Cordless power tools: best for boat?
- Thread starter patagoniadave
- Start date
I've had my Rigid Compact 18v Drill & Impact Driver for about 10 years now, bought them specifically for the boat. Smaller and lighter than the regular sized Dewalt drills I own and I've found them much easier to use as they can get into tighter areas.
I also have the Rigid Job Max Oscillating tool which uses the same batteries as above. The Job Max model allows you to change out the heads and turn them for better handling. I have the oscillating head, right angle drill head and right angle impact driver head.
I also have the Rigid Job Max Oscillating tool which uses the same batteries as above. The Job Max model allows you to change out the heads and turn them for better handling. I have the oscillating head, right angle drill head and right angle impact driver head.
unless you have a wood mast, chainsaw is use less. So is a sawszall frankly. Stainless cable or rod is not effectively cut in a dynamic situation of the boat and rig bouncing around.
Bolt cutter are even more useless.
4" angle grinder with metal cutoff wheel...the only way to consider. US Sailing teaches this same way at Safety-at-Sea.
My cordless kit is Drill, Driver, Angle Grinder and vacuum... 18V with 4-batteries... Ryobi because it is cheap for the quality and works.
I just want to say, I really appreciate everyone's feedback, some things were brought up that I would not have considered in my own, and I found it very helpful for my thought process.
I ended up getting the Ryobi drill \ impact combo, for a few reasons, but one is that they had way more expansion tools than any others. I have my eye on the cutoff wheel for next trip. There was a fan that runs off the battery system I bought as an experiment. I'll look online for the oscillating saw and 12v charger.
Thanks again to everyone for weighing in!
I ended up getting the Ryobi drill \ impact combo, for a few reasons, but one is that they had way more expansion tools than any others. I have my eye on the cutoff wheel for next trip. There was a fan that runs off the battery system I bought as an experiment. I'll look online for the oscillating saw and 12v charger.
Thanks again to everyone for weighing in!
Impact guns are great for installing or uninstalling deck hardware without the need for for someone on the opposite side to hold the fastener still. An oscillating tool is incredibly useful as well. I've found the Chinese blades hold up about as well as the brand name ones. Milwaukee's impact duty drill bits hold up well and are easy to find
If you have to do engine work a decent ratchet set with normal and deep sockets and wobble extensions are a must. The Quinn brand from Harbor Freight has a good case that keeps the sockets in place without a need to use a screwdriver to remove them. I'd also recommend getting an impact to square drive adapter as well as a ratcheting wrench set
If you have to do engine work a decent ratchet set with normal and deep sockets and wobble extensions are a must. The Quinn brand from Harbor Freight has a good case that keeps the sockets in place without a need to use a screwdriver to remove them. I'd also recommend getting an impact to square drive adapter as well as a ratcheting wrench set
Probably too late for you now but Rigid all the way for me, they come with a lifetime warranty that includes the batteries., I have had several new batteries over the years and probably about 10 different tools and no complaints about repairs or replacement.
The one rigid tool I bought, a sander, died and they did not stand behind it. Gave me the run around for months. It is still in my shop dead.... if anyone knows how to get HD to honor the warranty that would be great!
Now days I use Milwaukee as it is the only cordless brand I have owned, and used professionally, that has not had a failure..At our shop we had tried nearly every brand of cordless tool.....If you're not using tools professionally the Ryobi stuff is a good value..
I use 20v dewalt drill/impact/oscillating tool. Get a 3/8 and 1/4 socket adapter for the little impact. It's very handy. 2 years on this set and holding up well to daily use (I'm a marine mechanic) I also carry a snap on 1/4" 14.4v cordless ratchet, and 3/8" 14.4v impact in my tool bag. I thought the were ridiculous when I first saw them. They are a constant go to now.
I've found with cordless tools, the more you use them, the longer they last. Sitting seems hard on the batteries.
For quality hand tools, snap on can't be beat for professional use. I recently acquired a full set of "icon" sockets from harbor freight. I will say for the same money as kobalt/husky, they are immensely better. They are patterned after snap on and have many of the same feature, yet you don't feel so bad when one goes overboard or disappears in a Blige.
THE ONE TOOL EVERY ONE SHOULD BUY IS A SNAP ON #2 PHILLIPS. They are truly superior.
I've found with cordless tools, the more you use them, the longer they last. Sitting seems hard on the batteries.
For quality hand tools, snap on can't be beat for professional use. I recently acquired a full set of "icon" sockets from harbor freight. I will say for the same money as kobalt/husky, they are immensely better. They are patterned after snap on and have many of the same feature, yet you don't feel so bad when one goes overboard or disappears in a Blige.
THE ONE TOOL EVERY ONE SHOULD BUY IS A SNAP ON #2 PHILLIPS. They are truly superior.