Carbon V steel for the Caribbean

W

Will

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Jan 4, 2003
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I will go going sailing in the Caribbean for a few weeks in Feb. I have never sailed before (not a tall sailing vessel ~120 feet long at least), and I was planing ot bring my SRK for the trip, but I wonder if the salt air/humidity will will be more than the blade can handle. I also would emagine (and from what I have been told) that sea water is often splashed up on deck, especially during storms, and that would really rust the blade. Any thoughts? Should I just leave it home, or or will a light oiling before the trip be enough? I am also planning on bringing my PE Endura, and my SE Large Voyager.

Will
 
Assuming you'll be spending most of the time on the boat, and not in the water I wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't rely on just a light oiling before you leave though. Bring a small 1oz bottle of whatever rust protectant you use, or a tuff cloth or something with your travel gear, and before you go to bed every night just do a quick inspection of the blade and a quick wipedown for good measure. If water splashes onto the sheath, whenever you have the spare time rinse the sheath off (inside and out, this is why I don't like cordura sheaths, they soak up saltwater and other nasties and take forever to dry) and reoil the knife before putting it back in if you feel the need to wear it. Saltwater isn't really a problem as long as there is a barrier between it and the bare carbon steel. If nothing else consider it an experiment in how well your favorite rust protectant works. Any rust you'll get on this trip will be on the sharp exposed edge, which is easily dealt with the next time you sharpen the knife.

**edit** Make sure it's cool with the owner of the boat for you to have a "large" fixed blade with you, I had posted the above assuming that you were a close aquaintance of the owner, so I didn't consider that it might be an issue.
 
My SRK rusts quicker than any knife I have owned. Daily maintenance will be required if you use it. Something tells me that the folders will see more use on a sailing ship.

Sounds like am awesome trip. Have fun.
 
On my Carbon V blades, I use a gun blueing solution. You can find it at wal-mart for about $3-4. The name is Perma-Blue IIRC (I don't travel with the bottles, so right now I'm "in-between") and is in the hunting section. It will blacken the exposed steel such as the edge and anywhere the coating came off. After sharpening, just reapply and you never need to worry about your finely honed edge rusting off. Also, the patina(sp?) will rub off after LONG use as the black shading will lighten up. I just use a Q-tip to swap the blade 2-3 times until pitch black.

When living in San Diego, My Carbon V trail guides would rust from my sweating on them all day. After I learned this trick, rust would only show after very hot, hard days when condensation would form on the blade while clipped to my waistband. Even then, it was a light film and would rub off with use, or even a swipe on a pant's leg. Oddly, use thru out the day kept the rust at bay ;) It should not be a problem with a knife in a shealth.

But, keep the tuf cloth handy.
 
Thanks for the replies. Right now I just use good ol' WD-40 as a rust inhibitor. Is there anything better or esier to use (other than Clint's buleing suggestion which I will look into)?

Will

PS: I don't think the knife will be a problem. One of the things on the list provided by the comany was a knife for rigging (either fixed or folding) so a blade (or a few!) should be out of place.
 
You may be surprised at what an unstable environment a ship is. Traditional rigging knives have sheepsfoot blades or modified sheepsfoots, which help to prevent you from accidentally stabbing yourself or even (God forbid) falling on the knife when the ship lurches unexpectedly. A large fixed blade may not be the best choice in that environment (a Myerchin folder would be a good choice though).
 
If you're in a pinch a small bottle of 3 in 1 oil will work. Far better however would be to find a small bottle of Break Free CLP, (black plastic bottle with yellow label). You can usually find this in the sporting goods section of any decent superstore (that carries guns/cleaning supplies).
 
I think your Endura would hold up just fine, but if you really want to not worry about the rust then check out the Spyderco Salt series:

Salt I (Delica size)
Pacific Salt (Endura size)
Atlantic Salt (Rescue size)

Good luck,
Allen
 
I prefer the Myerchin fixed blades, myself. This is what I've got...

http://www.myerchin.com/B001.html

I've handled one of their larger folders, and it would be good for the occasional need for a marlinspike, but they are BIG HEAVY folders...not something you'll just slip in a front pocket.

http://www.myerchin.com/B300P.html

IMO, if you'll be doing any spike work (say, if they have little classes on ropework or such), the fixed spike is the way to go.
 
Carbon V changes, but mine rusted very badly even without the salt of the ocean. Busse and Fehrman have much better corrosion resistance. Better knives, too.
When I do ocean kayaking the blade I keep on me is [usually] talonite or stellite, although I have an old Benchmade titanium folder i love too. If you are out there for a while, rust is a serious problem.
 
