What to Look For
Unique might not be the right word for these tools, most of which prove common in and of themselves. Grouping them together as tools for boaters is certainly different. These tools come cheap, as far as boating-accessory purchases go. Each also shares the quality of not seeing regular use, but rather serving as the best tool for the job when called for. Consider these seven tools.
CHAIN A few lengths of chain can come in handy for use in hauling, in combination with a farm jack (read on) or to provide to a good Samaritan who is willing to tow you but lacks a strap. Chain can also be wrapped around an axle that’s hanging because U-bolts or leafspring hangers broke, you blew a hub, or you got flats on two tires of a dual-axle trailer and only had one spare tire. Wrapped around the axle and frame, chain can help you limp to a service station. Don’t forget a few shackles and hooks.
IMPACT DRIVER Unlike a drill, an impact driver vibrates as well as spins. This makes tough jobs such as drilling through concrete easier. Of course, that same vibratory rotation makes getting lug nuts off trailer wheels much easier, especially if some corrosion has come into play. In addition to a cordless impact driver, you’ll need a socket sized for your lug nuts and a socket adapter (available at hardware stores).
FARM JACK If you trailer your boat, a farm jack can really come in handy. The jack that came with your truck may not be rated for lifting your trailer boat high if you need to change a flat or bearing on the side of the road. A farm jack can also be used for winching your rig out of a ditch; by attaching a length of chain to the top clamp of the jack, and another chain or strap to the bottom of the jack as well as to a tree or other anchor, you can move a stuck truck or trailer back onto the road.
RETRIEVER TOOL These spring-loaded, jawed gizmos can really come in handy when you drop something deep in the bilge. Whether the dropped item is just out of arm’s reach in a spot where you can’t squeeze your hand or arm by—such as under the engine and next to a stringer—this is just the tool to have. In a pinch, you can sometimes successfully make a DIY pick-up tool using any handy stick and some plumber’s putty, partially cured caulk, a wad of duct tape (use No. 283) or bubble gum.
DENTIST’S MIRROR Oh, pardone-ay-mwah, I mean mechanic’s mirror. Sometimes you just need to see where a fastener is and what kind of head it has. That done, you can reach blindly with the correct tool until you “snap onto it.” Of course, this tool is often used in conjunction with the retriever tool noted earlier, and both are often used in concert with the tool I’ll describe next.
HEADLAMP Yes, a treacherous nighttime walk down a late-season dock is made safer when you can see the icy spots. Of course, when working under the helm or in other confined spots, it sure is handy to have light right where you need it. Another thing: Many boat jobs are performed in bright sun looking down into a dark bilge or other space, and the contrast makes seeing impossible. LED headlamps are now cheap and reliable, and make many boating chores easy. Hey, most have a redlight function, making them great for use without harming your night vision.
MINI VISE GRIPS Locking pliers possess a not wholly unearned reputation as “nut rounders.” However, the mini size of these locking pliers can serve the purpose of a helper. For example, need to tighten a screw with its head on one side of a bulkhead and its nut out of reach on the other side? Clamp the pliers on the nut, then start turning the fastener head. Usually, as the pliers spin with the nut, they fetch up against some obstruction, providing the resistance needed to tighten the nut.