It’s happened to nearly everyone—something goes wrong, and the day you were supposed to spend fishing is ruined. I’ve been fishing for more than four decades and have had a lot of crazy things happen. To help your days go more smoothly, I’ve pulled together my top 10 best tools for trucks and boats that can save your day when (not if) things start to go wrong.
#1 Headlamp or Neck Light
On the way out before the sun comes up or on the way back after it’s gone down, trouble doesn’t only happen in the daylight. Keep a headlamp in your dry box to give you light while keeping both hands free. Even if you’re not dealing with an issue, they’re also great for providing light while you’re organizing your gear before you drop your boat in the water.
If you’re the kind of person who always wears a ball cap, try a neck light instead. Your hat’s bill won’t create a shadow and the lights move independently. Since I started using one, I haven’t gone back to a standard headlamp.
What We Look For
You don’t need to chase high lumen numbers unless you want your light to pull double duty as a short-range spotlight on the water. 400 – 500 lumens on high is plenty and you only need a couple hundred when you’re working on things at arm’s reach.
Either way, consider a rechargeable model. You can get a good one for under $100 and you won’t have to carry spare AA or AAA alkaline batteries.
#2 Cordless Impact Wrench
One of the most common incidents you run into on your to or from the boat ramp is a flat tire. You likely have everything you need to change it in your truck already, but an impact wrench can make the process much faster, and that makes a difference when you’re racing sunrise to the ramp.
What We Look For
Grab a mid-torque model with at least 500 ft-lbs of torque to make sure you can break the lug loose, especially if you fish saltwater like I do. Be careful when you’re putting the lugs back on, though. The power level these impacts have can easily over torque or even sheer off the stud. Most lugs are only rated to 125 ft-lbs or less, so use the lowest mode for installation.
We recommend Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel mid-torque impact wrench. It’s compact for the power it has and comes from one of the top brands trusted by automotive professionals who prefer battery power over pneumatics.
Keep it in your truck or truck box and be sure to grab impact sockets in the sizes you need for your truck and trailer lugs.
#3 Cordless Tire Inflator
As diligent as you are about keeping up with your boat maintenance, I’m sure you check your spare tire pressure every few months, right? That’s what I thought. Whether you’re filling a slow leak to get to your destination or airing up that spare, having a cordless inflator on hand can save your day.
What We Look For
Most name-brand power tool manufacturers make a good one, so grab one for the battery system you already have. If you’re getting Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel impact wrench, snag their inflator at the same time. Keep in mind that even though the compact models take up less space, they take longer to fill.
Our favorite models let you set a target PSI and walk away rather than forcing you to babysit each tire.
#4 Battery Jump Starter
You’re ready to crank the truck up, but you turn the key and get the telltale clicking. If you’re at the house, your battery charger might have a jump-start feature to get you going quickly. No such luck if you’re at the launch, though.
There are a ton of cordless jump starters on the market, including many that can jump a V8, and they’re reasonably affordable. One of their major benefits is that you don’t need the grace of a stranger to offer a jump from their vehicle—you just connect the terminals and go.
What We Look For
The beauty of going with a lithium-ion power source instead is that it makes for a much smaller and lighter jump starter than lead-acid or other models. Lithium-ion doesn’t naturally drain as fast as other battery chemistries, but you should charge it up every 3 to 6 months so it’s ready to go when you need it.
As you shop, keep your engine size in mind and make sure the one you’re buying can handle it.
#5 Pocket Knife
Unless you have to go through TSA at the airport, never leave home without a good pocket knife. I use mine primarily to cut line when I’m changing lures or leaders, and there are plenty of other reasons. You can use it to cut away line caught up in your trolling motor prop, open lure packages, cut zip ties, and a whole lot more.
What We Look For
The kind of knife you carry is up to you. Blades with steels such as 440HC or Cr13MoV get good and sharp but need sharpening more often. Steels such as S35V hold an edge longer but are higher on the price scale. Grab one with a partially serrated blade to help cut cords.
