Emergency wire cutter (standing rigging)

sailnewbie · Jun 4, 2016

I had a pair that came from Grainger. Can't remember the brand but they were small and would cut up to 3/16" stainless like butter and don't believe they much over $50

David in Sandusky · Jun 4, 2016

We carry a wire cutter for that purpose. I'll check for the brand next time to the boat (tomorrow).

Gunni · Jun 4, 2016

Cordless 4.5" cut-off saw.
I use the 18vdc DeWalt because I already had the box of batteries and the 12vdc charger.
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-Bare-Tool-DC411B-18-Volt-Cordless/dp/B002VWK5SC
$99

Kings Gambit · Jun 4, 2016

Try looking at Felco wire/cable cutters. One or two models may be in or near your price range depending on the size of your cable (shrouds). We had an extensive discussion of this topic last year w/ no general conclusion. People had all manner of devices aboard for cutting cable including powered ones. In the end, after all of the banter, I just got a heavy duty hack saw with fine-toothed bi-metal blades. Not that it's the best solution--but frankly, the "best" solution is expensive, so if you want a inexpensive "solution", then one is just about as good as another, IMHO.

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/just-a-question.175681/

BudGates · Jun 4, 2016

I use a dremmel tool with a cut-off wheel. It comes in handy for other things too.

Benny17441 · Jun 4, 2016

I always carry one. Bought a cheap one (under $40) at a hardware store figuring that if I ever needed it would be a one time use. I keep it covered with grease and wrapped in plastic to prevent corrosion. I have not checked it in a while so thanks for this reminder.

JohnShannon · Jun 4, 2016

yachting monthly crash test boat, had an episode on dismasting, a good watch. There was one cutter that use a 0.22 shell to drive the jaws worked really well.

Jumpstart · Jun 4, 2016

Here is reality from someone who has been dismasted in a storm at night.
1. Bolt cutters don't work as you are bouncing around in a seaway. If the mast is over the side your boat will go beam to the wind and it is rock and roll time. Cutting the 1/4" stainless shrouds is extremely difficult.
2. Fine hacksaw will take you quite a while. Imagine trying to hold the wire in place as you are rolling and pitching. Hard enough on dry land with two hands.
3. 18 volt angle grinder with special blade. Definitely will work so long as you keep tool in sealed case and have spare batteries.
4. Shootit shroud cutter. The Gucci way to do it but expect to pay $550 plus for one and shot gun shells
5. Holmatro hydraulic wire cutter. Way out of your budget range
6. Wrap pins or Scar pins as some call them. About $40 for 16. Unwrap the velcro, pull the pins and unscrew the turnbuckles. Old school but works even in the dark.

Now comes the complications. If you have an aluminum foil track like with a Harken or Schaefer roller furler is pretty much impossible to cut the wire inside inside the foil as it is moving and your hacksaw binds in the aluminum protion. Check to see what alternative method you can use to disconnect the headstay.

Gunni · Jun 5, 2016

Whatever your solution, give it dry run: Have someone wake you from a dead sleep on a moonless night, toss you into the back of pickup truck with a handful of stays and your cutting device. While being driven down a bumpy dirt road at 50 mph attempt to cut the stays with your selected device. Report out.

Kings Gambit · Jun 5, 2016

Yeah-- I think it would work out better to have one's standing rigging inspected annually by a professional rigger, and/or replace it after 10-12 years, reef at the proper times, especially if going below to sleep, etc. All that might cost more than $200, however.

SFS · Jun 5, 2016

I like the idea of the wrap pins, but having never undone a turnbuckle I have to ask: Would it take longer to undo multiple turnbuckles than it would to find a cutter in a cockpit laz and cut through the wires. I'm thinking of a worst case scenario, which would be what - a split backstay, two to four starboard shrouds, two to four port shrouds, a forestay, and secondary forward stay. Call it 11 turnbuckles, minus the one or two that failed causing the loss of the mast.

Am I missing something in my thought process?

Bill Roosa · Jun 5, 2016

Not to hijack the thread but does anybody know the frequency of de-masting of sailboats? I'd think that they don't get demasted too often and only after going past 90 deg of heel. I've never heard of the wind de-masting a boat (other than a race boat being pushed)

Jumpstart · Jun 5, 2016

Roosa, you are serious right? I was dismasted while racing at night. We had a full main and a 135% jib up going to weather and no we were not pushing it. We got hit by a microburst which appeared to be rain but was actually the downdraft clipping the tops off of waves. The burst was gone in 10 minutes but the wind went from 18 knots to 70 knots and back to less than 10 knots. Unscrewing the rig took about 15 minutes with 6 total crew. With less crew obviously longer. You have no idea what it is like when you are pitching violently in a seaway and trying to cut the the shrouds with a cutter. At my club of 150 sailboats there are at least 5 that have been dismasted in the last 15 years. Sailboats get dismasted all the time for a lot of different reasons. In our case the 1/2" stainless bolt pulled through the mast at the attachment point of the lower spreaders after about 5 minutes of hard luffing. Mast literally exploded into 3 pieces and was overboard with sails in less than 3 seconds. Oh by the way, not exactly a lightweight mast. The boat was a Sabre.

Some cruisers at my previous marina lost the mast on their Hunter 37.5. A smaller version of your 40.5. It seems a storm was approaching so they decided to furl their headsail. Unfortunately they had a halyard wrap with their furler and in their haste to get their sail in they put the furling line on a winch. As you can imagine they cranked on the furling line and ended up twisting the headstay until it broke.

MattObjects · Jun 6, 2016

Ilanortho said:
Does anyone carry a tool on board for cutting wire rigging in an emergency (ie dismasting).

Just chiming in to note that dismasting is not the only event in which you may need to cut a piece of steel cable in a hurry.

Several years ago, on a prior boat, I was caught in a freak storm in which we were under motor in calm conditions and then hit with wall of wind exceeding 70 kts (Google "June 2012 derecho" for details on the storm). The wind blew the flaked and tied mainsail open from the boom like a balloon, knocking the boat on her side. Because the end of the boom was clipped to a steel cable hung from the backstay in lieu of a separate topping lift, releasing the mainsheet did nothing to dump wind from the sail. If I'd had a pair of wire cutters, I could have cut that steel cable to release the boom. As it was, I ended up slashing the sail itself to dump wind and right the boat. You do what needs to be done to save the boat and crew in a crisis, but in retrospect, a $300 pair of Felco cable cutters would have cost a lot less than a new mainsail.

In another example (though this one did not involve me personally), a friend was anchored out in a blow when another sailboat dragged its anchor and collided with his vessel. While the boats were moving separately in the waves, a lifeline stanchion on one boat wedged under and behind the upper lifeline of the other boat, effectively tying the two boats together, to the detriment of both hulls. Quick thinking and a cable cutter severed the fouled lifelines and saved both vessels from more significant damage.

I consider a pair of cable cutters essential safety equipment. Be sure to stow them where they are readily accessible. I am thinking of mounting mine on on the underside of a cockpit locker hatch.

deltaten · Jun 7, 2016

Google "knipex" cutters

sailnewbie · Jun 7, 2016

Yes those are good, I've used them many times, cuts clean and easy, but not sure they'll cut 1/2" though, unless they make a bigger set than I had