Date: 6 October 2013. Organizing Your Tools.
© janice142
Aboard Seaweed, like all other homes afloat having tools
available is important. Having said items convenient to access makes life
ever so much simpler. Originally when I moved on board I had a fool-proof
storage system ready to go. Then, because that was not working well for me
in practice, I changed it. Being will to adapt is a skill boaters need.
Much of my life when I first moved aboard
was spent moving things. If you are not expecting that, well, every little thing can begin to seem
overwhelming. Life afloat is not always like that. It does get better, however you
will need
patience at first for certain. A large helping of humor always helps when stuff
is not quite as you'd imagined.
This screw kit became a repository of smaller screws. I did
not need jars of screws so tucked away the excess.
People throw out a lot of broken items with perfectly good
screws. I remove those screws and keep them for Seaweed.
Finding the right spot for your gear changes over time.
Expect to move things until you discover what works best for you aboard
your home. For instance, at first I was using my drill frequently, so it
was front and center of a locker. Screws were too. Now, my stash of screws
is hidden away while I have a small container of readily available screws
in a variety of sizes.
My first advice to all boaters is to put
everything away.
As I tucked my tools away I was sure my stowage system was
perfect. Alas my system had some blips and was not nearly as practical as
I had originally thought. Frankly it was not even close to workable. And
this is with 50+ years of family boat ownership so I thought I had this
figured out. Argh.
The family home was a 40' steel sedan cruiser. Daddy
built her.
When you come aboard give yourself
time and latitude to get things right. Know that eventually all be fine.
As for self, smugness does not become me 'cause sure as shooting I do get
my lessons in humility. That helps with my sense of humor too!
At the beginning of this journey (5.5 years into it now) I
used far more nuts and bolts and my screw driver/drill use was a constant
plus the jig saw was very handy. Unless you are fortunate enough to
purchase a boat that has been a home you will run into similar
difficulties. You will find storage spots that seem obvious though access
to said locker space is either difficult or impractical for daily use.
That is where my boat buddies aboard Freebird helped. Marsha
and Kenny (aka Muscles) became friends as we endeavored to make our homes
more comfortable. Theirs is a beamy Freedom30. In any event Muscles helped
me and above is one of the most useful cut-outs he created. It is in the
end of the bench seat that faces the companionway in the galley. That is
the forward bench and behind that locker door is my easily accessed tool
locker.
This is my dear friend Marsha.
Like most (all?) boats with dinette seating, there is a
large lift out cover from the top into the space. Nobody I know wants to shift
cushions and pillows each time they need access to that space. The locker
access created
is dedicated to tools, my
Calder's Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual
along with paperwork. It is perfection indeed. Thank you again Muscles.
From bottom to top, this is what I have loaded in a tiny
24" wide locker space:
At the bottom in an old shoe box are my leftover and spare
plumbing supplies. At one time there were more but as the boat has come
together they have shrunk in size to the smallest box. As you can see in
front are a few ends of rolls of sand paper, some
Copper Coat Gasket Compound,
Rust-Oleum
flat black paint
(for the window trims and stove*)
along with
Chapman's on the left and
Calder's on the right. Note too the
brass spray nozzle
-- that kind lasts longest and stows easily in a small
space.
*Aside re the stove and
Rustoleum paint: The stovetop on Seaweed was corroded and not too great looking.
Flat black Rustoleum was on hand so I painted
it. No, it is not perfect however the stove does look a darn sight better.
At some
point perhaps I will run across another stove and replace mine. In the
meantime it works and that is most important to me.
Two more things about propane stoves: The ones for boats have two
burners in front and one in the back (generally) however the ones made for
RVs have the reverse: two burners in back and one in the front. Seaweed
came with the latter and frankly I like it better. Of course mine is not
gimbaled. Just something to think about if you have to buy a stove -- and
as a cook rather than a chef, I find two burners are quite sufficient! The
third in the front does fit nicely my
Coleman
stove-top oven though so...!
This container, an old sweater box, has all the hand tools
that are used on occasion. Because I do not use them so often they are
lower in the stack. There is a lid so it nicely supports the next box,
which doesn't have a top but was free so obviously works well and is
within my budget. Yes, the safety goggles (those yellow things you can't
see through) are history.
One thing that I always have aboard is
Rescue Tape
-- sitting right in front in the left corner. When you need it you had
better have some. Add
Rescue Tape
to your list of NECESSARY ship's stores. Rescue Tape comes in a variety of
colors. I prefer clear. Also, do not go cheap and purchase a knock-off.
They are truly awful.
This level features many of tools when working with power.
The
Wire Strippers are great -- one
of my favorites and definitely a recommendation if you do not have a decent
pair. I have used mine for three years and though the cutter part is getting
nicked, they work very well. I don't loan these out so buy your own pair.
Ditto Daddy's vise grips. I love my
vise grips.
The
drill bits
(mine at least) have had a hard life and need replacement. I have not yet
picked up a new set. For me having a small group that will work is better
than having a huge kit that can create the perfect size hole. Seaweed is a
boat, not a yacht! Still, it is the 1/4" bits that are used most frequently
and break fastest. I wish I'd been smart enough to pick up more of that
size.
The most used tools are at the top of the stack. Note that
the Philips head screw driver is on the left and the Standard is on the
right. That's because P is before S in the alphabet and in the dark when
reaching in I know which is which. This simple formula is also
followed in the drawer with my next size smaller Philips and standard
screw drivers. Their handles match too so placement is important. I have
seen some who have only blue for Phillips and red handles for standard --
another system that works well.
Next to the tape measure is a
Crow Foot Wrench
-- a new-to-me tool that proved its worth when the keyway (square 5/16"
bronze, replaced with stainless) that holds my shaft to the transmission
sheared. There are two square-ended bolts that go into the coupling and
hold the shaft in place.
One last handy-to-have item is a
universal socket joint.
I did not own one when I started my life aboard Seaweed. What it does is allow multiple twists in between your ratchet and socket.
On my boat that flexibility was crucial in tightening the bolts that hold
on the valve cover. Please ask about how I know that. The storey is ugly, and
oily. This Universal Joint Kit
is what I should have bought instead of the $10 I paid for the 1/4" drive,
and I'd would now have a 3/8" drive. 20/20 hindsight strikes again.
With everything put away I can sit back and enjoy
the day. Keeping tools tidy means they are always available at a
moments notice. Thanks to Kenny on Freebird I have a great location
for my tools that is easy to access. Perhaps this has given you an idea
for your own boat. Happy Cruising!
Are there any hand tools you wouldn't be without?
What nifty access points have you created to make storage easier?
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