That hook knife in your harness is useless
- metabon
- Contributor
- Posts:36
- Joined:Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:24 pm
- Contact:
Today I decided to self-rescue when the wind died at 3rd. Within seconds, a line snagged on my leg turned into a tangle of lines tightly wrapped around my ankle. I usually feel comfortable self-rescuing and I'm not sure what I did wrong - it's scary how quickly the situation went from slight annoyance to serious trouble.
I decided to bite the bullet and cut the lines, but my knife didn't have any effect hacking away at the tangle of lines under water. So I decided to swim to the upper launch. By the time I got there, I had most of my lines and half a bridle wrapped around my ankle, making it hard to even walk up the beach. A big thanks to the two guys who helped me separate my kite from my ankle, I'd still be sitting there if you hadn't helped!
Somebody showed me a diving knife, I'll have to get one of those before I even order a new set of lines. Any other tips on how to avoid line tangles and how to deal with them when they happen?
I decided to bite the bullet and cut the lines, but my knife didn't have any effect hacking away at the tangle of lines under water. So I decided to swim to the upper launch. By the time I got there, I had most of my lines and half a bridle wrapped around my ankle, making it hard to even walk up the beach. A big thanks to the two guys who helped me separate my kite from my ankle, I'd still be sitting there if you hadn't helped!
Somebody showed me a diving knife, I'll have to get one of those before I even order a new set of lines. Any other tips on how to avoid line tangles and how to deal with them when they happen?
- sflinux
- Valued Contributor
- Posts:291
- Joined:Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:02 pm
- Location:ocean beach
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
Hey Metabon,
I witnessed a similar situation unfold and treaded into the water (in my street clothes) to help many seasons ago.
I carry a gerber diving knife (has serrated edge) attached to my pfd.
Mine may be this one:
http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Rive ... -01028.php
I spray it every few sessions with Boeshield T-9 to slow down the rusting, and clean it with steel wool.
http://www.theruststore.com/Boeshield-T ... -P3C4.aspx
I've heard of others carrying scissors.
I always count the number of lines when winding up my bar to make sure I didn't forget one. Try to keep the lines downwind & down current from you. If I ever feel a line on my leg, I attend to it right away and swim away from my lines if need be. Glad it all turned out well for you. Do an experiment cutting your old lines with your new gerber knife. ";
I witnessed a similar situation unfold and treaded into the water (in my street clothes) to help many seasons ago.
I carry a gerber diving knife (has serrated edge) attached to my pfd.
Mine may be this one:
http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Rive ... -01028.php
I spray it every few sessions with Boeshield T-9 to slow down the rusting, and clean it with steel wool.
http://www.theruststore.com/Boeshield-T ... -P3C4.aspx
I've heard of others carrying scissors.
I always count the number of lines when winding up my bar to make sure I didn't forget one. Try to keep the lines downwind & down current from you. If I ever feel a line on my leg, I attend to it right away and swim away from my lines if need be. Glad it all turned out well for you. Do an experiment cutting your old lines with your new gerber knife. ";
-
- Contributor
- Posts:57
- Joined:Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:13 am
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
I carry medical scissors that are attached to some really thin elastic shock cord on my harness. They are stuffed in the pocket of my shorts. Still have a line cutter knife on my harness as well and I've tested it on old lines before, it worked as expected.
The scissors will cut seat belts and spectra like butter. Also not pointy when closed which makes them pretty safe to carry.
The scissors will cut seat belts and spectra like butter. Also not pointy when closed which makes them pretty safe to carry.
- le noun
- Old School
- Posts:1645
- Joined:Sat May 21, 2011 11:12 am
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
Yeah, I would imagine an actual knife being a bad idea when you're being tumbled in the surf...nexus wrote:The scissors will cut seat belts and spectra like butter. Also not pointy when closed which makes them pretty safe to carry.
Kites: 2020 F-One Bandit: 10m.
Board: 2018 F-One Slice 5'1 Surf/Foil convertible
Harness: Manera Union.
Wetsuit: Manera 5/4 X10D
Board: 2018 F-One Slice 5'1 Surf/Foil convertible
Harness: Manera Union.
Wetsuit: Manera 5/4 X10D
- metabon
- Contributor
- Posts:36
- Joined:Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:24 pm
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
Thanks for the tips! I ended up ordering medical scissors and also came across this floating knife, it looks like it might work well: http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Floati ... B003JPLSZO
-
- Contributor
- Posts:32
- Joined:Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:25 pm
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
Go for a rescue/hook knife (dive knife can be good too). Your standard kiting knife is or will quickly be rendered useless. Benchmade makes several styles/materials, there are many others around. Corrosion resistance is key, check/maintain your knife. This has been covered before here and elsewhere.
Some examples, BM has more styles...
http://www.benchmade.com/products/15040
http://www.benchmade.com/products/7
http://www.benchmade.com/products/8
Some examples, BM has more styles...
http://www.benchmade.com/products/15040
http://www.benchmade.com/products/7
http://www.benchmade.com/products/8
- TomAUSTRIA
- Valued Contributor
- Posts:231
- Joined:Mon May 28, 2007 12:37 pm
- Location:Portola Valley
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
So, these benchmade cutters are more corrosion resistant than regular kite knifes?
Any recommendations for small and safe scissors to carry in addition to a regular line cutter?
Any recommendations for small and safe scissors to carry in addition to a regular line cutter?
- MehYam
- Valued Contributor
- Posts:292
- Joined:Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:23 pm
- Location:San Mateo
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
I googled "medical scissors" and got a lot of different types of results - which scissors do you use exactly?
- sc-surfer
- Resident
- Posts:740
- Joined:Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:19 pm
- Location:Santa Cruz
- Contact:
That hook knife in your harness is useless
Look for a pair of trauma shears. It's what we carry in the field as medics. Safe blunt tip to not cut patients but tough enough to cut through a penny. Made of stainless. Get the cheap ones. The expensive ones are no better. Should run you less than $10. Last forever.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
- WindMuch
- Site CoAdmin
- Posts:1010
- Joined:Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:12 pm
- Location:Oakland
- Contact:
Re: That hook knife in your harness is useless
I've read/heard that the little "hook" knives we carry around in our harnesses work much, much better if they have blades on BOTH sides. Apparently the ones with a blade on only one side don't work very well.
Proof is in the pudding: take your knife out and cut stuff with it. If you have some spectra/kite line around, try cutting that. Better to know in your garage than out in the water when your life depends on it...
Proof is in the pudding: take your knife out and cut stuff with it. If you have some spectra/kite line around, try cutting that. Better to know in your garage than out in the water when your life depends on it...
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests