Practical advice: Car tools – these are the essentials you shouldn’t be without

Perhaps the saying that boats are repaired more often than they’re sailed is just a myth. One thing is certain, though: sailors are constantly in need of tools. A loose fitting here, a squeaky floorboard there. Is there such a thing as the perfect range of tools for water sports? The major yacht suppliers send out complete tool kits, but these aren’t tailored to maritime needs. Of course, every DIY store also stocks a whole range of well-stocked kits. These standard kits are cheaper, but they only contain standard items and are often incomplete for sailors.

If you’re looking for a toolbox that’s perfectly suited to your own boat, you’re almost always better off with a bespoke selection. At the same time, you have complete freedom of choice when it comes to brand, quality and price. The principle of ‘less is more’ applies here, so that you don’t end up lugging around and having to stow away any unnecessary ballast: only the bits that fit the screws on board, and only the absolute essentials when it comes to open-ended spanners.

This allows you to put together toolboxes tailored to your needs for different situations: firstly, the universal XS-sized bag for quick access at short notice, which is stored within easy reach on the chart table or in the companionway. To complement this, there’s the large workshop box, which serves as a storage space for all the other items that can happily be tucked away further back in the storage box.

And for those who like to be really meticulous, you can also sort further by specific areas of use such as ‘electrics’, ‘engine’ or ‘sails and running rigging’. As you gain more experience, you’ll gradually find yourself banishing certain items from on board – those that are so rarely and predictably needed that they can safely be left in the loft at home.

Which on-board tools should you have on your boat?

An absolute minimum set of tools recommended for quick access when carrying out everyday repairs and maintenance tasks, costing between 150 and 200 euros, includes the following:

• Screwdrivers and bits with the correct heads for the screws fitted on board: where only Torx screws are fitted, cross-slotted heads are unnecessary.
• The very most important ones Allen key, preferably bits
• Socket wrench inserts, Nuts to match the nuts and bolts fitted on board
• At least one handy Combination pliers good quality
• Side-cutting pliers, unless it is securely integrated into the combination pliers.

Compact tool sets, which cover most requirements and often come with built-in smart features, provide a good starting point. “Kraftform Kompakt W 1 Maintenance” by Wera For around 110 euros, this set includes both a modular range of insulated screwdriver blades with interchangeable handles and bits in the standard Allen sizes. It also comes with a ratchet handle with a swivelling head for the sockets (5.5 to 13.0 millimetres) included in the set. The fabric pouch also has room for a pair of compact combination pliers or additional spanners and, thanks to a self-adhesive Velcro strip, can be attached practically anywhere. That’s all you need for those little everyday jobs.

Competitors such as Wiha sell similar ranges. Skippers with a penchant for minimalism opt for a bit holder shaped like a screwdriver head and include only the relevant bits in this set. Or they might even rely on a multi-tool with bit attachments, although these can only be used for small tasks.

The complete toolbox

Sometimes, however, you need a little more – particularly when it comes to major procedures. We also recommend that the basic contents of a comprehensive first-aid kit, designed to cover all eventualities, should include the following:

• Open-ended spanner or larger nuts, for example for the steering column
• A complete Allen key set*
• Pliers spanner* or (self-adjusting) open-ended spanners in various sizes, including for the shroud terminals – preferably with plastic protective jaws
• Water pipe pliers
• A complete Bit set
• A compact Electric screwdriver* for simple but usually tedious tasks
• Side-cutting pliers*
• Shroud cutter
• craft knife and blades*
• A fully insulated VDE combination pliers*
• Tape measure*
• Amazing*
• Schonhammer*
• One Hand saw* with a sufficient number of replacement blades
• LED work light, head torch*
• Cordless screwdriver or drill* including drill bits, a charger and, ideally, 2 batteries.

Fancy a bit more? Electrical and electronic upgrade

Prices vary considerably. Not least depending on the choice of storage solution. Depending on your technical skills and personal commitment, the potential for improvement is virtually limitless. The supplementary full electrical and electronic upgrade, for example, consists of the following components:

• Digital multimeter*
• Reliable Stripping tool*
• Versatile, high-quality Crimping pliers* for different sizes and cable cross-sections, to ensure secure terminations
• VDE-insulated screwdrivers*
• VDE-insulated Combination and needle-nose pliers*
• Precision Engineer's Screwdriver Set* for work on electronic equipment
• If necessary, a Hot-air gun* for heat-shrinkable connectors.

On most sailing yachts, you’ll find tools for working on ropes and rigging. What used to be a sailing glove has now been replaced by splicing needles of various sizes, Dyneema scissors, marking tape, felt-tip pens, sail repair tape, rigging twine in various diameters and perhaps even a hot knife, which is also available in a gas-powered version. In any case, you’ll need rope and Dyneema ends. Does all this belong in the toolbox? Opinions differ on this; ultimately, it comes down to practicality. Most skippers will carry this equipment on board in separate bags or boxes.

