What's in your emergency/back-up boat box?

Matt B

Matt B

RAMONES
Forum Supporter
Now that I got my little outboard running, I need a box of backup stuff to take with me out on the water in case I run into trouble. 3 things I already know I need and plan to put in there are a backup starter cord, a 10mm wrench, and an adjustable wrench. What do you keep in yours? What are the essentials, and what are the "nice to haves"?
 
Screw drivers, wire cutters, scissors and needle nose pliers. All of those can be used to fix stuff besides the motor while boating.
SF
 
Tape, (duct or electrical). Flare gun and/or an air horn, or at least a loud whistle. Flashlight, mylar space blanket, Cliff bar and a bottle of water.

Oh and a knife.
 
Spare spark plug(s), spare set of bearings for trailer wheels, paper clip or something similar for unclogging pee hole, small tube of calking and or adhesive.
 
I have an inexpensive tool set with case and a few spare parts. Knife, spare plug, extra tie down, toilet paper, first aid kit, a length of weed whacker line to clear pee hole, cell phone, and the required safety equipment; fire extinguisher, throw cushion, life vests, horn, etc.

The two times I have been stopped from fishing were from a dead battery, I drove to a parts store to purchase a new battery, a failed wheel bearing which happened in front of a Walmart where I purchased a new wheel bearing and installed it in their parking lot. Both times I continued on to fish just a little later then I intended.
 
What everyone said and starting fluid.
If you have space, an extra fuel hose.
In my experience most times that the motor is not running it's due to fuel delivery.
 
Tape a couple of shear pins inside the motor cowl. Add pruning shears for the rose bush. How big is your boat?
 
Shear pins, trailer light repair kit. Small hydraulic jack for flat tire on trailer.
Extra spark plugs. Tool box. Needle nose pliers, Spare key for outboard, knife, lighter, TP, pee bottle or can, fish bags,
Extra Gas,Tow rope, Push pole.
 
Basic tool kit, Sharp knife, extra plug, couple towels in ziplocks, pee can and sponge. Always make sure your motor turns over before you leave the house.
 
Gorilla tape, zip ties, rope, manual bilge pump, fuses, a coil of spare wire, and one of these tool kits here. Not the nicest tools in the world, but they're perfect for keeping in the cuddy on the boat and I'm not at all concerned if they get shitty and rusty.

www.harborfreight.com

Tool Set with 4-Drawer Chest, 105 Piece

Amazing deals on this 105Pc Tool Set With 4-Drawer Chest at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
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Also, I always have one of these on-hand. I've not needed for myself yet, but I've helped others at the dock.

 
These are some great suggestions. Thank you, everyone, and keep them coming if you have additions.
I should've written that I'm running a 12-foot 1990s aluminum Smokercraft powered by a 2004-ish Honda BF 9.9 D 4-stroke. Bare bones. Pull start, no powered accessories at this point, no batteries and the only fuses are on the battery charging circuit, which I don't use. Based on the manuals, I don't think this motor has a shear pin but I have not yet disassembled the prop assembly (so a spare prop probably not a bad idea). I keep oars strapped on the boat at all times.
 
M_D said:
Yeah but then you’d miss out on a WTF tirade at the boat launch :LOL:
Click to expand...
WW was with me when we launched my boat to discover a dead battery. He stayed with the boat while I drove to town to get a new battery. Of coarse it was early on a Sunday and the auto parts store wasn’t open yet.

The engine has a pull rope tucked up in the cowl but I wasn’t into pull starting a 60 hp motor all day. We thought of jumping it off the truck but there was concern the old battery might not charge enough to keep working all day.
 
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