Electrician Tools

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Paul English

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Feb 8, 2026, 2:04:48 AMFeb 8
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It seemed like it was worth a follow-up thread for this one - the first time I've seen/heard a *request* for tools in the Tool Library!

As far as I know, the club Tool Library has always been composed of donated tools, but I'm not willing to donate any of my current tools - I'm happy to lend if anyone needs, but I think everything I own isn't too far out of the realm of what a boat owner who might do their own work would want to own anyway! Over the years we'll be finding loose connections, swapping out damaged wires, trying to figure out where problems are, etc. 

The one exception is at the bottom.

1) Crimpers - I'm partial to ratchet crimpers in this style, rather than the example we were shown


They have a color code for each of the color-coded connectors you are likely to use for 90% of your wiring. I find with the ratcheting ones, you really want to _prepare_ your crimp well.. once you've started to ratchet down, you don't have a free hand to place the wire back in the connector if it partially slides out etc. Best if you aren't trying to do this backwards, upside down in bad lighting.. but.. boats.

2) Strippers - Most are familiar with the traditional style of strippers like this: https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combination-cable-and-wire-stripping-tools/long-nose-multi-purpose-wire-stripper  but I'd also recommend one of these:  in addition: https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/combination-cutting-tools/katapult-wire-stripper-and-cutter-solid-and-stranded-wire  - I find it easier to get the length of the strip correct as well as to avoid severing any of the strands in stranded wire.

3) Clamp Ammeter (and volt meter, etc): I own an older version of this:  https://www.circuitspecialists.com/pro-series-clamp-meter-hh2002

You'll note it is about 10x cheaper than the Fluke model! But it still does "true sine wave" which is important for AC metering... and even that is not critical for boat stuff. Most of us could skip AC all together! 

Fluke is the GOLD STANDARD with the emphasis on GOLD here. For anything we're doing, the one above will be more than accurate enough, and durable enough. 

I absolutely believe in (my employer) buying Fluke instruments if say, I were terminating fiber optic connections as a professional. But otherwise.. nah.

Klein is a brand name used and trusted by professional electricians also and makes an affordable one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-AC-DC-Digital-Clamp-Meter-TRMS-Auto-Ranging-400-Amp-CL390/312649921

4) Heavy duty crimper for 0 / 1 wire - this is one I think would be wonderful if it was in the club library. Most of us, most of the time do not need to crimp this wire, and if we do it is just a few crimps and we're done - probably until we overhaul the entire electrical system. The good quality ones are spendy:

Instead I own a knock-off version of this: 
which results in a much less good crimp, and can't be done in-situ on a boat.


5) Your additions?

Eric Lindahl

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Feb 8, 2026, 12:53:43 PMFeb 8
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Are you discussing the club buy some tools?  Though cool, I am not sure about that. 
 
Like you I'm happy to loan stuff to established members, (I know where you live.....) and have a drill press and random hardware and bits of stainless steel and aluminum that will eventually be offered to the club when my fettling days are over.
Eric 
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Shaun Heublein

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Feb 8, 2026, 5:47:11 PMFeb 8
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I have no problem with the club buying tools for the tool library. 

My $0.02 on tools for wiring... 
When it comes to these kinds of jobs I like a good tool that can do all three of the following things well:
1. Cut wire. Very sharp with good leverage and cuts from both sides, ie sharp on both sides, not flat on one and sharp on the other. 
2. Strip wire. All sizes up to ~10 awg stranded. Larger than 10 awg I find I use very infrequently and a simple knife or razor blade will usually do, and at that size if you lose a strand or two of the fine wires it's not as big of a deal.
 3. Crimp. Crimp up to 10awg insulated fittings 
To me, it is important that this is a single lightweight tool, the above actions are all 'dextrous'  activities and are all usually done one right after another for each wire. When I re-did our electrical system from the battery to the distribution busses I probably made well over 100 cut-strip-crimps, having to switch tools between all of these actions would have added significant time and frustration to the task. 

