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What sailing knife do you use?

48K views 163 replies 89 participants last post by  MarkofSeaLife 
#1 ·
I must admit that I haven't been good about having a knife on me while sailing. This is something I need to rectify. I plan to get one and have it permanently attached to my harness/lifejacket.

Which knife do you use and how do you keep it at the ready?



MedSailor
 
#2 ·
One of these



in of these



with red lens mag lite
 
#5 ·
I have a couple older versions of this knife, with serrated blades. Flicks open with one hand, with what they call the "blade launcher". It just gets the blade started, with a slight flick of the wrist, it locks open. I have one with and without the small screw drivers. They all have the caribeaner/bottle opener. I leave it clipped inside my front pocket.

I just used it Sunday to cut some line off a permanent fender. It went through like a hot knife through butter.

$35 to $40, so losing it wouldn't ruin me entire weekend, like most "sailing" knives.

Leatherman knives: c33T/c33Tx
 
#6 ·
I use this one:



Every tool has to be alone. Knives are for cutting. Including other tools to the same handle might be an easy way to carry them but using them is not. You may need a screwdriver and a plier for the removal of a machine screw.

Knives on board are needed for cutting and generally in an emergency. This knife can be carried easily, you can open it with one hand, the blade is long enough to cut a rope in one strike. The blade locks when you open it.
 
#7 ·
.....Every tool has to be alone....l.
I would say this and the skeleton version of it are among the most popular I see on a sailors belt. I have one for when I'm doing chores, I don't like it for sailing personally. However, you can open either of the blades with one hand. It's just not as fast or easy as the one I showed above.

I find I use the screwdrivers very often. They are flat and don't make the knife much wider than the version I have without them.

Leatherman multi-tools: Wave
 
#13 ·
The Wichard knive does not flick open, nor do I want to.

I use the Marlin spike regularly to break knots that have seized. The shackle key is invaluable.

I wear the pock-it pouch on my pfd, which I always wear. The knive is on a lanyard attached to the pfd. I have a wrist strap on the mag lite.

I am often tethered; a knife is mandatory.
 
#19 · (Edited)
The Wichard knive does not flick open, nor do I want to.

I use the Marlin spike regularly to break knots that have seized. The shackle key is invaluable.

I wear the pock-it pouch on my pfd, which I always wear. The knive is on a lanyard attached to the pfd. I have a wrist strap on the mag lite.

I am often tethered; a knife is mandatory.
Ahhhh I get it. I always wondered why they would have a marlinspike on an "ermergency knife". I guess I was thinking it was for splicing, and I couldn't imagine needing to splice something STAT. That's what knots are for.

Here is what I want in a knife, in order:

1: Must be able to be easily carried and EASILY opened with a cold wet half-frozen hand.

2: Must be able to cut through rope quicly and easily.

3: Should thrive on abuse. Especially repeated salt water immersions without rinsing. (I don't baby my tools)

4: Shouldn't be easy to cut oneself with wet slippery hands when using the knife.

5: Shouldn't cost too much.

6: A shackle key would be a plus.

I'm thinking that if they meet #2 Jackdale's Wichard or the Spiderco Rescue might fit the bill nicely. Though the Spiderco does better in the "what word would I say when I drop it overboard" contest than the Wichard.

MedSailor
 
#14 ·
Swiss Army Mariner (also sold as the Helmsman). Costs $30 on Amazon a little more at West.

Mine lives in the front pocket of my sailing shorts.

 
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#15 ·
Sailing, I carry a Myerchin Offshore Folder -- serrated blade cuts through anything. Nice size -- substantial enough for any job, but not too big. Great workmanship.



Work days on the boat, I carry my Leatherman Wave.
 
#27 ·
I carry the exact same Myercin knife, smooth blade. I LOVE IT! I also have the smaller all stainless with the 1/2 serrated but I truly hate most serrated blades and this is no different, it catches on everything I try and cut through and sharpening doesn't help much or for very long. Plus sharpening a smooth blade is much easier as opposed to a serrated edge. I also have a SOG Multi Tool for use when I need pliers and the like.
 
#94 ·
I vote for this one. It is designed to cut cables around propellers, I mean that one to carry always and to join to my old knife that come with me since my first boat 30 years ago. This one but with a cream handle. They still make it 50 or 60 years after they begun to make them 50 or 60 years ago years ago.



the photo is misleading. It is a big knife.

Regards

Paulo
 
#17 · (Edited)
Don't carry a knife on a regular basis. But I have available a Leatherman tool and if I am attending something that needs fixing that is likely to be with me. But if I need to cut something thre is a box cutter with a new blade available but if it is a serious job like a rope around the prop the bread knife with it's serrated edge is the weapon of choice.

Da** fishpots with transparent coke bottle floats set sub surface.

BUT there has been a deal of talk recently about clipping on when out of the cockpit. I rarely bother with my safety harness and when I do I am usually clipped on in such a way as to be held on the boat if I fell. However the stories about people being recovered drowned because they were dragged along has made me think that perhaps I should have a cutaway knife of the type the parachutists use tied to the harness.
 
#20 ·
The Wichard blade locks open and it can be finicky to get closed.

Other than that it seems to meet most of MedSailor's criteria.

The lanyard prevents it from going overboard, unless I do so.
 
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#21 · (Edited)
A sailor's choice of a knife should take into consideration what sort of cordage you have on your boat... For anyone with a fair amount of hi-tech rope aboard, halyards or sheets with spectra/Dyneema cores, and whatnot, this knife from Boye is the way to go... It cuts that stuff like no other rigging knife I've seen...