Great ideas from Wuppertal

The Bergisches Land, as the cradle of German industrialisation, remains home to many toolmakers to this day. From Wuppertal and neighbouring towns, manufacturers export some of the most innovative tools to the whole world. The specialist firm Knipex, for example, has developed the ‘pliers spanner’: with flat jaws that can also be fitted with plastic inserts to reduce impact, these can, in the best-case scenario, replace an entire set of traditional spanners. The distance between the jaws can be adjusted at the head at the touch of a button. The tools are available in five sizes and various designs, starting at around 40 euros.

Particularly handy on board: the company offers retaining clips with lanyards fitted with anti-loss devices for many of its pliers. That saves you from having to dive into the harbour on more than one occasion.

No less helpful are Wera’s self-adjusting open-ended spanners. The jaw width of the six different sizes varies with the movement of the handle; when turned clockwise on the workpiece, the spanner grips firmly. Conversely, the jaws open, even allowing you to work with a ratchet-like feel. Prices range from 35 to 44 euros, depending on size. Both the pliers-style spanner and the self-adjusting open-ended spanner make tasks such as tightening the shroud turnbuckles in the spring noticeably easier.

Ratchet ring spanners are almost standard in professional workshops, but are still rarely found on most boats. Models with a hinge between the head and the handle, in particular, make working in hard-to-reach and confined spaces much easier. Set prices vary between 30 and 100 euros, depending on quality, design and brand. Several manufacturers also have gear-driven screwdrivers in their range. With a single turn of the hand, the bit holder rotates four times. This ‘turbo’ function can be activated at the touch of a button.

Of course, the choice of tools to carry in the car is always very much a personal one, but it’s always worth giving the matter some thought.

​Cordless screwdrivers are essential

​When it comes to drilling, at the very least, nobody on board wants to be without a power tool. The top choice is a cordless drill/driver with a brushless motor and a metal chuck, two speeds, adjustable torque, a good LED light and as compact a design as possible. 80 Newton-metres is sufficient for practically any on-board application. Makita, for example, recommends the ‘DDF484’“* for 120 euros without a battery or 280 euros with a battery (retail prices). Bosch recommends the equally compact “AdvancedDrill 18V-80” (120 euros) and for business customers, the “Expert EXSR 18V-90FC”* from the blue range (from 250 euros, excluding battery and accessories); both come with interchangeable attachments for a wide range of drilling and screwdriving applications.

Depending on your budget and requirements, an electric Multitool, the Polishing machine or a Angle grinder Typical additions to the range of tools. However, in most cases these tend to be kept in the basement at home and are mainly used during winter storage. A very compact tool for tight spaces – such as a small angle screwdriver – is, however, a useful addition to have on board.

On the question of the right battery system, Bosch, for example, says: “For performance reasons, we recommend the 18-volt system.” Although the equally popular 12-volt tools are smaller and more compact, they reach their limits more quickly when working with hardwood, using larger screws in aluminium or working with hole saws.

Storage capacity, redundancy and storage

For most yachts, a battery capacity of two to four ampere-hours is sufficient. A second battery is often more practical than a larger one. Even though some brands advertise splash-proof protection, contact with salt water must be avoided at all costs.

When it comes to battery care, there are a few things to bear in mind: at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, performance drops. The runtime is reduced and the device is more likely to switch off. Whilst it used to be said that charging at temperatures below zero could damage the battery, Bosch customers, at least, can now breathe a sigh of relief: the new batteries in the ‘Expert’ range can be charged at cell temperatures between minus 10 and 55 degrees Celsius. Manufacturers recommend storing the batteries at 10 to 20 degrees, only taking them out of a warm place just before use, and keeping them close to your body when working in winter conditions, for example. Conversely, an automatic shut-off feature in modern batteries protects the storage cells from premature ageing in hot conditions. Working in direct sunlight almost always requires taking breaks to allow the tool and battery to cool down in the shade.

For modern batteries, however, overwintering is no longer a challenge: “Storage for up to six months is not a problem. A top-up charge is not normally necessary,” explains Bosch. “For longer storage, however, we recommend a state of charge of between 50 and 80 per cent.”

​How to protect tools

​Forged tools are not designed for use in salty environments. However, there are often no alternatives. A pair of branded pliers costing 40 euros, for example, would cost many times that amount if made from stainless steel. However, the manufacturer Knipex makes it clear: “Even chrome-plated pliers do not offer sufficient long-term rust protection to prevent corrosion in a saltwater environment.”

The first rule on board, regardless of the material, is: avoid contact with salt! The second: dry it thoroughly. And thirdly: preserve it. The manufacturer advises applying a thin layer of oil to the tool after regular cleaning with fresh water and thorough drying. “These oils not only improve the appearance of the pliers, but also provide good protection against rust.” The type of oil doesn’t matter – sewing machine oil, gun oil or precision engineer’s oil are all equally suitable. Light surface rust on non-chrome-plated parts can be removed with a soft cloth and a little oil; step 2 involves using a rubber eraser or abrasive pad. Take care with chrome-vanadium products: these steels are generally harder and highly resistant to mechanical stress, but without suitable surface protection they are more susceptible to corrosion than rust-resistant stainless steels. If you want to be on the safe side, pop a packet of silica gel into your waterproof toolbox.