What sort of all purpose knife is best for a sailboat? My husband seems to think a multipurpose type knife will do. You know, those that have the pliers, screwdriver, etc all in one? I think since we already have all the tools onboard a nice long (how long?) sharp hunting type knife would do. Here are the questions: What does everyone else have or recommend, flat edge or serrated, where do you buy such a thing and what can I expect to pay?
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Something beautiful
Certainly a multitool would be good to have around a boat. Practical. Utilitarian. Dull. For Christmas my wife bought me a perfectly beautiful Myerchin rigging knife, with a marinspike and a blade that is smooth at the end and serrated at the base. Wood trim. Heavy. Manly. Do I need it? Maybe not. But gosh, its cool. And... it would make a first class Father's day gift. Have a look at their website and see:
Certainly a multitool would be good to have around a boat. Practical. Utilitarian. Dull. For Christmas my wife bought me a perfectly beautiful Myerchin rigging knife, with a marinspike and a blade that is smooth at the end and serrated at the base. Wood trim. Heavy. Manly. Do I need it? Maybe not. But gosh, its cool. And... it would make a first class Father's day gift. Have a look at their website and see:
Different Uses...
Hi Marcia, I keep a cheap (on sale at WM for $10) all serrated opening blade clipped in my pocket all the time on the boat. The serrated edge will quickly cut a sheet that has an over-ride as you are pointed at the docks. I also keep a nicer big combination (serrated and flat) straight blade in a sheath attached to the bulkhead in the companion way- that one scares the crew. The real key in a knife is something that will cut a line that is dangerous in an emergency. It doesn't have to cost a lot, but any cost involved is going to be cheaper than sail repair or boat repair. Link below is the WM special (regular price of $20, still a good deal). B
Hi Marcia, I keep a cheap (on sale at WM for $10) all serrated opening blade clipped in my pocket all the time on the boat. The serrated edge will quickly cut a sheet that has an over-ride as you are pointed at the docks. I also keep a nicer big combination (serrated and flat) straight blade in a sheath attached to the bulkhead in the companion way- that one scares the crew. The real key in a knife is something that will cut a line that is dangerous in an emergency. It doesn't have to cost a lot, but any cost involved is going to be cheaper than sail repair or boat repair. Link below is the WM special (regular price of $20, still a good deal). B
Excellent article
Practical Sailor did a very good write-up on the subject about a year ago. You don't want a hunting type knife, you want a folding knife, and you don't want a straight pointed blade which you can stab yourself and others with. For sure if someone is tangled up in a line, or you are about to be knocked over unless you cut the sheet, you don't want to be folding up the pliers and looking for the slot you think holds the blade with the good edge. Try to find the article - really worthwhile.
Practical Sailor did a very good write-up on the subject about a year ago. You don't want a hunting type knife, you want a folding knife, and you don't want a straight pointed blade which you can stab yourself and others with. For sure if someone is tangled up in a line, or you are about to be knocked over unless you cut the sheet, you don't want to be folding up the pliers and looking for the slot you think holds the blade with the good edge. Try to find the article - really worthwhile.
I agree with Bill
Both my wife and I always have a sharp knife on our person, or carry one in our pockets when we are on the boat. The WM knife Bill mentioned is small, sharp, easy to open, and has a shackle opener. We also have 2 older knifes with marlinspikes. Both type of knifes are very sharp, simple, and easy to open. We also have a multi-purpose Swiss army knife onboard, with a bunch of tools. I hardly use it excepting when we are hiking someplace, and may come across the need for some tool. But when I am working on some project, I want real tools, not the tiny little things in the Swiss army knife. That's why we have a tool bag onboard. When sailing, I don't carry the Swiss army knife. First, it is just too big. and, in an emergency, I don't want to be looking for the knife to cut a line, I just want the knife.
