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Boat pocket knife

9K views 39 replies 28 participants last post by  arknoah 
#1 ·
Looking for your collective wisdom (or sillyness).

For ten plus years I have worn a Spyderco Salt, both while sailing and most of the other time as well. I just lost my second one yesterday and I am tired of loosing a $65.00 knife.

Any suggestions for a knife with a clip that I can open with one hand and is a good "Boat Knife" for less money? And is as unobtrusive in my pocket.



West marine for $20.00 ??? Does it have a clip?

Thanks.

Rik
 
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#2 ·
Yes it does have a clip, the clip will be lost within a week! 2 small screws going into about a 1/8" plastic are all that hold the clip in place. It does have a hole in the handle to allow the use of a lanyard.

I am on my second, returned the first after loosing the clip, didn't bother after loosing the clip on the second. I got mine when on sale for about $10.

Only good for cutting lines.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Mine is a Greber Suspension, a nice little multi tool. Even the lanyard eye folds and locks away.:cool:
Must check if it has is a bottle opener tho.:laugher :laugher
Think it cost about 35 euro, got a great write up in one of the sailing mags over here.
Safer sailing
 
#9 ·
Wally World sells boat knives? Too cool. Great suggestions. Many thanks, keep 'em coming.

Rik
I am not sure that they sell boat knives per se, but they do have a good selection of knives. A couple of years ago I lost my $60 Myerchin while out on the boat. From here on out my budget is about $20 and I have bought a few from Wal Mart. Wal Mart carries a pretty good selection of Buck Gerbers and a couple of off brands that I hadn't heard of.

I did come across a $5 boat knife at harbor freight one time. I thought for the money how bad can it be. It was that bad. The thing started coming apart within weeks of when I bought it. I am not knocking everything at harbor freight. I actually really like a lot of stuff there, just not the $5 boat knife.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Like we all know, put the word boat on it and double the price for the same object. IMHO, you need a serrated blade, made from non-corrosive material and the ability to open it with one hand (could be the other one you are wanting to cut free). There are plenty of those that don't say boat on them.

I kid about the bottle opener above, but they also make the same knife with a couple of screwdriver blades. If not for the pliers on the leatherman multi-tool, this knife really has all the stuff I use most. I have an older version of the one I posted above (all stainless), but I'm thinking of ordering one of these:

Leatherman knives: c33T/c33Tx
 
#13 ·
Leatherman makes a quality product. I may have to look into getting one. I have a gerber multi tool that I really like but its too clunky to really carry around anywhere. Basically it just stays in my backpack with all the other stuff that gets carted to and from the boat.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Gerber Blades 22-01471 Multiplier Suspension Multi Pliers Box

Feck it, they are giving them away, well almost, on this site.
I see they do have a bottel opener, must recheck mine again:laugher
No plastic handle tho. :eek:
Safe sailing
Forgot to mention I generaly carry mine in my sailing trousers but agree it is bulkier than a knife, tho often used for the other tools.
 
#20 ·
$1 Walmart knife

It has a hole for a lanyard. The blade has a little knob that allows one-handed opening. The spring is attached with a screw, so it can be adjusted or replaced. The serated blade is, well, just that. I wear 2 knives when I'm sailing. My other is a West Marine job that has a marlinspike and a blade. That spike came in handy during a storm last summer! I'm never without it.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Letherman wave on my belt.

This lashed to my PFD and harness



To keep an edge you want high carbon stainless steel. This will get surface rust on it, but the blade stays sharp. Points are bad, and wish this one was more rounded. But it's not horrible. The reason I chose a fixed blade is b/c that's my safety knife. I want to take it out, and use it. Not worry about opening it. And fixed blades are stronger than any folder. Last thing you want is for the locking mechanism to break when you need it the most.
 
#23 ·
I'm a bit of a knife nut I guess, so rather than buy a cheaper knife expecting to LOSE it, I buy slightly pricier knives expecting to KEEP them! :) Having said that, I really like marlinspike ropework and fancy knots, but am still learning the basics. In the meantime, I found a very PRACTICAL simple lanyard set-up as posted in the following video.

I plan to use this set-up during an upcoming canoe trip. Take Care!

Quick Release Lanyard for Your Penknife - YouTube
 
#24 ·
I'm a pretty big fan of my SOG Flash II. It's got a half-serrated blade, which is cryogenically treated to help it keep a sharp edge longer. It's got a spring-assisted open, so one-handing is a breeze, and a nice, sturdy clip.

My only complaint would be the tiny "safety" switch which can engage in my pocket, but it's not hard to give the clip a squeeze to disengage it.

Oh, and I got it for like, $20 at the hardware store.
 
#29 ·
I usually have a plain-edged Spyderco Delica in my pocket, so I'll probably just tie that quick lanyard on it and to my belt loop for the trip. As far as 'cheap' knives go, I like Gerber LST's and have a few. They make nice (inexpensive, but nice) gifts too. I re-grind the primary bevel to 30 degrees and put the secondary bevel on with my Spyderco Sharpmaker. You can make them 'scary-sharp' this way, and then they're a breeze to touch up on the SM in the future.
 
#32 ·
I always carry a swiss army knife when I go sailing. Knife blades, hacksaw, small scissors, cork screw (most important for that bottle of wine) etcetcetc. I have had it for about twenty years its a bit beat up but but still as tight and as durable when I first bought it.
Anthony
 
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