Plus, it's the only rigging knife I've ever owned which has never shown the slightest hint of rust... Beautifully designed, fits in the hand very nicely, easy to open with one hand, etc... All the things a sailor could want in a knife...

You sure don't want to lose it over the side, however... These things are pretty pricey - although I now see he's offering "seconds" with slight cosmetic imperfections, without the marlinspike, for a bit over $100...

Again, for those sailing on a boat with a lot of hi-tech line, well worth it, IMHO... Knives are one of those things that some people are very particular about, and for those who appreciate a beautifully crafted knife as a Work of Art, this one definitely fits the bill...

http://boyeknives.com/

 
#24 ·
A sailor's choice of a knife should take into consideration what sort of cordage you have on your boat... For anyone with a fair amount of hi-tech rope aboard, halyards or sheets with spectra/Dyneema cores, and whatnot, this knife from Boye is the way to go... It cuts that stuff like no other rigging knife I've seen...
I have that exact knife. The blade is great and it has held up over a whole bunch of years. The spike on the other hand was grossly inadequate. The point broke off about 3/16" just trying to break a knot.
 
#26 ·
I've gotten this far with the regular Buck lockblade in a belt sheath, but this year I'll be on the ocean. My son got me a mountain climbers knife to clip to my PFD. It has a blunt tip (but good for prying) serrated on one edge, smooth on the other. It has one opening to open O2 cylinders and one to open bottles. It clips into its scabbard and pops out when both sides are squeezed.

I'll find the model and post a pic later; I'll see how well it works pretty soon (looking out the window).
 
#28 ·
While sailing, a whitewater PFD knife: immediately releasable, good grip, very sharp serrated, sturdy blade. Gerber makes a plastic handle knife for around $40. I have an older all metal model. IMO, anything you need to unfold will likely stay folded if needed in a hurry. Just imagine trying to find and unfold a knife as that anchor rode is pulling you over. Commercial fishermen often use an ankle sheath in case they get hauled over the side, tangled in gear. It is quicker to find the handle on your ankle. If being dragged under, you have only a couple of seconds before being dragged too far under for it to make any difference as far as the outcome. Those "Leatherman" knives are very useful. I have one with at least a hundred applications but it is useless as an emergency knife.
 
#29 ·
I'm not sure any knife is good for cutting yourself free from a tether. Nothing i see above is going to be opened while you are being drageed behind a boat. For cutting the tether, I have a razar sharp S-cutter on a lanyard inside the PFD. The blade is covered in wax, which would slice through when pulled against the line. Nothing to open and it sits inches from the tether itself.

You must be referring to the Letherman multi-tool, which I agree is not good for emergencies. However, the Leaherman knife is great.
 
#30 ·
I don't carry a knife, but I do carry a gun. I find the .380 hydrashock hollow points will blast a knot out of a rope quickly. A well placed shot or two will cut the line as needed. FMJ ball rounds will open any shackle very quickly. Gripped by the slide, the butt makes a good hammer. If your hands are cold, fire off a clip then put it in your pocket to warm your fingers. It's a great tool for fishing as well, as long as the fish are near the surface.

Full Combat Sailing can be very rewarding.
 
#33 ·
Any 'sheath knife' that can be honed to a razor sharp edge and will keep that 'edge' without having to continually sharpen and 'strop'. I have 'tools' for other stuff ... gouges, scrapers, screwdrivers, scissors, corkscrews, saws, and nose hair extractors, etc.

When you NEED a knife, you want a 'sharp' one and one where blade wont 'fold' onto your fingers. :-o
 
#34 ·
Assuming the knife is for safety (cutting yourself free of a tether or rigging, fo exanple), there are 3 tests it should pass that many of the sugestions do not:

1. No point. The tip should be relatively blunt so that stabbing yourself is difficult.
2. Can you retrieve it from the holster of pocket with one hand, in the dark, in a panic in the surf. Seriously, most of the belt holsters would result in the knife being on the bottom of the ocean. A lanyard may be best. I favor a deep pocket as a compromise.
3. Can it be retrieved when the PFD is inflated. No kidding, with some inflatables you might be surprised.

On side note, Practical Sailor just reported that some inflatable PFDs/harness combos block access to the release on the harness snapshackle when inflated. Sounds like a shamfull lack of realworld testing. I hope you are doing real MOBs with real people in the water with the equipment you really use (we do). Otherwise, it's no plan at all and the safety talk is lip service.
 
#35 ·
My favorite is a Myerchin with serrated blade, marlin spike and a shackle key built into the blade. Fortunately, most of my shackles have mousing holes in the pin so I can use the marlin spike. I can also use it to trip my Tylaska shackles too. Unfortunately, the serrated blade can get dull cutting Kevlar and Amsteel pretty quickly so I keep a ceramic blade knife down in the Nav Station.

A long, long time ago I used to keep my knife in my pocket but not anymore. The one time I really needed it, it was in my pocket under my bibs which were under a sweater under a jacket that was under a life vest. I could not dig it out in time. I now wear the knife on a detachable lanyard around my neck. Never had an access problem since.

I’m a little bit nervous about something sharp in close proximity to something inflatable. I’d rather have it around my neck than clipped to my vest. My tether has a quick disconnect shackle at the vest end so I don’t need to cut the line.
 
#36 ·
My tether has a quick disconnect shackle at the vest end so I don't need to cut the line.
There was a recall of tethers with quick releases that did not operate properly. I can also see how the release could get jammed in a D ring.
 
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