I always take my boat apart in the winter and inspect everything (replace or mend). When sailing I take a small bag of parts (small and large shackels, pins, retainer rings, drain plug and spare port lid) and a few tools (screwdriver (both types), plyer, knife, waterproof flashlight, matches (in waterproof case)). I also keep a small and large shakle in my PFD pocket to have something ready at hand, for the unexpected. (e.g., the day I saw my leeward shroud separate from the chain plate. Some how the retainer ring either broke or worked out and the pin was held in by shroud tension (it was on the windward side). When I tacked and the tension was relaxed the pin fell out a few seconds after I completed the tack and the shroud was just hanging there. Fortunately, I was able to repin the shroud with the small shackle I kept in my PFD and continued sailing without dropping the mast). I string a full sized paddle through the center laces of the tramp (from the beneath the back of the tramp). As an added benefit the paddle helps keep the main and jib sheets from falling through the laces.
what a nightmare