For each fitting I usually crimp the wire 2x along the crimping zone so a ratcheting one would be kinda slow but for aged overworked hands it could be valuable. 

The crimpers for big wire are expensive and I would NOT advocate for the hammer crimpers. The ones that look like bolt cutters work good but can be difficult in tight spaces. I crimp large wire basicly as many times as the length of the fitting will allow. Ratcheting would be advantageous in this size wire. 

One thing that was mentioned in the presentation that I have heard conflicting information on is the use of solder in the crimp. I have heard that since boating is a dynamic moving enfironment, part of the reason we use fine stranded wire, is that the ever so slight but constant motion experienced by the wire, even when properly supported, can cause the soldered crimp will essentially make the stranded wire solid wire and will. Make a fatigue point right where the solder starts. Therefore it is better in a dynamic environment to NOT solder the crimp so that the fine strands are  less likely to suffer from fatigue cracking and subsequent failure. 

Shaun

Paul English

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Feb 8, 2026, 6:01:52 PMFeb 8
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On Sun, Feb 8, 2026, at 09:53, 'Eric Lindahl' via Northwest Multihull Association wrote:
Are you discussing the club buy some tools?  Though cool, I am not sure about that. 

I thought I heard someone (not me) suggest it at the meeting - just wanted to point out that most of us probably want to own most of these basic tools anyway, ideally in quality versions since we'll use them for years for boats, home ownership, etc. 

The club library is particularly well suited to expensive and infrequently used tools IMHO - the load cell and stands are perfect!
 
Even if the price was below what the Commodore could approve, we'd probably want a bit more input if the club were to consider purchasing tools for the library, vs donations.

 
Like you I'm happy to loan stuff to established members, (I know where you live.....) and have a drill press and random hardware and bits of stainless steel and aluminum that will eventually be offered to the club when my fettling days are over.

Oh yeah, I've mentioned to a couple of select folks that I'm now the proud owner of a 1960's  Austrian mill / lathe combo and I'm keen to do boat stuff with it. Unfortunately it is sitting in a friend's shop until I can clear enough space & run power for it. And of course, I'll need to spend at least as much again on tooling probably.


Paul English

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Feb 8, 2026, 6:14:41 PMFeb 8
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On Sun, Feb 8, 2026, at 14:47, Shaun Heublein wrote:

I have no problem with the club buying tools for the tool library. 

There's one vote! I don't have a problem either, but I think the specifics of tool cost vs annual budget etc would matter.

My $0.02 on tools for wiring... 
When it comes to these kinds of jobs I like a good tool that can do all three of the following things well:
1. Cut wire. Very sharp with good leverage and cuts from both sides, ie sharp on both sides, not flat on one and sharp on the other. 
2. Strip wire. All sizes up to ~10 awg stranded. Larger than 10 awg I find I use very infrequently and a simple knife or razor blade will usually do, and at that size if you lose a strand or two of the fine wires it's not as big of a deal.
 3. Crimp. Crimp up to 10awg insulated fittings 
To me, it is important that this is a single lightweight tool, the above actions are all 'dextrous'  activities and are all usually done one right after another for each wire. When I re-did our electrical system from the battery to the distribution busses I probably made well over 100 cut-strip-crimps, having to switch tools between all of these actions would have added significant time and frustration to the task. 

For each fitting I usually crimp the wire 2x along the crimping zone so a ratcheting one would be kinda slow but for aged overworked hands it could be valuable. 

One big thing in favor of the ratchet is that you can't *over* crimp and crush the connection. That can be equally bad to under-crimping. My grip strength is typically very good, but also not very consistent - much better at the end of race season after racing 2-3x/week!


The crimpers for big wire are expensive and I would NOT advocate for the hammer crimpers. The ones that look like bolt cutters work good but can be difficult in tight spaces. I crimp large wire basicly as many times as the length of the fitting will allow. Ratcheting would be advantageous in this size wire. 


