SHARP KNIFE, QUICK THINKING
KEEP SAFE BOATERS AFLOAT, ALIVE
Fred Dyson – Dyson's Starboard View – Messing About in Boats
The traditional seaman's knife was designed to accomplish three functions:
Cut hemp (not marijuana) rope;
Provide a small marlinspike for splicing lines;
Have a slot of some kind for opening the clevis pin on a shackle.
The modem sailor is likely to be dealing with nylon or poly lines that are braided; therefore, the marlinspike is useless. Many functions that were performed by threaded shackles are now fulfilled by spring gate shackles so the old knife style may be obsolete. Here are some things to consider as you look for the right knife for you.
DO YOU NEED A KNIFE TO PROTECT YOUR BOAT?
There are several circumstances where you can get into trouble. The first occurs when your bowline breaks in a strong wind or current, or some dummy ties off the stem line before the bowline is secured. The bow will immediately swing out and the inboard comer of the stern will wedge itself against the dock or vessel you are tied to. Often the stem line will jam on its cleat and there is no escape unless you cut the line.
Another scenario: Suppose you are anchored somewhere and some big boat starts dragging its anchor and is coming down on top of you. The big boat or barge can ride right up your anchor line and force you under.
A friend who operates factory ships in the Bering Sea has a serrated-blade knife taped conspicuously by each tie-up point on the vessel.
A third circumstance might involve towing when the tow gets unmanageable or sinks. This is a towboat operator's worst nightmare.
In a tight maneuvering situation, a barge or string of barges can run over a tug or pass the tug and start towing it backwards. The tug's only option is to cut loose. This is why tugboats always have an ax hung near the stem of the boat and/or a cutting torch if they are big and using steel cable. They also may have a deck hand with arms the size of the bouncers at 'Koots.
KNIVES TO PROTECT YOU
Commercial fishing specifically and Alaskan boating in general are dangerous activities and require care, training, and some forethought. Gill net fishermen routinely cut all the buttons and buckles off of their rain gear and boots to keep from getting caught in the nets.
Three years ago a Bristol Bay fisherman got caught in his net and was jerked overboard. His wife went over after him but could not get him free. He died. She had a float coat on and was found hours later down tide, nearly dead from hypothermia. If either had had a knife, they might have cut him free.
Crab fishermen have a propensity for getting tangled in the lines and going over with the pot. Every small boat operator has heard of some dummy that gets tangled in the anchor line when he drops the anchor. Quick thinking, a cool head and a sharp knife could make the difference.
A knife to serve you in these situations must be very accessible. You may not have time to get into a pocket or to open a folding knife. Many experienced Bering Sea fishermen carry a cheap, serrated fixed-blade knife taped to the suspenders of their rain pants. This saves some lives and makes sense to me.
In other articles, I talk about specific knives and some wild illustrations of the problems I've mentioned above.
TOP MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS HOME