Purchasing advice: Power tools: the optimum basic equipment for winter storage

A drill or cordless drill can be found in practically every household; if you like DIY, you probably also have a jigsaw, a grinder and an angle grinder in your stash. In winter, the machines simply go with the boat. But what works well in the garage or cellar is sometimes overtaxed when working on the boat. Not only do much larger areas have to be worked on, but when sanding, you also have to deal with stubborn materials such as GRP or old underwater paintwork. The miserable struggle with small and underpowered devices can be observed in practically every winter storage hall, often coupled with inadequate extraction. This is not only detrimental to health, but the lack of work progress is also extremely frustrating

Which machines are useful and necessary depends on the scope of the work

You don't even need a machine to retrofit a few coat hooks below deck or stir the antifouling in the can. The same applies when applying a sealant to new gelcoat. But even these jobs are quicker and easier with engine power.

As our survey of new and used GRP boat owners and master boat builders clearly shows, the equipment considered necessary varies. The ranking of tools, on the other hand, is almost identical. All respondents put the cordless drill in first place, followed by a grinding or polishing machine, an industrial vacuum cleaner and saws. Also in the top places: Gloves, lighting, cable drums and accessories such as a foldable workbench.

The crux of the matter is that the market for cordless drills is more than confusing. Small or large, brushless or with a conventional motor, one or up to four gears are offered by practically all manufacturers. There are also special functions such as impact drilling or impact screws. The price differences are correspondingly large. From around 30 euros to well over 400 euros can be invested. The situation is similar for sanders, except that there are also different methods to choose from, such as rotary, eccentric, orbital or belt sanders, each type again in several sizes and capacities. The top models break the 700 euro mark even without accessories, while a simple model costs between 40 and 100 euros depending on the size. If you choose from the top range of appliances, you can be sure that you will not reach the performance limits of your machinery, even for demanding refit work. However, they also have to invest several thousand euros. A significantly smaller budget is sufficient with a selection of appliances that is customised to actual requirements.

This raises the question of which tools should be in every toolbox as basic equipment and how to choose the right type, size and performance class. To make the decision easier, we have compiled selection criteria in YACHT 4/2022 that have proven themselves in winter and on-board use.

Downloads:

Do it yourself: sanding, tips (pdf)