Are multi-tools any good?

pvb said:
It's rather sad that our society has evolved into one in which you can't even wander around legally with a multi-tool.
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I couldn't agree more, when I was at school in the 60's, I was told off if I forgot to bring my knife into class.. try that today!
 
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I have two Swiss Army Knives, a Stanley "Leatherman" a cheap DSL "Leatherman" from the garage and I use them all the time for those small jobs when I can't be bothered getting the tool box out or, as last week, when I was at the mast head and the toolbox wasn't.

I've just ordered a Leatherman Wave off Ebay from the States and if it had a corkscrew, I probably wouldn't need the SAKs!
 
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I'm a fan of the Swiss Army knife and have carried one for longer than I care to remember.
Mine isn't one of the bloated ones with saws, magnifying glass and pliers; just 2 blades, scissors, bottle and can openers, corkscrew and awl. I have yet to find the alcohol container it cannot open. Only this very evening I used it to rescue a young lady who had locked herself in a toilet after the lock broke.
 
dslittle said:
I have a comprehensive toolbox in the bilges forward. I also have a Multitool in it's pouch attached just inside the companionway. Even I am surprised at how often I use it rather than digging out the toolbox. Little jobs that take less time to actually do than get the tools out!!! Well worth it in my opinion.
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I have a Pz2 screwdriver in the trash-tray by the chart table and a knife attached to the binnacle, but could perhaps do with adding a pair of pliers and maybe an adjustable spanner to the close-at-hand repertoire. Trouble is the design of our companionway doesn't really have anywhere to stow things in easy reach.

Pete
 
Porthandbuoy said:
I'm a fan of the Swiss Army knife and have carried one for longer than I care to remember.
Mine isn't one of the bloated ones with saws, magnifying glass and pliers; just 2 blades, scissors, bottle and can openers, corkscrew and awl. I have yet to find the alcohol container it cannot open. Only this very evening I used it to rescue a young lady who had locked herself in a toilet after the lock broke.
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Same here, I am seldom without it in my pocket and find I use it for something most days.
 
Close to a "multi tool " is an electric oscillating device called a "Fein Multimaster". I saw one being used and though that looks handy. German made (forget VW). Can be used as a small scale sander- neat velcro sander pads, also oscillating saw- precise - accurate cuts in confined spaces- think cutting out small areas of rot, back to good wood. Cut out nails from behind wood with no damage? yes. Excellent. The more pro versions have quick release attachments -not really essential .
Not a Leatherman, but still in the same spirit. I also have one of those, and have forgotten how sharp i made the main blade more than once! You can put a really nice edge on on one!
 
colind3782 said:
I have two Swiss Army Knives, a Stanley "Leatherman" a cheap DSL "Leatherman" from the garage and I use them all the time for those small jobs when I can't be bothered getting the tool box out or, as last week, when I was at the mast head and the toolbox wasn't.

I've just ordered a Leatherman Wave off Ebay from the States and if it had a corkscrew, I probably wouldn't need the SAKs!
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I thought that eBay had banned Leatherman tools and the like several years ago? Perhaps only in the UK?
 
I have a Getber multitool and a Swiss Army Knife in pouches on my belt. They live there all the time and are invaluable for doing all sorts of little jobs. Wouldn't be without them.
Just a point on legalities. It is illegal to carry a knife with a blade in excess of three inches or a lock blade knife without good reason. I've always understood that going to and from a boat where I might need the lock blade knife was 'good reason' within this law and therefore never worried about carrying the Gerber which does have a locking blade.
 
duncan99210 said:
I've always understood that going to and from a boat where I might need the lock blade knife was 'good reason' within this law
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Probably depends which side of bed the copper got out of that morning - he might consider that in those circumstances it ought to be in your sailing bag or at least in the car, rather than on your trousers. But "might need it on the boat" is very unlikely to wash when you're at the garden centre or wherever.

