Top Ten Tools for a Cruiser

[Fortytwo]

Originally Posted by Chef Mike

Would someone care to comment on necessary tools that one might need in dire situations when the boat yard mechanic is thousands of miles away? Besides the obvious...

Dive Light
Yachtsman Knife
Boatman's Wire Cutters
Sail Repair Kit
Rescue Tape
Stic-O-Steel
Epoxy
Softwood Plugs
Manual Pump
Repair Manual

[beetle]

Originally Posted by simonmd

Rob, the thread is TOP 10 tools, not 'what 10 tools do you have?' I'm sure all of us actualy have more than just 10.

I understand, but I do not see a top 10 tool list as a reasonable request. It's sort of like asking, 'which is the best boat for me?' - it's one of those unanswerable questions

My response is to provide a comprehensive list that has worked for me and let the questioner make up their own mind as to what's important to them. I suppose I don't have a top tool list, as I tend to use all of them at various points in time, and would be quite unhappy if some were missing.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Dave the Canuck

I carry a large diameter string from a bass guitar. It's perfect for running along small channels which have become plugged.................

Thanks Dave, This reminds me of another specialized tool. I keep an eight foot piece of a surfboard leash. It's the soft rubbery and very strong material surfers sometimes use to teather themselves to their boards. I use this to ream out, but not damage heat exchange coils; most frequently as an auger to run through the water coils of my AC units that become less efficient when coated with a layer of silt or slime. I also keep a thin strong wire (also used dental floss) to separate fittings bedded with 3M-5200.