You'll be pleased to hear that no elbow grease is needed if you're to follow this advice. Instead, you might be wearing out some shoe leather as you go on a shopping expedition to buy the things needed to complete the full complement of spares that you should carry on your boat:
The following are useful to have on board:
- A multi-meter (battery tester)
- PTFE tape (for dealing with unexpected domestic leaks)
- Adjustable spanners
- Spanner set
- Filter wrench
- Side cutters and cutting equipment for fouled propellars
- 24mm spanner for engine mount adjustment
- A flat head and multi-faceted Phillips screwdriver
- Pliers
- A hammer
- Spare lengths of electrical wire/ insulation tape
- A socket set
- Refractometer for checking coolant (antifreeze) and batteries
- Spark plug sockets (for outboards only)
- Jump leads
With this kit River Canal Rescue says you should be able to manage the majority of maintenance issues.
Of course, if you have the room, it'd be even better if you carried common or engine specific spares such as: morse cables throttle and gear selection, fan belts, impellers, spark plugs, fuel and oil filters, bulbs, bolts and fuses, plus a supply of oil and ‘Stop Leak' or putty for those unexpected hull breaches.
So, there you have it. If you've followed, and carried out, the maintenance jobs that we've covered then you're all set to go out and do what makes you happy – go boating, because life's better by water!
