Boats Spares Tool kit
What you carry in the boats tool kit will be useful for many boat repairs, but you might want to add some more tools to the list.
Spare shackles
Shackles have been known to break and also useful for emergency repairs to the rig.
Spare ropes
You can never have too many ropes on board but always useful is a tow rope and spare mooring ropes.
Wire cutters
Mainly for sail boats if the rig should come down.
Sharp knife
Essential and have it ready for use.
Torches
Again essential and the rechargeable type can be a better option. Have close at hand for night sailing.
Glues and epoxy putty
For emergency repairs on wood and fibreglass.
Spare blocks
For sailboats where blocks may fail or where you want to experiment with new sheet leads.
Winch spares
For sailboats and the most important spare will be first winch handles and then what the manufacturer might recommend.
Snippet from the new app for iPhone & Android:
Dag Pike’s Boating Checklists
About the author:
Dag Pike began his career as a merchant captain, went on to test lifeboats, and took up fast boat navigation, winning a string of trophies for powerboat races around the world, including navigating Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Challenger on the record-breaking fastest Atlantic crossing by powerboat.
Passage planning and pilotage
Understanding tides
Rewiring a boat – overcoming the challenges involved
Skippers need to have a basic knowledge of boat electrics, to avoid potential problems and to be able to solve them when they happen.
First Aid Afloat – how to deal with a fracture at sea
Boatyard Health and Safety
The Boatyard Book – a boat owner’s guide to yacht maintenance, repair and refitting
The Boatyard Book is a fully illustrated 224 page practical reference manual that provides advice for boat owners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length.
First aid at sea basics
At least one person on board should be trained in first aid and know how to administer the contents of the first aid kit, ensuring there are adequate supplies for the planned duration of the trip.
Competent crew skills: mooring lines
Peer to Peer yacht charter – How can you monetize your boat?
First Aid Afloat – fish spine injury
Know your Navlights & Shapes – essential for all skippers
Essential boat engine checklist
Sail care and maintenance – Part 2
At the end of the sailing season sails should be washed and inspected carefully for damage, including small tears, stitching failure, ultraviolet damage, stains and mildew.
Sailing & Motoring in Fog
Essential Knots: Sheet bend
Boating emergency – how to broadcast a MAYDAY emergency call
Anchoring – getting it right is not always straightforward
A five day sailing cruise of the Solent, UK
Winch Servicing
Galvanic and electrolytic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical reaction between two or more different metals, in the presence of an electrolyte (note salt water is a good electrolyte).
Leaking decks
Leaking decks are perceived as a nuisance by some boat owners, but if leaks are ignored a much more serious situation may well be developing, especially in the case of boats with balsa or plywood deck cores. So deck leaks do need to be investigated and dealt with.
Boat Improvements
Boat gas system maintenance
There are correct types of hose for marine plumbing, sewerage, exhaust, cooling and gas and all hoses should be checked regularly for wear and deterioration.
How to operate a winch
Boat electrics inspection checklist
With the boat ashore, here are some recommendations for carrying out a boat owner electrics inspection. Safety is always paramount so remember to do the checks with the batteries off. Wearing a head torch helps, make notes as you go and only tackle a repair if you are 100% sure you know what you are doing:
