J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment J 30 tool kit

I would like to thin out the tool kit I carry on my boat and would like to know what tools people keep with them that are actually used (and not just for ballast). I don't need to rebuild the engine while on a weekend out with my kids I just want to know what the must haves are.

On Rhapsody I may err on the side of conservative to be able to fix stuff. I have everyday onboard tools / parts and extra stuff I take when cruising.

Here is what I consider essential to have:

• Screw drivers - 2 flat head and 2 phillips head (small & large)
• Adjustable end wrench medium 8"
• Sharp knife
• socket wrench set both SAE and metric (I think it's ~ 25 piece set with ratchet and extensions) - Yanmar has both standards
• roll of duct tape for emergency repair
• a bunch of ty-wraps
• small tube of sealant & epoxy for emergency repairs
• Leatherman multi-tool (cutters, needle nose pliers, file)

Check this page and download the excel spreadsheet "Recommended Onboard Engine Spares with Part Numbers (Excel Spreadsheet)"

My guess is there is less than 8 pounds of stuff stored low in the boat.

Pat:

I would concur with Bill. I also carry a small roll of sail repair tape, two fuel filters, and belts for the engine. Then there's a plastic tray filled with misc. screws, pins, bolts, washers, etc. I also carry a hammer in case something (or someone) needs to be persuaded.

Bob Rude
#352
"Mmmmm"

Even though some you you that sail in salty water may not consider Great Lakes sailing as "off shore", many of our regatta races are distance races that take us 5-10 or more miles off shore. Thus, sailing a 25+ year old boat, we error on the side of caution.
In addition to carrying the red Yanmar tool kit, we have on board at all times a tool kit that includes, hammer, cresent wrench, long blade flat head screw driver (mostly there as a pry bar, regular lenght flat head screw driver, two phillips head screw drivers, needle nose pliers, waterpump pliers, wire stripper/cutter,portable hack saw, a complement of box/socket head wrenches, duck tape, rigging tape, electrical tape, wd-40 pop rivit gun, whipping line, needles, electrical connectors, spare shackles, wire ties, light bulbs, fues, assorted screws and nuts, a knife, etc, etc.
On overnight races, we also carry a bolt cutter (capable of cutting through the standing rigging)

On my boat - I usually spend hours carefully assembling a kit that includes most of what you detail here, followed by about 5 minutes of my crew saying "riveter? you brought a riveter???" and dumping that and everything else I packed into the dock cart

That red Yanmar kit, stored near the engine under the sink, has been more useful than any of the other tools except maybe the two each of crescent wrench & screw driver used to adjust the rig. Along with white rigging tape and red 3M electrical tape they're kept handy in a canvas pocket near the companionway lined with a plastic drink cup so they don't poke holes. (OK, so the cup came later, after we had already poked some holes.)

Inside the tool box (under a settee) are needle-nose and vise grip pliers, a couple more screw drivers, a hacksaw, cable-ties and an assortment of nuts, bolts, and screws in a pill bottle. Plus one multi-purpose tool from some catalog that's really just a hammer in disguise. Haven't seen the need for ratchet set or additional wrenches at sea, though I might take them if I went offshore. Spares: fuel filter, water pump impeller, half dozen assorted shackles, and a box of ring-dings and cotter pins.

There's a multi-tool on the shelf behind the chart table. It's mostly for opening beers and cutting limes since my crew all seem to carry a knife of some sort.

Behind a smoked glass slider is half a roll of sailmaker's Dacron sticky-back and a roll of duct tape. A can of McLube resides inside one and a can of Boeshield T-9 in the other. Never really use the Boeshield or for that matter the USMC KA-BAR sheath knife kept in another canvas pocket, but they remind me of my Dad and it was his boat.