a mix of SAE and Metric and go from there.

Determine what you are comfortable working on and have that knowledge. The more you have the harder it is to find what you need.

There will most likely be some specialty tools you may need or need to make.

Yes, we had many specialty tools we kept on our service trucks and put into use often. They were usually very specific and heavy.

Another thing you could do is have a good service tech meet you on your boat and go over all the basic service requirements. I have done this with many customers in the past.

Have your cruise kits all sorted out as well, and know what tools will be used to service those parts.

The more knowledge you have the more you will know what you need and don't need.

As I said, I used a simple metal carry toolbox to do most of the service required during the 10 years I did that kind of work.

Just don't cheap out on poor-quality tools, they will just frustrate you to no end. When I first started as a tech I had all Craftsmen tools. That is probably all you will ever need.

Once I moved to higher-quality tools I never went back. For me, I still own all those tools and they will be in our next new vessel along with some Craftsmen tools. Gear Wrench has some nice sockets and I do use them on projects that I might damage my better tools.

Again, please don't get me wrong. As I mentioned, the average user does not need Snap-On. But either way, get a good organization method. The sockets on a holder and wrenches in a pouch of some sort. It really keeps the frustration down and if you're in an emergency situation, you won't be digging through all your tools trying to locate one tool.

Get yourself some 5-gal buckets to use for dirty rags etc. And buy a ton of red rags and blue paper towels. You can sort your red rags as new and slightly used. Toss the old ones.

Happy boating

As far as sockets go we ALWAYS used 6 point. less chance of rounding. We did have some specialty sockets in 12 point. And some star sockets as needed. Usually for shaft couplings.

Some 1/2 might be necessary as well as a torque wrench and breaker bar. Again, just get what you need and nothing more.

“ Gear Wrench has some nice sockets and I do use them on projects that I might damage my better tools.”

Thanks. This is the direction I’m leaning as it seems to be a good balance between quality and cost.

Don't forget Mac Tools. I was told they are made by the same people that make Snap-On, but look a little different and are cheaper. Essentially the same tools. I see their trucks around here all the time.

Remember to buy a Dremel and a wide selection of tool bits.
The smaller the tool bits, consider some duplicates.
I opted for battery power, with extra batteries so try to buy the same brand so you can swap batteries between tools.

Milwaukee makes some great sockets that have square ends so you can get a wrench on them. They have saved a lot of time in tight spaces. Cheap sockets and wrenches really aren't worth anything but there are decent lines of hand tools that are good enough for pros but cheaper than Snap on.

That said I use Ryobi battery tools which aren't the best of the inexpensive battery tools. But they have a LOT of tools and attachments and for one-off projects they are worth it. I factor buying them into the cost of a job. I rarely have a battery tool 'wear out' but I have had a lot of them dropped on the hard or in the water. So I'm sticking with them, at least for now.

I have more than most but have been a diesel mechanic for 30 years and have a good collection though.

a few things not mentioned that are handy
a small and medium 14in pipe wrench
plumbers wrench.
any specialty tools required by tour engine etc,
good hack saw with spare blades
a dremel and assorted bits esp. the cut off wheels
a battery drill with a good selection of drill bits ( include a step bit)
I like my 1/4 drive impact with the adaptor for sockets - great when tearing down stuff.
a good 3ft long ish prybar
a socket or wrench to fit your prop nuts ( saved my butt last year)( and a snorkel mask)
A flat piece of plywood about a ft squared - makes a handy work surface and you can put it down not to mark up floors etc when working on small parts.
2-3 of those foam kneel pads you can throw over things when you have to wiggle into spots for boat yoga.
one of those long pickup tools with the fingers on the end for when you drop that piece in the bilge lol
about half a dozen head lamps - keep misplacing mine.
and manuals in paper or electronic format for everything on your boat.
I am sure i missed a few - will add them if i think of them.
Andy

PS spare parts and supplies is whole other topic.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is a set of step drill bits, for cleanly enlarging previously drilled holes, and a set of countersink bits, for shaving back the gelcoat around holes drilled in fiberglass to prevent spider cracks. I have this set on board:


Second, for moving a core set of most-used tools around the boat, the Yeti Loadout Gobox 15 is unbeatable.