Loading up the credit card
Yesterday I made a post about carrying a sufficient supply of spare parts. No matter how complete our store of spares is though, none of them would be any good to us without at least a bit of knowledge, and some tools. While we accumulated most everything we needed in the tool department before we set off cruising on ZTC, I’m betting that the Leopard we’ll be taking delivery of will have not much more than a pair of pliers and a hammer on board. At least that was the case of the bareboat 4600 that we chartered.
To rectify that situation, with Michael’s credit card* in hand, Rebecca and I made a trip to Home Depot. As we walked through the aisles, we filled a large cart with all of the basics: socket sets, screwdrivers, pliers, etc., etc. etc. I had intended on taking a photo of all of the tools we purchased, because it was a pretty impressive pile, but unfortunately I forgot to, and now they are somewhere between here and Miami.
Sadly, I am still working through the Yanmar spares issue. I’ve wasted two days trying to make what, in my opinion, should have been a simple order. Perhaps I’ll get some closure on that front today.
In other news, lest you think that the “sell everything, buy a boat and go sailing without any prior experience” gig is something exclusive to Rebecca and I, here is another blog by a couple looking to do the exact same thing. Mike (yes, another Mike) and Anja are from this area and were nice enough to drive to Loveland last weekend to meet us. As fun as that get-together was, we’re looking forward to having our next meeting someplace a bit more tropical than Colorado!
*Amusingly, on two occasions I had a store clerk ask me for ID when trying to charge items on Michael’s credit card. Both times I presented them with my driver’s license, which obviously has a different name than that shown on the credit card. Neither of them challenged me on that. Doesn’t that make you feel confident? 🙂
All those tools, and you will probably use the hammer the most. At least I do.
We did buy a mallet! 🙂
If you put, say, one ton of stuff on the Leopard, how much does it lower the waterline?
🙂
Mike
A LOT less than the PDQ 32 and in the case of tools, you pretty much need the same stuff for a small boat that you do for a larger one.
Ken and I will be earning those travel miles on our credit card once we sell the house and start prepping the boat for cruising. So much to buy!
Love knowing that my credit cards and identity are so secure .. LOL!
You may have already done this but we decided, even before selling our house, that we would not purchase a single thing that would not be joining us on our boat.
Home Depot? Hmmmm. Well, what’s done is done, but in the future, I’d really recommend anyone outfitting a boat with tools spring for a good Craftsman mechanics set (they’re not that expensive), or even a nice starter set from Snap On. Why? Because the store brand hand tools from Home Depot, Lowes, etc., are all Chinese made, and they rust like there’s no tomorrow once you get them in a marine environment. We loaded up with Lowes’ Kobalt brand originally, and all the wrenches and pliers froze up solid with rust within a year. The screwdrivers too, but at least they still work, not having any moving parts.
We considered Sears but it appears as if they’re not really made in the US either:
http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=d1491582-bb9b-455f-ac22-66f8bd566117
As for snap on, that’s a bit out of our budget.
Now if I was in Canada, I definitely would have went to Canadian Tire! 🙂
The Craftsman brand is of a higher quality (there’s Chinese, and then there’s GOOD Chinese) – they definitely resist corrosion better than the Kobalt brand tools we’ve bought over the years. Also, you’ll want to bite the bullet and invest in a good Ancor brand electrical crimping tool. They’re almost $70 on Amazon, but they’re the only ones I’ve found that gives you a solid crimp every time that will not pull apart, even with 18 and 22 gauge wire.
Not only do I have one of those crimpers on ZTC, we purchased another one to have on this boat, and a complete selecting of crimping connectors and terminals, just in case I need it before we get to Grenada.
Yep, the newer Sears stuff is not nearly as good as they were before my time. And Snap-On is just waaaay too pricey.
I’ve yet to have any significant problems with any of my CT Mastercraft tools, except for the one power planer with the bad bearing. Princess Auto’s new high-end house brand, “Pro-Point”, is also excellent (the Pro-Point ratchet crimper is at least as good as the Ancor and is half the price).
Nice to know that credit card security is still good and tight. A friend was recently told “we can’t accept the card unless it’s signed on the back…. please sign the back of your card now. OK, the sig on the receipt matches the one on the card. Good.”
That’s interesting about Princess Auto. I miss both that store and Can Tire. I have a Can Tire Credit card and keep racking up CT dollars on it. Unfortunately, unless I go back to Canada, I have no way of redeeming them.
Mike,
How are you getting all of the tools to BVI? We are closing on a Leopard 40 in Belize, but can only take what we can pack in two suit cases each!
Dale
We are shipping them to Miami and they will be sent to the islands via 4-star cargo, along with many other things.
Mike, you say you miss Princess auto but in the USA they have a store just like princess auto its called Harbor Freight Tools and they have over 400 stores I am sure there must be one near you, good luck.
You’re right, and I have been to one of those, once. Princess Auto in Kingston was always a fun stop.
I want michaels credit card. I’m off my yarn diet.
We have a brand new card for the boat! 🙂