Whether you go high-value or high-end, look for a knife with a textured handle made from G10 or glass-filled nylon. They might not look as pretty as titanium, but you’ll have a better grip with wet or sweaty hands, and slicing your hand open is a good way to cut a trip short.
#6 Basic Mechanics Ratchet and Socket Set
The majority of the problems I run into once I’m on the water involve the electrical system along with various nuts and bolts. One of the must-have items in your truck and boat tool kit is a compact mechanics tool kit with a ratchet and socket set.
What We Look For
Your set doesn’t have to be big or comprehensive. A 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch drive ratchet with sockets that cover the basics is perfect and doesn’t take up much room in your dry box.
To figure out what you need, check the sizes of the nuts on your battery terminals, around your trolling motor, around the console, and anywhere else you can think of. In my experience, a set that runs from, 8mm to 15mm covers just about everything that’s serviceable while you’re on the water.
#7 Adjustable Pliers
For those larger nuts and bolts, keep an adjustable wrench onboard. Even a small one covers nearly every size fastener on a boat and they’re easier to use than standard slip-joint pliers. However, keep in mind that a larger one offers more leverage for stubborn fasteners.
What We Look For
There are a lot of options in this category, but the ones I carry are Lenox Quick-Adjust V-Jaw Pliers. They use a spring-loaded button to lock into the size you want to work with and don’t slip out of place the way other models do. Plus, the 8-inch model is reasonably compact and lightweight.
Even if you’re considering other models, look for jaws with aggressive knurling on the jaws that can bite into the fastener. You won’t have to use as much grip force with those as you do with jaws that slip easily.
#8 Multi-Bit Screwdriver
If you look around your boat, there are plenty of things fastened using Phillips head screws. Not everything is the same, though. There are plenty of #2 and #3 sizes, but if you look around, you’ll likely find Torx (star), hex, or even security bits. This is why we prefer a good multi-bit screwdriver.
The great thing is that most models use a standard 1/4-inch hex interface. If the one you want doesn’t include a bit or two that you need, you can go by those and swap out others to make a custom set for your boat.
What We Look For
We prefer multi-bit drivers that store extra bits in the handle. This keeps the driver’s overall size down while giving you a nice variety of bit types.
#9 Wire Strippers
Wire strippers are a must on every boat. I’ve fixed a trolling motor, my fish finder, and even bad battery connections while on the water. Sure, you can technically get the job done with your pocket knife. However, a wire stripper is faster. Remember, you’re on the water to catch fish, not work on a DIY electrical project! A good pair of wire strippers also come in handy if you have a problem with your trailer lights.
What We Look For
Do yourself a favor and avoid the thin stamped steel strippers you find at the store. Get a good, forged set with thicker jaws to avoid the flimsy handles and weak joints of cheap ones. Also, look for one that has a crimper built in. It’ll help you strip the wire and then make a good permanent repair if you have the right connector on hand.
Speaking of which, put your wire strippers in a small, divided tackle box and include spare fuses and connectors. Add some shrink wraps and stick a Bic lighter in there to make a compact wire repair kit.
#10 Don’t Forget the Electrical Tape!
The final piece of the puzzle is electrical tape. It’s relatively inexpensive and can help you make electrical repairs, cover exposed wiring, hold the butt of your rod in place if the glue fails, and a whole lot more.
What We Look For
Believe it or not, there are differences in electrical tape. Cheap tape works fine as long as it stretches properly and uses a decent adhesive. However, most of it doesn’t stand up to heat very well. To be on the safe side, stick with name-brand electrical tape to make sure it doesn’t prematurely start to peel away or fail as temperatures rise.
From a tool guy who loves to spend his free time on the water, those are my top 10 tools for trucks and boats. They’ve saved the day more than once, and now I don’t go anywhere without them!
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