You've got more important things to do that check your knife every night. The humidity itself will make the damn thing rust in short order...
Get something in a stainless.
 
Carbon V might rust in a saltwater environment unless you keep it protected with BreakFree or Tuffcloth or something similar... and if you keep the sheath dry. But the old time sailors did OK with ordinary carbon steel on the sailing ships (they used their knives regularly for food prep, eating, cutting rope, etc., which probably helped). Don't know how useful a big FB would be though on a ship. You might be better off with one of the big stainless folders they make for sailors, with a sheepsfoot and marlinspike and a gizmo for turning shackles. Just my two cents. Have a great time! And think of us here in the frigid Yukon... currently -45. Viva Global Warming! Run them SUV's. Burn more fossil fuels! :p
 
You might consider Marine Tuff Cloth, the extra strength version of Tuff Cloth if you decide to bring the SRK.

Take care if you do, though. I'm with Torz regarding the use of any knife with a sharp point when on board a sail boat. Having been on one myself, a 26 foot sloop, I can tell you even on a good day, it gets a little unsteady on deck, and below.

The traditional sailor's knives have the sheepsfoot design to reduce self injury on a pitching deck, that and a lanyard hole so you can keep the knife from going overboard if you need to grab a rail.
 
Good luck on your voyage.

Here's some advice. put the folder on a lanyard, but DON'T affix it to your body. you'll find that a hanging lanyard, long enough to stretch your arm, will catch on every cleat, bitt, etc. on the deck or below. make a lanyard long enough to help bring the knife out of your pocket, or wherever, and to loop around your wrist so you don't lose the knife overboard. (I've done that several times)

Get a knife with a sheepsfoot blade, especially if you've never walked a pitching deck before. and I learned while shrimping in the gulf of mexico in June/july to have a knife with a pocket clip. I wore cutoff hospital scrubs most of the time due to the heat, and the knife was always within reach, even without pockets.

A serrated edge is good. Especially on a sailboat where you may be cutting a lot of line, nylon webbing, etc. Try a Dyad. not many people like them. I find them indespensable. You can put a lanyard right onto the clip. Otherwise, a rescue from spyderco, or even one of their hawkbills can work. Their salt series, although I've not used them personally, seem to be the way to go in the marine environment. Try an e-z out from gerber. they spot rust, but they make them with yellow handle scales and a sheepsfoot blade.

Definately get stainless, although, sitting on the bow, polishing your knife while the carribean sun sets sounds like a mighty relaxing time to me.

most importantly, keep one hand for the boat, and one for yourself. Have fun, and be careful.
 
One more thing

bring a couple of knives, and don't carry them all at once. If you lose one overboard you can go to your sea bag or berth and replace it in short order. If YOU go overboard, you chance losing anything and everything you've got on you. so I'd advise keeping a spare knife or two in your gear. Sleep with one. My biggest fear offshore fishing is going down in the night, (or shrimping, in the day) I kept a 5" Dexter High Carbon boning knife or 'ripper' sheathed under My pillow in those days, to cut my way out of my blankets, or any floating things I'd encounter should we have shipped water.

Bring something to sharpen the knife with, a portable sharpener like the gatco or e-z lap works. Most synthetic ropes dull ATS-55 or AUS-8 or 6 fast, and carbon steel faster.

A multi tool is a must. on a S/V 120 feet long there will most likely be an array of tools in the engine room, and if it is like every other vessel I've been on, the tools will be rusted to hell. Wrenches flaking apart, sockets full of rust, pliers froze up tighter than a nun's c***. A leatherman or something similar is handy for minor repairs to the electronics, like the GPS, LORAN, sounding machine(s), radio etc.

A marlinespike is handy, but a screwdriver works just as well, and hopefully there'll be some that aren't rusty, but even if they are they work.

I don't know if you're working on this boat, or on a vacation, but if you are working, learn your knots. at least the basics. the bowline is a must.

well, since I've gone way overboard and digressed far from the topic, I'll anchor up here. that was some boating humor.

have a safe trip, and above all, enjoy!

Peter
 
back again for one MORE thing:

I just saw what the SRK looks like. You could bring, instead of that, for a fixed blade, the myerchin fixed blade, the sog seal pup, or the BM 100SH2O-H2O.

now I'm done

Pete

PS if you use the H-1 steel knives like the BM or the Salt series from Spyderco, let me know how they work out. I'm in the market for a Salt of some type and a BM 100SH2O for work
thanx
 
All the above are generally good suggestions, however if you aren't really inclined to buy a new knife at the moment the ones you already have will work just fine. Just exercise a bit more caution than you would on land, and make sure someone knows where the first aid kit is in case you nip yerself.
 
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