North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Hi guys,

What do you keep on board in your tool kit? And what are some of the situations you can help yourself out of? I always carry:

2 adjustable wrenches
2x screwdrivers
2x extra bungs
Electrical tape
Pull start cord
100mph tape
Zip ties
Pliers
1x split pin
Spare prop
Spare anchor
GPS Epirb
Fire extinguisher
Sikaflex
First aid kit
Spare bilge pump
Radio
Rope
D-Shackles
More fuel than necessary

Sounds like a lot of stuff and it weighs a ton, but what else do you recommend to carry? And what are the little issues you've been able to sort out to get you up and running? Cheers,

Jack

And some WD40

More beer than you think you will drink.......

+ 1 extra beer

Variety of spare fuses doesn't go astray.

A tool capable of cutting a Hook

Zip Ties asst sizes ,2 split pins 2 prop nuts , PLB . hand held compass , 50mt spare anchor rope & 2 spare anchors, min of 20lt(emergency) drinking water, Signal mirror , Waterproof hand Held radio . more signal flares than required , etc,etc ,etc.

And all the stuff mentioned above , It can amount to a big list Jack but it's got a lot to do with what type of trip your planning , how many boats ,who's with you .
I used to carry so much but now tend to trim it down to what trip I'm doing .

I like a topic like this someone always comes up with more stuff I haven't thought of.

PS , I have needed most of this stuff over the years , and a been a few times I haven't had it

A bottle of rum

A volt meter, and the skill to use it.

hose clamps

One thing that has made life easier for me is carrying the correct sized socket for the prop nut. Makes changing a prop on the water much quicker and easier.

3/8 Socket set, 250mm shifter/hammer, fuses, pack of eli-flex, always a spare slab of water bottles, split pins, prop & spare nut & washer, little roll of tie-wire and a few assorted terminals for Justin Case.

GI Joe doll, make the fish look bigger, Melv's idea

Tools:
Leatherman
duct tape
cable ties
usually a shifting spanner and a screw driver is left in the gunnel
Spare hose for fuel line (also doubles as makeshift bilge)
hydraulic fluid + a home made funnel/tube for it (mostly coz my baysteer system has an incredibly slow leak on an inner seal)

Safety gear:
standard equipment for offshore but i take it everywhere + 3 times the water per person and i have a bimini

I used to take a whole tool kit with me but i leave that in the car and check everything twice before i go on a trip even if its just a couple hour harbour trip with the kids. guess theres a few reasons for my madness:
- im an engineer and my grandfather and uncle are mechanics/motor electrical so not alot some duct tape cable ties and a leatherman hasnt be beaten into me can solve
- i have a 80lb water snake completely separate to other systems so worst case it will get me home or close enough
- iv found from personal and friends experience alot of issues arise from a semi known cause rather then accidents (wiring corroded or bounced around, motor not serviced and damaged, deteriorated fuel pump/line (had that myself) checking all of this regularly reduces that risk a lot.

In saying all the above i did get a fuel blockage 50kms off dundee and used a bucket, some hose and the leatherman to get us home at 6 knots the whole way, and yes we did troll the whole way back and ran out of beer as we hit the beach.

Thanks for the great advice guys! Some good ideas there