Knives

[requiem]

Of the times I've needed a tool it's rarely been the cutting edge. Either pliers or a shackle key to open a shackle, pliers to work with seizing wire, screwdrivers for unscrewing or opening things, marlinspike to pry at a knot.

I like a knife for the "we're out of time and if that line can't be freed, it'll be cut" cases, which also means I don't like a folding knife that can't be easily opened with one hand.

That means I mostly tend to carry a Leatherman (currently a Surge, but somewhere there's a Wave floating about). I have one or two folders with a spike, which I either put in a spare pocket or leave in my bag.

[Discovery 15797]

A knife is a tool, and there are different types of knives for different purposes.

Rigging knives with a flat, non-serrated blade are great for working with running rigging and cutting lines with clean cuts when prepping for whipping ends, and usually have a small marlinspike and a shackle key.

Serrated knives are emergency/rescue knives and are more useful in an emergency situation because they are more efficient at cutting away rope, webbing, or thick fabric.

I'll second the recommendation for a Myerchin knife. And I'll also recommend a folding knife over a fixed blade. (Only puddle pirates wear a fixed blade knife on their belt to impress the armchair sailors at the yacht club.)

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by requiem

...I like a knife for the "we're out of time and if that line can't be freed, it'll be cut" cases, which also means I don't like a folding knife that can't be easily opened with one hand.

I love multitools and there's always at least one around somewhere on the boat, but I've also put nylon pouches on both our inflatable PFDs, containing a sturdy SHARP marine folding knife (eg a Wichard) so that we each have one at all times, in case of such emergencies.

[wingssail]

I have never carried a knife on my person but we always have a "rigging knife" in a convenient place on our boat (in a sheath just inside the dodger, right in the cockpit and three steps from the foredeck). Over the years many of our forward hands have also carried folding knives.

But in several decades of sailing and boating we have rarely, if ever, needed a knife in an emergency.

It's there if we need it, but not encumbering our movement in any way.

On my person it would definitely be handy if we ever needed it, but sort of in the way the other 365 days of the year.

[wingssail]

Now I recall a time when the knife was needed and used:

Racing on port tack on a previous boat in fresh breeze approaching a wall of boats on starboard we had an override on the genoa winch. Ten seconds from a collision I said "cut it". That was a very clean cut and a very fast tack. We tied the sheet on to be ready for the next tack. On Wings, when we had wire sheets, that was never an option.

[Mike OReilly]

Off hand, I can't think of any time when I needed an emergency knife ... perhaps to cut the lemon wedges for the sundowners when someone had forgotten the galley blade.


I do use the blades on my leatherman, but I use the other tools far more. Perhaps it's a comment about my boat, but I'm constantly pulling out the leatherman to do jobs, both large and small. Recently I passed by the bimini and noticed one of the legs was a little lose. The set-screw had backed off. So I pulled out the allen key socket and tightened it up.


I just used the pliers to remove the cotter pin on my boom so we could take it down. Yesterday I used the flathead driver to remove the bolts on my windmill. I was also up the mast and used it to loosen some shackles. It just goes on and on.


Sure, there are 'proper' tools to do all these tasks. But it's all on my belt, and within easy reach.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Off hand, I can't think of any time when I needed an emergency knife ... perhaps to cut the lemon wedges for the sundowners when someone had forgotten the galley blade.


I do use the blades on my leatherman, but I use the other tools far more. Perhaps it's a comment about my boat, but I'm constantly pulling out the leatherman to do jobs, both large and small. Recently I passed by the bimini and noticed one of the legs was a little lose. The set-screw had backed off. So I pulled out the allen key socket and tightened it up.


I just used the pliers to remove the cotter pin on my boom so we could take it down. Yesterday I used the flathead driver to remove the bolts on my windmill. I was also up the mast and used it to loosen some shackles. It just goes on and on.


Sure, there are 'proper' tools to do all these tasks. But it's all on my belt, and within easy reach.

Actually, when I think about it that way, having those tools handy on deck would be nice. It seems like I'm always needing some tool or the other and having to go downstairs to fetch it is a pain. "Honey, could you get me the small Phillips head screw driver? No I don't know where it is. Oh dang it, I'll come find it myself."

So knife is not just for cutting.

For many years we have raced and have had lots of crew members leave things aboard. Hats, shirts, sunglasses, sun screen, etc., and pocket knives. We toss everything in a "lost and found" bag but often it is never retrieved. I still have three Leatherman tools and about 5 Swiss Army Knives. Maybe I need one on deck.

[Tetepare]

We rehash this annually. El Searcho is your friend.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

We rehash this annually. El Searcho is your friend.

Party pooper [emoji6].

[Cwens]

I think I'm quoting Darrell Nicholson here but I can't find the original article:

"When your nuts are getting pulled into the mainsheet block, that's not the time to be fiddling with trying to open your folding knife."

[nwdiver]

Myerchin Fixed blade in the middle of my back so I can reach it with either hand, it has a marlin spike on the sheath to open shackles if needed.

Leather man wave at the helm.

[Macdoug]

A sharp fixed blade knife somewhere in your cockpit is an essential. I have only used mine once (in an emergency) but was damn glad it was there. Hopefully I never use it again, but would never sail without one.

[Macdoug]

For completeness, mine is a Wichard 20cm fixed blade. It is fine, but I am sure there are better.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by ChrisOwens

I think I'm quoting Darrell Nicholson here but I can't find the original article:

"When your nuts are getting pulled into the mainsheet block, that's not the time to be fiddling with trying to open your folding knife."

That’s why mine operates with one hand, just like any fixed blade knife.

[formosa aus]

At sea I always carry a deck knife but in Australia it is illegal to carry a knife at other times without a reason. When I walk my dogs at night I take a fishing rod and usually catch dinner for the next day so a bait or filleting knife is acceptable. If I carry a multi tool I usually carry an apple and the knife is for cutting my fruit!