As a knife-nut, I'd love to find one with the huge (to me) Marlin spike the various boats carried on the ship I spent three years serving aboard in the USN. An SAK was more appropriate for me then - I was an ET. Years later, as a college instructor, I had the time, but not the moola, for sailing. I owned a San Juan 21 flush decker for years - kept it wet-moored at a local power company lake. Realistically, my only need for a 'sailor knife', specifically, a spike, was fulfilled by the Phillips head on the SAK's back. If I ever got in trouble, I could abandon the boat and walk ashore in many areas... had to leave the weighted drop keel's pin out so I wouldn't get stuck fast aground. My main use of my knife was cutting away prop foul from my Honda outboard - and fixing lunch/dinner - the SAK was perfect, even made fast work of dock & bumper lines, when needed - yeah for the saw!
Besides, I verified the USN 'float test' axiom all too often... you know, drop/throw it over the side - if it sinks, it was good; if it floats, it's no good... certainly not a NDT! Many things - a new SAK, supposedly floating boarding ladder and docking hook, tiller extensions, etc - don't float. New word to add to your lexicon of sailing terms - lanyard! I sold my boat years ago - before I retired - it had become a large hole in the water I just couldn't fill with enough money. Retired now, I have even more time - and even less moola - maybe I could afford a nice 'sailor's' knife... oh, I have SAKs!
Stainz
