On 04 Jun 2004 14:47:10 GMT, (Greg) wrote:

I never understood this thinking. Why wouldn't you carry the best tools you
own?

========================================
I understand it. Good tools are expensive and are usually regarded as
a long term investment. Boat tools get subjected to a LOT of abuse
because they are stored in a hot humid environment, frequently get
exposed to salt water, and ocassionally get dropped overboard or into
inaccessible locations. I find that the combination tool sets sold by
the major boating stores are actually a decent value and quite useful
when suplemented by a big screwdriver or two, large channel locks,
some decent vicegrips, and a filter wrench.

You can always bring your good tools aboard if needed for a serious
project or extended cruise.

I understand it. Good tools are expensive and are usually regarded as
a long term investment. Boat tools get subjected to a LOT of abuse
because they are stored in a hot humid environment,

There are many grades of tools.

Crap tools have no place on a boat, but not everything less than sockets that
sell for $15 each has to be a crap tool.

I just junked my "backup" socket sets this spring. Checked the boxes, and
everything was corroded, the ratchets didn't give me any confidence at
all........and too bad, too. I think I paid $20@ for the two, (1 metric and 1
SAE).

Other socket set was about $100. Not particularly expensive and nowhere near
top of the line, but it is holding up very well.

I don't know that I'd get any better results
with Snap-on or some other highly regarded name brand tool.....(some people
might, but my own mechanical skills are
only moderate to begin with).

Craftsman tools, from Sears, always seemed to be a good compromise between
affordability and durability. Is this still the case, or has it changed?

I keep my tools in an ammo can, occasionally I spray some oil in there. My
Crafstman, Snap-on or MAC tools are doing fine. That is on a boat that sees 300
hours a year on salt water, stored on a lift over salt water when it isn't in
it and I am not a maintenance fanatic.
I haven't had to do it lately but I know you used to be able to take a twisted
up, rusty old Crafstman tool back to Sears and they would give you a new one.

Crafstman

Obviously I am not a spelling fanatic either sorry.

On 6/4/2004 9:49 AM, Greg wrote:

I haven't had to do it lately but I know you used to be able to take a twisted
up, rusty old Crafstman tool back to Sears and they would give you a new one.


They still do. That's one great thing about Sears; they stand behind
their Craftsman handtool warranty. A couple years ago I squeezed too
hard on a rusty pair of Craftsman pliers and broke a handle off, and
they replaced it. My uncle took back a 25+ year old Craftsman socket
that he had cracked by over-torquing, and they replaced it.

In both cases, all they did was verify that it was a genuine Craftsman
handtool. Other than that, no questions asked.


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

In article ,
(Greg) writes:

inexpensive socket wrench set

I never understood this thinking. Why wouldn't you carry the best tools you
own? Your best chance of actually "doing no harm" is to use good tools.

Because it's not going to be used but occasionally, if at all. It's not cheap,
but it's not Craftsman.

My boat is a trailer boat. It's almost never out for more than a day at a
time.

If I'm going on an overnight trip, yeah, I'll throw my good socket wrench set
(which enjoys it's own tool box on board.

But I have top of the line pliers and vice grips. IMO, vice grips are the duct
tape of tools.

Frank Bell
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