Next to having enough life jackets on board, a complete tool set is the most important item you should have on your boat. You could make a strong argument that the best sets are the ones that nicely stow on your boat yet are still easily accessible when needed in an emergency.
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This past summer we had the West Marine Shipyard Tool Set on board our boat and there are several reasons why we liked it. For starters, at $92.99 you can’t beat the price. With more than 130 carbon steel tools, including a 3/8-inch drive ratchet, wire stripper/crimper, six-inch joint slip pliers, eight-inch adjustable wrench and more, boaters will be more than prepared to take on any task. It comes with both SAE and metric wrenches and sockets, which is ideal for those who may have boats built in the U.S., but engines or aftermarket products that were not.
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While there are more expensive and professional tool sets out there, this budget-friendly set probably won’t be your everyday tools and in reality this set wasn’t meant to be. The storage case is water-resistant – not waterproof – and we kept ours in the under the seat storage compartment. With the case closed tight we didn’t have any water get inside, even when wet life jackets or towels were thrown on top of it. The case also helps you get organized so your days of digging through a tool bag to find what you need are over.
Complete with a lifetime warranty, it makes a great gift for the boater in your life and after a season of use this set that was specifically designed for boating now has a permanent place on the pontoon.
Product 89
Portable 19/20
Function 46/50
Durability 7/10
Design 9/10
Price 8/10
800-262-8464
www.westmarine.com