Both my wife and I always have a sharp knife on our person, or carry one in our pockets when we are on the boat. The WM knife Bill mentioned is small, sharp, easy to open, and has a shackle opener. We also have 2 older knifes with marlinspikes. Both type of knifes are very sharp, simple, and easy to open. We also have a multi-purpose Swiss army knife onboard, with a bunch of tools. I hardly use it excepting when we are hiking someplace, and may come across the need for some tool. But when I am working on some project, I want real tools, not the tiny little things in the Swiss army knife. That's why we have a tool bag onboard. When sailing, I don't carry the Swiss army knife. First, it is just too big. and, in an emergency, I don't want to be looking for the knife to cut a line, I just want the knife.
Pliers tool
I use the pliers on a leatherman-style tool 30 times for every once I use the knife built in to the same tool. The pliers are perfect for loosening knots, and I suspect much much safer than a marlin spike, which is liable to slip and stick through your palm. Get one with the serrated knife, though, as it cuts much better than a smooth blade.
I use the pliers on a leatherman-style tool 30 times for every once I use the knife built in to the same tool. The pliers are perfect for loosening knots, and I suspect much much safer than a marlin spike, which is liable to slip and stick through your palm. Get one with the serrated knife, though, as it cuts much better than a smooth blade.
Leatherman Wave
Look at the Leatherman products. The Wave has both serrated and standard blades. I quit carrying a boat knife years ago because I found the multi-tool much more usefull. Although you have tools aboard, they are often not handy when you want them, but the Leatherman is always on your belt. My bias anyway. Rick D.
Look at the Leatherman products. The Wave has both serrated and standard blades. I quit carrying a boat knife years ago because I found the multi-tool much more usefull. Although you have tools aboard, they are often not handy when you want them, but the Leatherman is always on your belt. My bias anyway. Rick D.
Actually two
I really like my Schrade multi-tool for its high quality and good feel, but with a knife, you must decide whether it is an emergency cut-it-loose-right-now tool or rather something not requiring quite the immediacy of action. The Practical Sailor article was very good, but a guy who wrote in later discussed a quality that most of us don't think about - if you only have one hand available, you had better be able to open the knife one-handed. He mentioned a situation on a big, hot boat where he had to get at his knife and open it one-handed, then part a sheet with one swipe. Luckily for him, he had the right knife. Most of us will probably not ever need that feature, but then...
I really like my Schrade multi-tool for its high quality and good feel, but with a knife, you must decide whether it is an emergency cut-it-loose-right-now tool or rather something not requiring quite the immediacy of action. The Practical Sailor article was very good, but a guy who wrote in later discussed a quality that most of us don't think about - if you only have one hand available, you had better be able to open the knife one-handed. He mentioned a situation on a big, hot boat where he had to get at his knife and open it one-handed, then part a sheet with one swipe. Luckily for him, he had the right knife. Most of us will probably not ever need that feature, but then...
redundency is the key to success
a straight blade on each adults belt a "boat knife" at the mast a "boat knife" at the helm 5+ steak knifes, a felet knife, a bread knife, and a butchers knife in the silverware drawer a "swiss army knife" in the nav station a "swiss army knife" in the abandon ship bag a "boat knife" in the dingy bag By "boat knife" I mean a knife that can be used to do the following: cut rope cut fabric be lashed to a pole to do all the above open a shackle pound on stuff with the hilt My favorite is the K-bar.
a straight blade on each adults belt a "boat knife" at the mast a "boat knife" at the helm 5+ steak knifes, a felet knife, a bread knife, and a butchers knife in the silverware drawer a "swiss army knife" in the nav station a "swiss army knife" in the abandon ship bag a "boat knife" in the dingy bag By "boat knife" I mean a knife that can be used to do the following: cut rope cut fabric be lashed to a pole to do all the above open a shackle pound on stuff with the hilt My favorite is the K-bar.
