© Attainable Adventure Cruising Ltd and the authors, all rights are reserved.
Nothing on this website or in direct communications received from us, or in our articles in the media, should be construed to mean or imply that offshore voyaging is anything other than potentially hazardous. Dangers such as, but not limited to, extreme weather, cold, ice, lack of help or assistance, gear failure, grounding, and falling overboard could injure or kill you and wreck your boat. Decisions such as, but not limited to, heading offshore, where you go, and how you equip your boat, are yours and yours alone. The information on this web site is based on what has worked for the authors in the past, but that does not mean it will work for you, or that it is the best, or even a good way for you to do things.
Hi John,
I’ve used the exact same trick one time, but when I don’t have my relatively compact and light portable Stanley ball head vise, I’ve found that it’s nice to have visegrip pliers for this use in the core tool kit. I usually carry a slightly small one plus a tiny one. One can hold the object while the other holds the first one to a table or such. No replacement for a real vise, but occasionally useful.
Hi Stein,
I used to carry vice grips but since I bought several different knipex pliers I have stopped carrying vice grips although I do have a couple of pairs in the shop kit. Of course both is ideal, but generally I find the Knipex far more useful within the weight budget I have set for my tools. https://www.morganscloud.com/2023/02/18/a-real-world-tested-tool-kit-for-cruisers/
Hi John,
I totally agree about weight and that Knipex make great tools. Many of them are in my tool kits. My Visegrips are also Knipex, even thought the original is just as good. My method for saving weight and volume is probably influenced by my tendency towards neatness and perfectionism, but FWIW:
I have my tools in different kits.
– “Pocket”: Literally in a tiny sleeve the size of a credit card. Always in my pocket. Actually enough for many useful frequent needs, essential when riding bikes every day. Way better than a Swiss knife or a Leatherman. Actually much of it are parts from those.
– “Mini”: A small roll up cloth sleeve with most tools in small versions. 1/4” sockets and wrenches up to 13mm. All kinds of bits. Pliers. Sufficient for at least 95% of all tool tasks. These two together weigh about 1,5 kilo (estimate, not checked).
– “Core”: Small plastic box with bigger version of the previous. Bigger pliers. 3/8” sockets and wrenches up to 19mm, plus tools I need now and then.
– “Big”: This is for heavy tasks and is normally not carried, since this is perhaps 10 kilos and almost never needed. 1/2” sockets and wrenches up to 32mm, properly big pliers. Big hammer. Various rarely needed tools.
– “Special”: Various separate tool kits for specialised tasks, like: Electric, Bike, Rigging.
– Power tools are also grouped in boxes for typical tasks.
I don’t have more tool kits. No double up. Just these kits that I pick from. I believe that keeps me on top of the situation, that it’s in good shape and that nothing is missing. The key is to enable quickly picking just the kits I need, so it stays light and portable but complete for the task at hand. I always try to improve the kits so they get more functional but smaller and lighter. Items I notice I don’t need often get moved out of the “Mini” and “Core” kits over to the “Big” kit, so I don’t carry not frequently used items.
I’ve used this layout for just a few years and I think it has improved the functionality and practicality of my tool kit dramatically. It keeps developing. The secret sauce is the constant evaluation: Does this item deserve to be in this kit, or should it move to a lower priority kit, or could I do the same task with another tool, so I don’t need it at all?
I must also mention that I only choose high end tools. They work better, and are made from stronger materials with better engineering, which means they are way lighter than the much bigger cheap tool that could replace them.
Hi Stein,
Sounds like a good system, although I come at it bit differently with tool bags for tasks, most of which can be managed out of a single bag. When needed I then supplement that bag from tool lockers or my workshop. More here: https://www.morganscloud.com/2023/02/18/a-real-world-tested-tool-kit-for-cruisers/
My favorite lightweight vice is a small/medium drill press vice mounted to a sheet of plywood, that is then placed over an open cockpit locker (cleats on the underside lock it in place so that it can neither slide nor twist without something breaking). This gives you a vice that is firmly mounted and surrounded by a solid work surface. You can drill, tap, twist, file, saw, and drop things with impunity.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaENxEZ3K1CT6as0o29hSC6CKDAIsaopezgZLF0l3fy6VhU7g1P15Cn9o6E9Xg2cZzkGBZPqVH4jx7Z3LVluwTTo89YlfWHjnkEyjCm-6skcIA2OQTpBfSu83XB1Z7seqjPIaDxkhk359kXpYCT-IgStykuWLTSPbfvH_NPBqumQ0QWpPG3pGYXLeRAsTA/s4320/4.%20DIY%20locker%20top%20bench.jpg
Many would say that Vice-Grips are the wrong tool for most jobs and the right tool only when things have gone wrong. Sort of true, but just the same they are on my short list of tools I always want, for jobs that have not gone wrong. Their are things they do uniquely well, without the rubberband kludge.
I love Knipex (my best cutters!). But millions of owners of Vice Grips and Mole Grips (the UK WWII rip-off) will disagree with you on their utility and they’re many uses.
I guess it is all about the task at hand, and knowing the right and wrong uses. I dare say adjustable pliers have ruined a good many parts. I’d have to think what job they are actually the best tool for …. 😉
Hi Drew,
Totally agree on the dangers of adjustable pliers. I wince when I see people using them on bolts.