In the course of almost every DIY boat project, Dave mutters one of two things. Sometimes both:
- Ten pounds of “stuff” in a five pound bag
- They must have installed this and built the rest of the boat around it
Basically, it means that there is absolutely no room to get to a nut or bolt that he needs to. No room to swing a regular wrench; no way for a regular socket to reach.
And then his special tool comes out: the Universal Joint Socket Adapter. With it, he can reach just about any nut or hex head bolt he needs to and apply the leverage necessary to break it free.
Mechanics probably already know about this one, but if you’ve never seen or used one, here’s how to do it (as Dave notes, you’ll almost always use it with a socket extender in order to reach the bolt or nut, so that’s how he’s demonstrating it).
The four pieces (you can get universals for 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” drive sockets – the set Dave recommends below has all three):
The socket extender goes on the socket handle – good ones have what are called “detent” balls and notches so they don’t come apart while you’re using them. Basically these are like a tiny little spring-loaded ball and matching indentation for it to fit into. You can see the detent ball on the rachet handle near Dave’s index finger (this is what you’re retracting when you press that button under his thumb to get the socket off the handle).
Then the universal adapter:
And finally the socket:
NOTE: The Universal gives you up to about a 45 degree angle.
Vary the length of the extender to reach what you need – and you can use another extender after the universal, too. Dave has never found a nut or bolt that he couldn’t somehow reach.
His choices, available from Amazon:
These are made of chrome vanadium steel. A few people have asked about the advisability of having stainless tools on the boat due to concerns with rust. Stainless would be nice but frankly are cost prohibitive for most of us.
A wipe down with an oily rag does a good job of protecting most tools. Of course, anything that goes in the water (intentional or not) gets rinsed with fresh water, dried and sprayed with WD-40 to remove all traces of moisture in the little nooks and crannies.
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Jim Coolbaugh says
The other great tool is the easy out screw extractor. Cheap and very valuable
Michael McIntosh says
Often referred to as a Knuckle.
The Boat Galley says
Hadn’t heard it called that before (maybe a regional thing?) but what a perfect description!
Jim Cain says
I’ve had one for years.
Timothy Noble says
I prefer the box end wrenches for those.
Sometimes when the nut or bolt extends a universal will no longer fit or get stuck.
Plus for some hardware that is corroded a universal some times does not give you enough torque.
Rick Garvin says
I love it, I can hear Dave’s voice in this article.
Jacques / SKANA says
I also often use the ”wobble” extension bars a lot.
Either with or without the u-joint.
It gives you about 15 degrees over a straight extension bar.
Anonymous says
Dave
Anonymous says
Marco Garcia Denson