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1. 

   Chief
   Coastal Vagabond

   As some of you experienced in the EC2016 safety inspection the safety knife is a critical part of your lifejacket kit. But what is a safety knife?

   Before the EC2016 inspections I thought this was a fundamental aspect of safety that was ingrained and known to all small boaters. It was planted in my core when I learned to kayak with the great folks at Sweetwater Kayaks and Nigel Foster. It's pretty simple:

   • It must be easy to access with either hand.
   • It must be usable with only one hand.
   • It must be designed to cut rope, fishing line, fabric, and whatever needs cutting.
   • It should resist the elements and retain its sharp edge with almost zero maintenance.

    

   Here is a short video that shows a perfect solution. I recommend getting the titanium version if you decide to get this knife: NRS Safety Knive 

   Things that are not a safety knife:

   • A Leatherman multitool.
   • Folding knife that cannot be opened with one hand.
   • A knife that is stored in a pocket (except maybe as a backup - see below).
   • A knife that is rusty and has a dull blade.
   • A knife that has a blade not designed for multiple cutting needs.

    

   Full disclosure: I use a different knife although I may switch to the NRS for size and weight reasons. I like to have a point on my knives. I use a titanium dive knife. I mount it just like the NRS knife and I can cover everything needed in a safety knive but I can also stick things if necessary.

   Two Is One and One is None: What happens if you drop your safety knife? I don't recommend a lanyard on your primary safety knife because it can tangle in stuff. Instead I carry a backup safety knive that is folding but one hand opening. It does have a lanyard and is in a lifejacket pocket and it has a pointed blade, but I can pull it out and open it with one hand. I am also reconsidering the point issue for the primary knife because I normally carry a KaBar or a Flesh Eater knife on my belt.

   Posted 4 years ago #
2. 

   PrivateHam
   Member

   I use that knife and it's great. It's not the sharpest in the world but you can take care of that on your own if inclined. The plastic clip that holds it to the PDF is rock solid. The plastic weathers a bit over time and makes it harder to clip it back in place but scraping off the oxidized plastic puts it back in order. A little vaseline from time to time might not hurt.

   During the last EC, my brother and I were heading NE in the channel about 10 miles from Key Largo. The winds were 20 knots or so and it was dark. A current pushed us into the irons where we lost the wind right as we were going past an I-beam channel marker to port. We slowly drifted into the marker sideways but at low speed. No big deal... however... the running backstay snagged on the marker sign and the wind and current rotated the bow of the boat counter-clockwise around the marker.

   We didn't know we had snagged the backstay but we could not push off the marker and the boat was getting tighter and tighter to the pole. We looked up and the top of the mast was bent like a pretzel and any more stress and it would come down for sure. It took a couple swipes with the line cutting knotch on the knife to release the backstay. The rig might have lasted maybe 5 more seconds before coming down. Honestly, I can't believe it didn't come down as it was. It worked so well to pinch the sides of the clip (the NRS one in the link), release the knife, and start cutting line without even having to look at my PFD, fuss with a zipper, etc.

   I literally thanked Chief out loud into the wind for every bit of the knife/pfd requirement.  I'm pretty sure you couldn't hear me from where I was so I'd like to say it now. Thank you, Chief. 

   I know others have even better stories of where a life was saved. In my case, it was the boat that was saved and it kept us from the drama of spending the night on anchor with high winds and big seas.

    

    

    

    

    

   Posted 4 years ago #
3. 

   CrazyRussian
   Member

   I will post my opinion as a contrary one and for the record.
   The best tool is the one you know how to use and use often.
   The safety knife in Chief's definition Is the one you will never use in normal life and it is reserved for an emergency only. In emergency situation you would try to reach something familiar first, just working on Pavlov's dog instincts.
   So, I consider safety knifes in Chief's definitions something out of nuance and something from overreach of despotic governance. (With my Soviet Union background I'm sensitive on the subject)
   I do carry one on life jacket as a nod to the governance, however my preferred tool of the trade is the multitool from gerber. One with knife on handle which can be open with one hand. I carry it in belt.
   And yeah, I have been under water and tangled in lines more than once.

   Posted 4 years ago #
4. 

