You can almost guarantee that whenever something breaks on a boat, it will be the one thing that you are not carrying a spare part for…

It is very cool though when something critical does break and you not only have got the bits but also the expertise to make a repair and carry on sailing. This is called good seamanship.

The Ocean Yachtmaster course I am doing requires me to know what spares boats going off shore should carry. So short of setting up an entire chandlery on board, what should you have in the spare parts kit?

First of all, what you carry on board will depend on your proximity to a chandlery. If you are crossing an Ocean, you are going to want to carry more spares than if you are cruising around the harbour.

According to a recent survey of boats crossing the Atlantic, nearly 60% had a breakage of some kind. The most common repairs required at sea were as follows:

• Ripped Sails and broken battens
• Halyard chafe & failure
• Vang & gooseneck fittings
• Steering issues – rudder breakage or steering cable coming apart
• Toilet blockages
• Watermaker malfunctions
• Generator issues
• Battery charging problems
• Broken boom (poorly set up preventers)
• Deck fittings being ripped out of the deck
• Rig issues

On Wildwood we have got a crate filled with Sistema Containers of all sorts shapes and sizes. They stack together nicely in the crate, they are see-through so you can easily see the contents, and we have labelled everything as well. Nothing worse than having to rummage around in lockers searching for stuff, particularly if it is rough.

For lots of small bits, like nuts, bolts & screws I have got organisers like these. Again the clear top means its easy to see what is inside.

You will also need some tools to help make these repairs. Here are our tool kits.

In addition to all the parts, it can be very helpful to have the instruction manuals for all the various equipment on board. I have still got all of Wildwood’s original 30 year old manuals.

Engine Spares

• Engine Oil
• Gearbox Oil
• Air Filters
• Fuel Filters
• Impellers
• Fan belts
• Oil absorbent pads
• Gaskets, gasket paper
• Anodes
• Thermostat
• Dinghy engine spark plugs
• Hoses
• Hose clamps – stainless, various sizes
• O rings
• WD40

Refrigeration

• Refrigerant – or whatever type is used in your system – comes in a canister
• Filters

Electrical

• Solder
• LED bulbs – replacement lamps for all lights
• Fuses
• Crimp terminals
• Wire
• Breakers
• Batteries – all sizes to fit torches, cameras other portable devices
• Cable ties
• Electrical tape
• Self amalgamating tape

Plumbing

• PVC adhesive
• Pipe
• Solder for copper pipes
• Assorted fittings
• Thread tape
• Thread join compound
• Plumbers putty
• Bucket
• Bilge pump parts

Rig

• Spare halyards
• Small mousing line – double the length of the mast
• Split rings
• Cotter pins
• Clevis pins
• Shackles
• Rivets

Sails

• Sail repair thread
• Needles
• Sail slides & webbing
• Sail repair tape & patches
• Spare sheets

Adhesives

• Epoxy
• Fibreglass fabric
• Underwater epoxy
• Dinghy repair kit
• Superglue
• Duct tape

Cleaning

• Disposable Gloves
• Rags
• Shoe polish
• Stainless polish
• White vinegar
• Exit mould

Painting

• Brushes
• Rollers
• Sandpaper
• Masking tape
• Paint thinner
• Mineral turpentine

Misc

• Containers – for mixing paint, cleaning parts, epoxy etc
• Ziplock bags of various sizes
• Extra Sistema Containers
• Rags
• Bungee cord
• Old fire hose – for chafing protection
• Magnets
• Matches, lighters
• Permanent markers
• Labels
• Tarpaulins
• Tapered plugs
• Sunbrella fabric – in same colour as bimini, dodger etc
• Marine ply
• Old sheets, halyard, line
• Small floats
• Wire coat hanger
• Roll of small line – good for lanyards, lashing
• Rubber bands
• Sellotape & packing tape
• Short lengths of chain
• Stainless & bronze nuts, bolts, washers and screws in various sizes
• Carabiners of various sizes
• Silicone spray
• Zipper wax
• Sewing kit
• Windscreen material

What have I missed? I’d love to see your list if you have one. 🙂