Cockpit knife recommendations

[TheOrs]

I'm thinking of buying a knife to keep in the cockpit for emergencies.

Anyone got any recommendations? Blade material/length, blunt or pointed tip, scabbard style?

The boat is a Fletcher 238 that will get used for days out inshore, over-nighting and watersports. We will have children on board, 11 yrs and up generally.

Cheers!

 

[petem]

You can get floating knives from the chandlers with serrated blades for cutting lines (useful if you get a rope wrapped round a prop). Just keep it out of reach of the kids.

 

[matm]

I have a diving knife. Serrated edges etc..

 

[sarabande]

a rounded or retro-curved tip (so you can't stab a liferaft or person)

yellow handle

lock blade (so it can't trap and amputate your fingers)

serrated (jagged, saw-like ) blade (better for really tight ropes as in a riding turn and for plastic tightly wrapped round a prop)

hole in handlegrip with lanyard (so you can use it, close it and let it dangle from your hand)




I'd also have bolt cutters and a good hack saw nearby.

 

[rafiki_]

I keep a Swiss Army knife in my shorts pocket.

 

[Firefly625]

I have one of these attached to a bulkhead by the helm;

http://www.force4.co.uk/320/Force-4-Race-Rescue-Knife---Blunt-Tip.html

 

[RogerRat]

I'm thinking of buying a knife to keep in the cockpit for emergencies.

Anyone got any recommendations? Blade material/length, blunt or pointed tip, scabbard style?

There's a good choice here of appropriate types:

http://www.sailingworld.com/gear/safety-hand


Introduce the kids to knives. Teach them how to use them safely and get hands on use. The scouts were really good for that, axemanship and removing boy scouts from girl guides.

 

[MASH]

A shortish serrated ss bread knife in a leather scabbard somewhere on the rail. Cuts rope a treat, no sharp point.

 

[rwilson]

I can recommend the Gerber EZ out shown in RogerRat's link. Easy to open with cold hands and very sharp.

http://www.gerbergear.co.uk/content/search?SearchText=ez+out

Also, easily stored in pocket.

 

[ctva]

I keep a standard divers knife, about a foot long including the handle, in the cockpit locker for several reasons. It is strong and designed for serious business, the end of the handle is designed to be hammered if needed, serrations on the back side and sharp pointy on the other side and it has a robust scabbard. A lot of the smaller knives or safety knives have limited or single use uptions whereas the divers knife will do lots.

Only used it once "in anger" when a mooring line had to be cut pronto (my stupidity but that's an other story), saved an expensive repair.

 

[beltsandbraces]

a rounded or retro-curved tip (so you can't stab a liferaft or person)

yellow handle

lock blade (so it can't trap and amputate your fingers)

serrated (jagged, saw-like ) blade (better for really tight ropes as in a riding turn and for plastic tightly wrapped round a prop)

hole in handlegrip with lanyard (so you can use it, close it and let it dangle from your hand)




I'd also have bolt cutters and a good hack saw nearby.

guns for show!! knives for a pro!!

 

[Dill et Bound]

A shortish serrated ss bread knife in a leather scabbard somewhere on the rail. Cuts rope a treat, no sharp point.

+1 Useful for sandwiches as well.. +1 for educating kids..You never know when they may put it to good use..

 

[dp24]

For a knife: http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog/race-rescue-knife-hook-tip-5548.html
Very easy to mount and hook-end is good for small lines (definitely won't float though!)

But, these are more useful against fishing line and webbing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beaver-Aquasnip-Shears/dp/B007CIIG86