One thing that was mentioned in the presentation that I have heard conflicting information on is the use of solder in the crimp. I have heard that since boating is a dynamic moving enfironment, part of the reason we use fine stranded wire, is that the ever so slight but constant motion experienced by the wire, even when properly supported, can cause the soldered crimp will essentially make the stranded wire solid wire and will. Make a fatigue point right where the solder starts. Therefore it is better in a dynamic environment to NOT solder the crimp so that the fine strands are  less likely to suffer from fatigue cracking and subsequent failure. 

I'd heard that also. Correct or not, what I've been doing is typically:
  • high quality, brand name (Ancor), adhesive lined heat shrink - slid down one end of the wire before the rest. If I forget this, I cut it apart and start over. :-/    This provides additional strain relief AND waterproofness
  • high quality, brand name, adhesive lined & pre-heat-shrunk marine grade (tinned) copper connectors. Again - Ancor, but there are other good brands.
  • Double crimp for butt splices - one on each side, single for connectors. My understanding is that double-crimping is subject to some debate as the second could damage the first.
  • Pull test - connections are supposed to handle a 6lbs pull test. I don't do this with a load cell, just give them a tug.
  • Ring terminals only. I have a strong dislike for spade connectors and I've had them get disconnected even in relatively lowish vibration (automotive) applications. I've DEFINITELY had them get disconnected on the boat & motorcycle. Now you've got an exposed 12V, usually. Not good. Admittedly, many times these are near another relatively exposed 12V - like the bus bar at the back of my breaker panel so.. maybe no big deal. But also rather annoying - "oh look, the VHF is still dead even though it said it was charging when I plugged it in"




Northwest Multihull Association Membership Officer

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Feb 8, 2026, 6:32:21 PMFeb 8
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Replying to myself because I forgot one:

6) Borescope / inspection camera. Not strictly an electrician tool but insanely useful for all sorts of boat things - peek into you mast through any hole! Find out where that wire really goes!

I purchased this one a few years back for ~$60, no complaints: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RF5BTLG

Naturally, Project Farm has opinions. And data! https://youtu.be/B_vtSzKXPYw?si=Qw6GRp6onQ9Mn6zZ
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Paul English
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Eric Lindahl

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Feb 9, 2026, 11:46:31 AMFeb 9
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Paul, my thoughts on this are the same as yours.  Maybe wait til someone advocates for a particular acquisition then more discussion can ensue.  I have a hand crimping tool like one the presenter had so I'm set until I need to work on battery wiring.  Then I figured I'd buy supplies from who ever had an instore loaner crimper (saw one decades ago at West, do they still do that?) and use theirs.
Eric 
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Eric Lindahl

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Feb 9, 2026, 11:49:07 AMFeb 9
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Paul, your farm link was broke for me, went to a concert utube or something.  No worries, I'm not in the market for one
Eric 

Vincent DePillis

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Feb 9, 2026, 2:01:19 PMFeb 9
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I recently used a hydraulic crimper for some battery cables.  Super effective and controlllable.  Lots on the internet for reasonable $$

Jeff Oaklief

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Feb 9, 2026, 2:28:44 PMFeb 9
to northwest-multi...@googlegroups.com, Northwest Multihull Association Membership Officer
I love that we have a tool library.

I see the tool library as an integral part of the NWMA... just another facet and something that helps gain membership, spread the word and make owning a multihull easier.
I do not see the tool library as something that will take the place of neighborly sharing of tools... but I do see it as a way to provide specialty tools that might be out of the realm for (what a single person might see as) a one time project.
I do not see the tool library as something that includes materials or consumables.

I suggest bringing this topic up at the next officer meeting.  

Jeff

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Joe & Sue

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Feb 9, 2026, 3:53:02 PMFeb 9
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I think Jeff nailed it.

Joe
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Dennis Fowler

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Feb 9, 2026, 4:21:19 PMFeb 9
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Usb-c thermal camera. I just bought one, not that I'm close enough to lend it out, but the idea is that you will find problem connections before you burn your boat down.

Probably becoming more important as lithium becomes more mainstream allowing for higher draw devices aboard than originally planned.

Dennis

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