Marine (boat) version of Ka-bar?

[LimpCroissant]

Get one while you still can. Last week Sal said the FRN molds for the Aqua Salt were worn out and they were considering discontinuation of the model.

Oh ok interesting. I've never taken the plunge myself, might have to get one.

 

[boatblade]

How about a pry bar for the tasks that you "should be using a pry bar for" and then just about any good stainless knife for cutting tasks.

For what it's worth, my boating knife is a Byrd CaraCara Rescue. It's under $30 so if it goes in the drink, I'm not going to cry, it's built well, and the serrations cut cordage such as:


perfectly.




I know, crazy stuff. Right tool for the job. Who'd have thought?

Totally get you there, I have pry bars on board from dental size up to the one for shifting a 2,000 lb diesel engine on it's bed rails.

But you know how it goes. Jump in the water to free a prop with heavy traffic all around, then need to pry something, will you get out of the water, for that "right tool for the job", or use what's in your hand? Exigent circumstances my friend.

 

[boatblade]

$150 will get you a quality knife and pry bar.

One thing about the Buck 119 or 120 I mentioned earlier. If you have a big hand, they might not be for you. I use a 2xl glove and they aren't comfortable for me with the little knob at the end taking up valuable hand space. YMMV.

Do you need/want a 7" blade like on your Kabar?

If you think 4-5" is long enough D) then maybe ....
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Cold-Steel-Master-Hunter--6879 as @tltt mentioned
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-Pursuit-Pro-Large-Fixed-Blade--115698

Usually do not need that big blade, but there have been times. I tape or zip tie a few of these razor sharp serrated Victorinox paring knives around the boat for emergency line cutting. Insanely good, and basically disposable. I highly recommend a boat owner having those little knives around where needed. I once grabbed one and cut a jammed spinnaker line under load saving a disaster.

One time I had a huge old mooring line stuck on my my anchor and chain. It was a dicey situation, tight anchorage with my boat swinging in the gusts, and I could not bring the anchor all the way up. I was worried I would swing into another boat while entangled, and by myself, in the dark of course. The ka-bar allowed me to hack through 3" diameter barnacle encrusted nylon mooring rope. The only other choice was a big machete, but ka-bar did it. Another time I hooked the anchor into a huge sunken plastic tarp that came up wrapped around the anchor. Machete did that one, while hanging my skinny ass off the bow. Good adventures

 

[boatblade]

*The Buck 119 looks great, but handle looks slippery?
*Leaning toward the Ka-bar next gen or the Cold Steel Leatherneck- looks very tough and good grip
*The Spyderco Waterway or Salt also good, but maybe smaller than ideal
*For a lot of cutting stuff I don't like serrated, but yeah I know for cutting rope is great

 

[boatblade]

I have never used a dive knife of quality steel, just type 304 cheapies. Will look at better ones.

 

[vjb.knife]

I work as a diver on 3 boats including 1 Submarine and cut line, cord, nets etc. out of the props on a faily regular basis. I use a Spyderco salt with plain edge that I keep very sharp. It is the yellow one. The orange Spyderco is one of my other diving knives and the old buck knife aws one I used to use as a deck knife back in the 1970's.

 

[boatblade]

I have the original Spyderco salt with the all stainless body and 80% serrated blade. Wow that H-1 metal is not what I expected, it gets dull pretty fast. The handle is slippery. I'm reading the new models are way better.

 

[luethge]

Benchmade Nimravus is pretty easy to maintain. Takes / holds a nice toothy edge, 154CM has decent corrosion resistance ( rinse with fresh water and oil ), aluminum or plastic scales won’t warp like leather - can be removed for cleaning, serrated or plain edge, lifetime warranty, free sharpening, weather proof sheath.

Can be found for fair price without much effort.

Mora makes some solid stainless knives. Falkniven and Buck are definitely no slouches either.

 

[vjb.knife]

Yeah, I sharpen my H1 blade fairly regularly because I use them a lot and in tough work. I just bought one of the new Spydercos with an LC200N blades without serrations, and will be able to tell how well it does soon. The serrations are good on fishing lines and leaders but not so much on heavier rope. I prefer the plain edge that I make very sharp on my Wicked edge

 

[boatblade]

Thanks for the great ideas!
I decided on the Ontario navy knife 6141 Mk3 440a steel and "plastic" handle. Hope the handle is not slippery, but I already have a baseball pitch cloth that will help if needed.