What you have in your boat tool kit? Let's see yours :-)
Here is what I have till now,
the red thing is for cutting off fishing hooks if needed.
Additional items:
1. box of misc amp automotive blade fuses.
2. Jumper cable
3. socket and wrench for changing out prop (do I carry an extra prop?)
4. flares (required by law)
5. air horn
6. drift sock (should I carry 2 of them?)
Gobi!!!
Good call on the cable cutter / dikes / Diagonal Cutting Pliers.
I now carry one ANY time on saltwater for this purpose only.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/33/7588_30_10_20_9_04_54_33610128.jpeg)
Hook in finger.
With a pair of dikes / diagonal cutting pliers, getting the hook out just got easier.
I'm an old Boy Scout (Eagle Scout to be exact) - always be prepared.
Wayne
Yeap, cutting off the hook makes things less painful in the wallet too. ED visit will cost $$$.
I've always carried a good set of "cutters' in my box, too. And, congrats on that rank, Wayne (from an old Assistant Scoutmaster) !
Here's the yak tool kit I take.
Super glue, marine grease, duct tape. Extras;kayak "cable" line, rod leash, wheel bolt, metal skeg(rudder) pin. Broken 1/2 of giant Leatherman tool, alcohol pads for cleaning before taping or gluing or greasing, plastic ties and screwdriver-knife. The big pliers are great for not corroding( gotta watch the removable jaws, though), made outta some kinda aluminum alloy maybe. Long tapered needle-nose would be better for somea the fish I de-hook, but 1 or 2 trips and it's corrosion city with those.
Try'n make everything small and lightweight. I have many more tools in my "bucket boss" in back of my vehicle( including extras such as various fasteners) so I'm able to do repairs(even electrical)before I head out.
What's a man without tools!?
Gobi,
Take a look at the Knipex line of tools for hook cutters. Before I retired My biz was making crab lobster and fish traps along with aquaculture cages so have cut thru billions of wire strands since the 70's when we started. We looked at the Chinese ones you have, they lasted about 5 minutes on the shop floor, then straight to the dumpster. Not cheap but a few twenties don't look so big when you've got a 9/0 buried in your hand. Pics from Amazon. I carry the top ones, multiplying 8" bolt cutters
Gfish,
Wrap the duct tape around an old plastic "credit card" hotel key, compact and no cardboard to get wet.
Those compound Nipex are what I carry, as well Cuttyhunker. As you say, Nipex stuff isn't cheap, but as my dear ole' Dad always said, When it comes to tools, buy the best...and only cry once !
Quote from: El Pescador on October 30, 2020, 04:09:24 PM
Gobi!!!
Good call on the cable cutter / dikes / Diagonal Cutting Pliers.
I now carry one ANY time on saltwater for this purpose only.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/33/7588_30_10_20_9_04_54_33610128.jpeg)
Hook in finger.
With a pair of dikes / diagonal cutting pliers, getting the hook out just got easier.
I'm an old Boy Scout (Eagle Scout to be exact) - always be prepared.
Wayne
You might try cutting a few of the size hooks you will be carrying just to make sure the cutters you choose are up to the task. Don't ask me how I know this, you can thank me later.
Same here those little 8" suckers will cut through just about anything.
Quote from: Cuttyhunker on November 02, 2020, 09:35:53 PM
Gfish,
Wrap the duct tape around an old plastic "credit card" hotel key, compact and no cardboard to get wet.
10-4, thanks, good idea.
Good point gentlemen,
I will do a quick test today.
HRC rating, hmm, I had to look it up to see what it meant,
wow,
https://toolslaboratory.com/bolt-cutters-with-maximum-cutting-capacity/
So, my 3x or stainless 7/0 hooks are biggest I use.
What is harder when it comes to hooks?
That's it. I'm not reading this thread any more. Scrolling past that photo makes my thumb hurt.
-steve
I old an ol rusty hook I probably fished it in Dauphin Island, the bolt cutter cut it with ease but it did leave a small dent on the cutting surface.
I would say the hook was bit larger than 1 penny wide.
Carbon steel hoooks will be harder to cut, the higher quality hooks will be the hardest. Stainless hooks are usually not made from a grade that can be hardened ( most hardenable stainless can rust).
I read a tip somewhere about using a vacuum sealer to bag up infrequently used tools like bolt cutters to prevent corrosion (esp in saltwater). Other than the risk of sucking up toxic lubricant molecules into your food saver, it seems like a neat idea.
In terms of tools/repair items, a section of cord suitable for temporarily lashing broken clasps, antenna mounts, broken rope start on the kicker, etc, is nice. I knew a guy that used some cord to repair a broken portable fuel tank to fuel line connector. Took a couple years before he got around to fixing it (not recommended :( ). Whatever it takes on your boat to seal up a broken through-hull valve or hose? Also electrical always seems to be an issue. Wondering what folks pack. There are those new push style wire nuts that might be useful for emergency repairs to get back to the dock, maybe some extra wire, and waterproof tape, and some of those mini wiring pliers? Stuff to reseat battery terminals, and/or one of those fancy new portable power packs for an emergency start?
Amother idea if you are not already doing some thing like this: If you play the airplane pilot training game of asking yourself "what would I do right now if..." while on the water, it can help you come up with what tools and supplies are most important for the most likely or dangerous problem scenarios, and you will also have some action plans filed away somewhere in your brain, so you won't have to figure out everything on the fly when the doodoo hits the fan.
-J