Marlinspike........tradition
I was given a BUCK Marlinspike many years ago and its still on my boat today and used often. A straight blade knife for all purpose cutting and a marlinspike follow's decades if not a century of tradition for the sailor. Marlinspikes come in very handy when loosening tight knots. Save the screwdriver, nail clipper, fork and spoon and plier combos for the toolbox. Want a salty tool, get a marlinspike! Arrrrrgggghhhhh! Bob
I was given a BUCK Marlinspike many years ago and its still on my boat today and used often. A straight blade knife for all purpose cutting and a marlinspike follow's decades if not a century of tradition for the sailor. Marlinspikes come in very handy when loosening tight knots. Save the screwdriver, nail clipper, fork and spoon and plier combos for the toolbox. Want a salty tool, get a marlinspike! Arrrrrgggghhhhh! Bob
Several
I always have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket on the boat or off. On board I also carry an inexpensive ($18) Davis rigging knife with a marlinspike and a shackle key. It is in my pocket, attached to a beltloop with a 4' tether that can also go around my wrist if I have to go over the side to cut something. This will prevent it from ending up on the bottom, like my last Swiss Army knife did. Someday I would like to replace this one with one of those Myerchin knives with the LED light in it. As a final, emergency knife I have a serrated dive knife in a sheath strapped to the pedastal. It can be my hand in 2 seconds. Tom s/v Orion's Child
I always have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket on the boat or off. On board I also carry an inexpensive ($18) Davis rigging knife with a marlinspike and a shackle key. It is in my pocket, attached to a beltloop with a 4' tether that can also go around my wrist if I have to go over the side to cut something. This will prevent it from ending up on the bottom, like my last Swiss Army knife did. Someday I would like to replace this one with one of those Myerchin knives with the LED light in it. As a final, emergency knife I have a serrated dive knife in a sheath strapped to the pedastal. It can be my hand in 2 seconds. Tom s/v Orion's Child
Knife
One that is very sharp and can be tied to yourself so it does not fall overboard. I like SOG.
One that is very sharp and can be tied to yourself so it does not fall overboard. I like SOG.
Myerchin warning
Christmas before last my girlfriend got me one of those nice Myerchin knives with the LED light. About a month later I layed it down on deck after using it and couldn't find it when I finished my project. I thought it had somehow got knocked overboard, so I ordered another one from West Marine before she found out I lost it. I found it later, so I have two of them. In both of them, before they were a year old, the mechanism that locks the blade open failed. In just a short time they fold closed easier than they fold open, which makes them very dangerous to use. I love having a marlin spike available all the time, I use it all the time. It doesn't bite me when it accidentally folds closed though. The knife blade is very sharp though, and has the potential to really do some damage when accidentally closing. I don't even use it as a knife any more.
Christmas before last my girlfriend got me one of those nice Myerchin knives with the LED light. About a month later I layed it down on deck after using it and couldn't find it when I finished my project. I thought it had somehow got knocked overboard, so I ordered another one from West Marine before she found out I lost it. I found it later, so I have two of them. In both of them, before they were a year old, the mechanism that locks the blade open failed. In just a short time they fold closed easier than they fold open, which makes them very dangerous to use. I love having a marlin spike available all the time, I use it all the time. It doesn't bite me when it accidentally folds closed though. The knife blade is very sharp though, and has the potential to really do some damage when accidentally closing. I don't even use it as a knife any more.
You guys are a bunch of romantics
Listen, I have no problem with owning some kind of marlinespike jacknife thingy or some bowie knife because you love the romance of the sea, but be real about having useful tools. Unless you're truly into splicing your own rope rigging the only time you'll ever need a knife on board is for steaks or cutting debris off the propeller. A hearty all-purpose kitchen knife in the galley will always be available for that, and that's really the safest place to store it anyway. If you love romance, get yourself one of those "master and commander" cutlasses and flash it around on deck once in a while to get it out of your system. On a modern fiberglass sloop with wire shrouds and stays and aluminum spars what you'll really be wanting most often are screw driver, wire cutters, lockjaw pliers, wrenches, drill, hacksaw, etc. I suppose one of the "leatherman" type universal tools comes closest to having all the stuff together, though some brands and models are actually dangerous to open (I've gotten some nasty slices opening mine without knowing which blades were sharp and which were tools.) And to the guys who still carry around knives in your pockets, you need to get your head out of the sand and read a newspaper once in a while--forgetting that little knife in you pocket nowadays will cause you to lose your flight and lots of money at any airport and get you an overnight stay in a cell in most blue states. The innocent days of carrying your Red Ryder bb gun down the street with your knife in your pocket are long over...