It goes without saying that I think this is a sad and ridiculous state of affairs.

Pete
 
They're not intended to replace individual tools, but to provide a solution that is always there when tools are not immediately to hand.

I carry a Gerber multitool on my belt at all times and use it several times a day, on or off the boat. Opening parcels, cutting rope/string, opening shackles, cutting wire, sharpening pencils, opening bottles, screwdriving, you name it.

On the very rare occasions it's not on my belt, when I reach for it I feel rather lost to find it not there.
 
I carry one in my overnight sailing bag. I have used it once when we couldn't find a tin opener on board mid-channel, so it's certainly a soup-saver if not a life-saver.
 
prv said:
Probably depends which side of bed the copper got out of that morning - he might consider that in those circumstances it ought to be in your sailing bag or at least in the car, rather than on your trousers. But "might need it on the boat" is very unlikely to wash when you're at the garden centre or wherever.

It goes without saying that I think this is a sad and ridiculous state of affairs.

Pete
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I'm of the era when every small boy had a penknife in his pocket. As a boy scout We would wander around with a fixed blade knife on our belts. I never stopped carrying a folding knife in my pocket, despite the change in attitudes from lawmakers. After nearly severing a finger trying to cut a shim from plastic bottle with a non-locking SAK, I use a locking blade folder.

I've never been stopped and searched in 54 years of knife carrying, and as a 62 year old grandfather, I probably won't be. If I am, my position is that I'm carrying a tool, not an offensive weapon, on my way to the boat or going fishing or that I'd forgotten it was in my pocket after sailing or fishing. If they don't like it, they can prosecute, and I'll pay the consequences, but I see no great need to compromise.
 
Robin said:
Me too, but I do have a cheapo copy multitool kept in the grab bag and another in the underseat bag on the RI, never had to use either in anger, but it seemed like a good idea at $5 a piece.
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I picked up a cheap one once. Get a good one or forget it. Cheap ones have blunt blades and break fingernails trying to get the blades out.

I have one of those sheath knife sets with marlin spike, shackle key and pliers plus a multi-blade screwdriver and a shifting spanner all on clips in a cupboard behind the wheel, along with foghorn, whistle and hand flares so I can always find them in a hurry.
 
I had a Gerber 'crucial' which had the nice feature of the various tools all opening outwards from the closed tool - you didn't need to unfold it to deploy the blade etc. It had the less nice feature of the long nose pliers being made of cheese. Snapped first time I put any real pressure on them. Never again.

Agree with above comments about a small Swiss Army knife being the essential pocket clutter item. If i need a set of pliers, I now go get a set of pliers, not Gerber's approximation of a set of pliers.
 
Thanks everyone, as expected mixed opinions.

I'm not sure about carrying one as I already carry a hand held DS radio and PLB and seems like more clutter when I'm moving about the boat but I do like the idea of having tools to hand, which is why I already have some old tools kicking about within easy reach.

I'll have to give it more thought and have a play with one at my local chandler.
 
I always have my Gerber knife with a locking blade in my pocket. When I am at work I have a Leatherman on my belt. Both very useful and normally used at least once a day.

j
 
fredrussell said:
It had the less nice feature of the long nose pliers being made of cheese. Snapped first time I put any real pressure on them. Never again.
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Have to say I'm surprised by that. I've made fairly heavyhanded use of the pliers on two different Gerber models, with no sign of damage. Maybe you got a rare faulty one? Although I can see how it would put you off having anything to do with them in future.

I did once snap a knife blade, but that was on a Compact Sport at the small and cheap end of the range, and I was misusing it as a chisel/gouge to try to dig the lock mechanism out of a door from the inside - like PortHandBuoy's young lady above, I'd got stuck in a toilet when the lock broke! The blade on that version had a slot cut out for a fingernail to open it, and it snapped at the cutout. I think the "Flik" I replaced it with would stand such misuse better.

Pete
 
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