Alternative to bolt-cropper type wire cutters

Likewise I use Battery power tools everyday BUT my greatest fear would be the battery(batteries) going down at the crucial moment. Cant really hang on until you've sorted out the inverter and recharged everything /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I carry a Bosch cordless angle grinder with a lithium ion battery and one spare. These battereies do not self discharge and charge quickly, even using an inverter. Be aware that not all inverters will charge power tools and may even destroy them.

Paul
 
REcovery of the mast depends on its weight. Mine is very heavy and I can just about pick up one end when standing on dry land. I dont think I could get it on board, particularly as it would fill with water. I doubt whether it could be re-erected at sea so ditching it seems the sensible option. I can imagine setting up the boom as a jury mast but even for that its probably necessary to have a calm sea.
 
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.......... To widen the debate slightly, and at some risk of being flamed, I've never quite understood the desire to quickly cut away and abandon a fallen rig..........

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Half Ton worlds at La Rochelle, mast down during one of the races whilst being blown onto a lee shore with a hooley blowing.... believe me that you would very quickly understand "the desire to quickly cut away and abandon a fallen rig"!!
If the bolt croppers were any slower in being brought up, I can assure you that we would have used our teeth if need be to get that rig overboard! Yes... there are defiantly times when you will feel the desire and thank The Lord for not skimping on the best bolt croppers!
 
I was very impressed when Hugo Boss was hit just before the Vendee Globe. I assume they cut the mast free but had the sense to put a rope and bouy on it before they left it.
Allan
 
I've seen a 40 yr. old man standing on dry land struggle hard to cut through an 8 mm. forestay wire. He put one handle of the long (perhaps 24 inch) cropper on the ground and put just about all his weight on the other handle. It took several attempts for to sever the wire. Think about doing this on a boat that's rolling badly because it has lost its mast and think of doing it say eight times - OK some of the shrouds might be thinner. I think it is quite likely the cropper or you or both might go overside and the cropper would blunt quickly. This experience made me buy a Shootit.
 
Discussing this very problem with my rigger, 8mm is getting towards the top for hand operated cutter, and very difficult with bolt croppers.He finds it can be difficult with good quality Felco cutters costing arround £200. Also he claims that much of the newer wire is harder to cut.
 
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