What extra tools do you take on long fishing trips?
Team gates is busy gearing up for our trip to Coral Bay for the first week of the April school holidays.....we head off on Good Friday and camp overnight at Galena Bridge; should make Coral Bay around lunchtime on 7th April.
As always, there's the packing and repacking of the car and boat, and as usual I'll probably try to take half my shed with me....you know, just in case.
Besides the normal (read 'oversized') toolbox, I usually take a battery drill & tray of drill bits, a 4" angle grinder, extension cord, soldering iron, spare length of trailer cable, extra ropes, recovery gear, extra spare wheel for the trailer, etc. I've also got a small vice that clamps on the tow hitch or trailer draw bar.
Just wondering what else you guys pack for a trip like this one?
Only 8 more sleeps....can't wait!!
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
big john
Posts: 8771
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Filter
Spare fuel filter for the boat and a strap wrench to remove it.
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dodgy
Posts: 4588
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I always take a multimeter,
I always take a multimeter, cable ties and insulation tape.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
chookc
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 07/01/10
grease gun to keep topping up
grease gun to keep topping up bearing buddies regualy on the trip up and back.
Hammer and some spare u bolts and the bolts for the calipers on the trailer breaks as these seam to be the first thing to break...
and all the above. as well as some spare automotive wire to bypass fuses and the such.
deezydee
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 05/12/10
Gaffa tape is the first
Gaffa tape is the first thing to pack.
bluemule
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 14/02/12
extra's
Jacking plate, and if you think it can't break, think again!We carry spare springs as well. I can't afford to be stranded on the Nullabor plain, there's no trailer shop just around the corner for us.Think under carrigde and have the tools to undo the lot. I carry a note pad in my top pocket for months on end,when somthing comes to mind I jot it down,and when its addressed I cross it off.
10800km sydney to exmouth round trip just around the corner.We average 700 -800km per day.
We run the tyres at max psi and never have blowen a tyre. this is our third trip accross. keep an eye on b/ buddies, we lost one near Broken Hill on our last return and cooked the bearing in no time. We now run with gal dust caps!
your springs may look ok. But check both the bushes and shackle bolts and both rocker arms, as the eyes can double in size!
If you have serviced it right, you should have no. problems. if in doubt replace it before you leave.Have a safe trip.
Reguards, Jim
sea-kem
Posts: 15120
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Big 3/8 fine threaded tek
Big 3/8 fine threaded tek screws good for heavy and reasonably light repair jobs. Pop rivets and gun.
Love the West!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18182
Date Joined: 11/03/08
if your any sort of a bush
if your any sort of a bush mechanic. a roll of fencing wire and a pair of pliers oh and a hammer. the hammer is to knock someone on the head if they tell you your doing it wrong.
spare bungs for the boat. fan belts or pantyhose. a jar of cracked pepper if radiator leeks or an egg, both do the job.and most important R A C membership card if you cant fix the prob
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Good advice
Thanks for your input, guys...a few of your suggestions are already on my list, but there's a few I hadn't even thought of.
The more we do these trips, the better prepared we become. Sounds like a good excuse to make this an annual trip
Hey bluemule, that's one hell of a trip you're making...have a safe trip and I hope the fishing gods are watching over you in Exmouth....look forward to reading your trip report.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Rob H
Posts: 5850
Date Joined: 18/01/12
as said above, best look to
as said above, best look to specific jobs that may need to be done. When I saw the thread headline I assumed a long boat trip. If going to the islands I take on board
1/ Everything to replace a water pump impellor-14mm ringy, 3/8 socket set etc
2/ Everything to replace a prop (prop nut socket, pliers, split pin)
3/ plugs
4/ filters, oil, steering oil.
5/ roll of electrical wire, ties, tape, test lamp, fuses, Lanotec, WD40 etc
6/ 10hp aux to be able to at least get back to an island. NOTHING mechanical is 100% foolproof and even if it was its not idiot proof-coral doesnt always yield when it should!
7/ Hacksaw, knife to cut rope etc from prop
8/ Not a tool but a tub with a dozen cans of beans fruit+10 litres water etc in case stuck for a couple of days
9/ TORCH x 2 at least!
Trailer;
1/ Replace a wheel bearing on trailer-best is a complete tyre wheel hub and bearing as with a beach launch setup. Can change the whole lot with a small hammer, pliers and shifter if need be. Set of bearings, grease, drift, hammer if you want to replace it in the dust on the side of the road.
2/ Trailer lights.
3/ If its a dual axle, at least you have some redundancy at a pinch
4/ Duct tape rope wire cargo straps.
plenty of other stuff but I try to plan it as at work. Map out likely scenarios and pack whats needed. Then add a bit more!
If all else fails up there-Im certain Captain Bernie should be able to point you in the right direction in Coral Bay for assistance, Ive found him to be a most agreeable fellow in the best seagoing tradition both at sea and on land
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Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Without taking a small
Without taking a small workshop with you, you will not be able to cover all eventuaities. So stick to the most likely problems and equip yourself for these. Think of the"show stoppers". A blown trailer light wont stop you, where as a siezed wheel bearing will.
1: A well serviced boat, trailer and tow vehicle. The same goes for the rest of your gear. The more time you spend on maintenance here, the more fishing time you have at you destination.
2: a small but comprehensive tool kit. Hammer, pliers, socket set, spanners, allen keys, torx keys, hack saw, knife, battery drill.....Gaffa tape
3: Electrical..... multi meter, wire, tape, fuses, lugs, crimper, cable ties, soldering iron, spare globes.
4: bungs.
5: rope, cord, lubricants and oil, jack, spare wheel, jar of assorted bolts nuts fasteners.
Stop at regular intervals on your journey. check you trailer at each stop.