Listen, I have no problem with owning some kind of marlinespike jacknife thingy or some bowie knife because you love the romance of the sea, but be real about having useful tools. Unless you're truly into splicing your own rope rigging the only time you'll ever need a knife on board is for steaks or cutting debris off the propeller. A hearty all-purpose kitchen knife in the galley will always be available for that, and that's really the safest place to store it anyway. If you love romance, get yourself one of those "master and commander" cutlasses and flash it around on deck once in a while to get it out of your system. On a modern fiberglass sloop with wire shrouds and stays and aluminum spars what you'll really be wanting most often are screw driver, wire cutters, lockjaw pliers, wrenches, drill, hacksaw, etc. I suppose one of the "leatherman" type universal tools comes closest to having all the stuff together, though some brands and models are actually dangerous to open (I've gotten some nasty slices opening mine without knowing which blades were sharp and which were tools.) And to the guys who still carry around knives in your pockets, you need to get your head out of the sand and read a newspaper once in a while--forgetting that little knife in you pocket nowadays will cause you to lose your flight and lots of money at any airport and get you an overnight stay in a cell in most blue states. The innocent days of carrying your Red Ryder bb gun down the street with your knife in your pocket are long over...
Spyderco
Spyderco makes a folding rescue knife that has a surated blade for cutting rope quiickly, a blunt end so that you don't stab yourself, and a big thumb loop on the blade so that you can open it with one hand. It also has a belt clip. They really very cool. I bought it a West Marine about 10 years ago...
Spyderco makes a folding rescue knife that has a surated blade for cutting rope quiickly, a blunt end so that you don't stab yourself, and a big thumb loop on the blade so that you can open it with one hand. It also has a belt clip. They really very cool. I bought it a West Marine about 10 years ago...
life saver
For emergencies nothing beats a knife that you can easily open one handed.A multitool is helpful but not if you have one hand caught in a line. I own a SOG folding knife that has a pin in the blade that allows it to be opened with one hand.I also own a Myerchin fixed blade. I did a cutting test.The SOG cut the line almost twice as fast as the Myerchin!!!
For emergencies nothing beats a knife that you can easily open one handed.A multitool is helpful but not if you have one hand caught in a line. I own a SOG folding knife that has a pin in the blade that allows it to be opened with one hand.I also own a Myerchin fixed blade. I did a cutting test.The SOG cut the line almost twice as fast as the Myerchin!!!
Meat Cleaver
I like to keep a big-ass honkin' meat cleaver handy. Many has been the time that while anchored over at Santa Cruz Island I got a little hungry. Why I would just run on up the side of the hill clawing away at the bruch with my big-ass meat cleaver clenched in my teeth. I would restle one o' them wooly bears to the ground and hack me off a hunk. Slide on back down the hill and throw that wooly bear hunk on the old trusty Magma. No sauce... that's fer sissies.
I like to keep a big-ass honkin' meat cleaver handy. Many has been the time that while anchored over at Santa Cruz Island I got a little hungry. Why I would just run on up the side of the hill clawing away at the bruch with my big-ass meat cleaver clenched in my teeth. I would restle one o' them wooly bears to the ground and hack me off a hunk. Slide on back down the hill and throw that wooly bear hunk on the old trusty Magma. No sauce... that's fer sissies.
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