How Essential is a Pair of Bolt Cutters?

[Mirelle]

Re: Not at all

And how long would it take to cut 10mm wire with wire cutters or bolt cutters, in those conditions? I do not know how I would be able to get enough force on them to close them. But I am pretty sure that I could sit on deck in safety and pull a clevis pin out.

Yes bolt cutters are fine for the sort of boat that may need them, but they do not suit all boats. Gaff masts very rarely fail between the deck and the hounds; it is almost always the masthead that breaks, above the main shrouds and inner forestay, resulting an an awful mess, but a different sort of mess.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[BrianJ]

Re: Useless

By law , when doing Ocean Racing in OZ we must carry them.. totally useless, dropped a mast while coming down the east coat of OZ once.. grabbed the bolt cutters ..no bloody use.. yes they wer the BIG ones..I would rather have at least 3 hack saws at the ready..thats the only way to cut the rigging...
BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>BrianJ

 

[qsiv]

Not really any reason - we HAVE to carry them (racing, not MCA), but they are as much use as chocolate teapot. Completely pointless as they cant cut our rigging. I do however carry tools that WILL cut the rigging, but they arent manadtory!

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[qsiv]

Re: Useless

..but the blades need to be cobalt, if you have anything other than straight forward stainless. My Nitronic rods spit at bolt croppers and ordianry blades. The man from Shootit said his gadget wouldnt even leave a mark!

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[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Surely the best test is to take a bit of wire similar to your rigging (or rod if that is what you have) and try them out. I don't know about prices in your country but I have paid more than a 'fiver' for a good quality pair of pliers.
What I do have on my boat is a pair of cutters like those that are used for cutting concrete reinforcement. After cutting through 8mm stainless wire you still cannot see any light passing between the blades.
What I would LIKE to have - but cannot justify - is a 12-volt angle grinder fitted with a diamond-impregnated disc. Most offshore racers that I have seen carry them. There are similar blades that fit into a regular hacksaw frame. You have to bear in mind the leverage that you need when you are using cutters.
One local racer lost his mast while off Lampedusa during the last Middle Sea Race; cutting the mast away saved them from piling up on the rocks.
To put it in another way, if you divide the cost of a good set over the number of years that you are going to have a boat, the result would be . . . . ?
Fair Winds!

<hr width=100% size=1>Wally

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

YES I have

The boat that I mentioned in my other posting lost its mast when the swaged head of a rod lower gave way and the rod slipped out of the fitting. The mast just bent over and collapsed within seconds.
One reason why I don't like rod rigging!
Fair Winds!

<hr width=100% size=1>Wally

 

[Benbow]

Re: Useless

On big boats I sail, we carry hydraulic wire cutters. About 18" long, you put the wire between the jaws and pump. I have never seen them used on the really thick 15mm or greater wire that is used on most of the rigging, but they cut through thinner stuff like butter. I would not like to have to use a hack-saw in a crisis to cut through thick ss while being bounced about and while the mast is trying to sink your boat. The chances of success would be low and the chances of loosing fingers would be high. As for pulling out the pins to shed the rig - forget it - have you seen the spaghetti of wire that results when a mast comes down ?

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