What do you use for mobile repair?

[Troppo]

What do you find useful for working on ya boat on the water? When I have had access to a pontoon wharf with power and water, it was soo much easier to get jobs done. I found doing repairs with Windchaser on a buoy mooring quite a challenge. After an initial surge of energy and doing weeks of internal sanding and fairing by hand, I gave up and bought a small 4 stroke generator.

I selected a 4 stroke .7 kva Kipor for about $400 as it runs most of what I need, is very light, and relatively quiet. The tools I use most are an orbital sander, drill with various attachments and grinder.

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I start the orbital sander and drill on low speed then speed them up, the overload light on the generator does not flick on. The drill is rated at 1000 watts so theoretically is too large for the 770 watts maximum of the generator however, I do not use the drill on the hammer setting and start it at low speed so it does not draw anywhere near what it could. However, the 500 watt grinder kicking in does cause the generator's overload light to momentarily glow so it is not something I turn on and off all the time.

While I still do lots of hand sanding and use other manual tools, the small generator and power tools mean I get a lot more work done in the short times I have available on the boat.

What do you use that helps to get those repairs done?

[Rod]

Best thing to use to get those little jobs done is "somebody else".

[Troppo]

Hahaha, good one Rod!

Louis

[Miker]

I have a battery powered sander, and take at least two of the four batteries I have, as they also fit the cordless hammer drill. For cutting timber, I use a Jap Saw, which is fantastic for detailed work, as well as longer cuts of needed.

I haven't tried it yet, but I also have a 1600 watt inverter that I can run on my 170 amp hour house battery.

Might get a generator one day, but I'd rather spend it on a fridge.

[storm petrel]

Merry Christmas Guys,

Like Michael and Shaun, I also get by with battery powered tools. They have improved so much in the past 10 years that they are fine for most things apart from quite big jobs. Fortunately, my boat is at the stage where all the hard stuff has been done and I can now spend a lot more time sailing than working on the boat. The maintenance is now down to an annual clean up of the mast step and hull anti foul, some sacrificial varnish here and there and keeping the diesel in fresh oil and filters.

I have a buddy who often offers me a loan of his generator but knock on wood, to date have not needed it.

Cheers,
Mark

[Troppo]

For cutting timber, I use a Jap Saw, which is fantastic for detailed work, as well as longer cuts of needed.

Hi Michael, I have never heard of a Jap Saw so googled it. Hmm interesting. Can you tell me more about your saw and it's usefulness?

Louis

[Miker]

Hi Michael, I have never heard of a Jap Saw so googled it. Hmm interesting. Can you tell me more about your saw and it's usefulness?

Louis

Hi Louis,

There are a couple of different Jap Saws, the one I use is a Dozuki type. It's great for getting in to do detailed cuts at awkward angles. It's also good for cutting wood plugs plugs off a flat surface.

On the Carbatec Woodworking website, they have a couple listed as Japanese Handsaws. They are so much more accurate, because you are cutting on the draw, or pull, not on the push. The blades are very thin and flexible and can cut horizontally into a panel, or corner and are especially good for dove tailing etc.

Watch out for foreig articles such as nails, staples or wire near your job, because although the blades are razor sharp, the blunt quickly if used on metal.

Hope this helps.....

[Troppo]

That's useful info Michael. I'm gunna do more reading about 'em and might end up buying one to give it a go.

Louis