   Chief
   Coastal Vagabond

   Well, your name is CrazyRussian afterall :)

   As long as you have a safety knife on your lifejacket I really don't care what other knives you carry. You are basically just going with the Two is One and One is None rule. Which one you grab first is up to you.

   Posted 4 years ago #
5. 

   MicroTom
   Key Master

   I disagree with CR. I carry a CRKT Folts Minimalist on my PFD and it has been one of the best WT required gear I have ever needed or used. Its probably too small in Chief's opinion but perfect to me. It has been the only knife I needed on multiple ECs and the UFC. I did have a Gerber Multi-Tool on the waist strap of my PFD as well but I can't recall using it since 2014 when I bent a rudder.

   Posted 4 years ago #
6. 

   ZeroTheHero
   Member

   I carry the NRS knife on my pfd.  I wear my pfd for work almost everyday as a sailing instructor.  I have used my safety knife often for non emergancy situations like cutting line, or even cutting a sandwich.  I have also used it in an emergency situation, see the thread "overkill" on these forums.  I know it is there, I use it often, i am comfortable using it. 

   Posted 4 years ago #
7. 

   CrazyRussian
   Member

   Well. I'm not arguing that there is a need of the safety knife. However I would prefer to let users decide what kind of blade to use and where to place it. I also dislike the requirement of having lots of stuff on a life jacket. When working with high performance sailboat, having all the things sticking out on the life jacket can be dangerous. It does create snags.

   Posted 4 years ago #
8. 

   danceswithmullet
   Member

   In addition to a knife I have a Gil what would be called multi tool? It a solid metal piece with a shackle wrench and a notch for cutting line. The "blade" is always open. You just need to hook the line and rock back and forth. True one handed operation. They put knives like these in emergency life rafts where you need a sharp blade to cut the painter but don't want something that can pop the raft. DWM

   Posted 4 years ago #
9. 

   ClamCounter
   Member

   For the past 5 EC's Coastie and I have used the NRS Pilot knife, Chief mentioned. It has worked well, it helps to lube up the sheeth that latches to your life vest for easy retrieval and safe keeping. Just a little sailcote has worked well. Last year Coastie added these hook knives he got at the Tackle Shack to our arsenal. They attach to the straps on the side of a life vest and they are so streamline they're almost non-existant. It's also very quick and easy retrieve, light weght, but firm and has very secure attachments. WOWZA, are these things sharp!!! Inside the hook is a razorblade, that has held up against rusting quite well. So now we have both the NRS pilot knife along with a hook knife on our life vest.

   NRS Pilot Knife :
   

   Hook knife:

   

   Posted 4 years ago #
10. 

    ZeroTheHero
    Member

    CrazyRussian, I wasn't trying to counter your statements in any way.  I suppose I was offering the option of adaption.  Before Watertribe I rarely carried a knife.  For my first EC I carried a "one hand open" folding knife.  From then on I have had the NRS Pilot attached to my PFD.  The "Overkill" story is mine, just had to shield it from work, they don't like that sort of story.  I have learned to live with the knife, and it's snag hazzard on my pfd.  This summer I used it to free a kid entangled in a turtled boat who was fighting for breath.  It was a life saver at that moment. However, I am aware that different boats need different solutions.  The knife you know and use is your best option in my opinion.  That may mean a folding blade, in a PFD pocket for some boats.  But adapting to a ready to go, fixed blade has proven good to me.

    Posted 4 years ago #
11. 

    MicroTom
    Key Master

    IMO, If the boat your using in a WaterTribe event is not compatable with the saftey requirements then its likely not approprite for how Chief and WaterTribe define "an expedition worthy" craft. That can be a simple as compatability with a required knife on a PFD. The ability to safely carry required equipment, or reef sails.

    Posted 4 years ago #
12. 

    Bermudaboy
    Member

     Hmm, safety knives, one 4' razor diver bc knife on my chest,, two 8"sheaved Rapala Fillet knives on each side of the  boom...

    13  hours of beating zig zaggin,close tight haul into - neverending sloppy chop, my eyes bouncing between my wrist and the closest, sharpest knive on each tack... Safe for who?  Probabally better, maybe safer,  than the 20 guage insert for my orion flare gun...

    Posted 4 years ago #

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