Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- Sailing Gloves
- Sailing Magazines
- Boating Ropes
- Seaman's Knives
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Step 1
Decide between a fixed blade and folding blade.
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Step 2
Make sure the knife is made of high-quality stainless steel.
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Step 3
Choose a knife with a marlin spike. Some lower-priced knives might not have a spike, but they're usefulness is limited as a result.
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Step 4
Consider a locking-blade option if you're buying a folding blade knife. A blade that doesn't lock in place is dangerous.
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Step 5
Select a rigging knife with a shackle breaker.
Comments
onewebfoot said
on 8/23/2008 If we consolidate the combined counsel above with some additional articles (easily available on the Web), the following components must be present for a rigging knife to be considered complete, without being excessive. These few criteria for a folding rigging (sea/marine/yachtsmen) knife are as follows:
-- Blade characteristics: Single-handed locking blade of quality steel, perhaps half-serrated, and definitely not pointed on its tip
-- Marlinspike: Locking, stout, and dedicated marlinspike (not a marlinspike that doubles as a ruler nor as a shackle breaker nor as a leather punch)
-- Shacklebreaker: The shackebreaker must NOT be a component of the blade nor of the marlinspike (both should be closed in shacklebreaking mode, should they not?). The key may or may not be a component of the handle, presuming the knife is folding.
-- Bottle opener: A bottle opener can be integrate
gdavis said
on 5/7/2007 Folding vs. straight:
Folding is compact, but harder to open. If you keep "one hand for the ship and one for yourself," a folder might be problematic. A knife you can whip out with one hand in an emergency could save your life. Go with a straight knife if you can afford it and have enough room. On the other hand, folders have a marlin spike that is integrated into the handle--very handy, and it does not get lost (unless you loose the knife!). I personally carry a straight knife with marlin spike attached to my harness (its a Myerchin B001 offshore system), and a leatherman in my pocket. It works great!
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 Also, you may want to choose a knife without a point, since knife points are generally unnecessary for sailing/rigging and can be dangerous on a rolling vessel or in the air. Bread-knife style round-ended knives are much better.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I cannot stress this enough: If you are buying a knife that you are going to carry while climbing (even if it's just in rigging), make certain it has a lanyard hole. Always use a lanyard on tools/knives in the air.