The ultimate sail-around-the-world knife

I would buy the Spyderco Aqua Salt as my fixed blade (100% rust proof, excellent blade shape and ergonomics, sheath offers a variety of mounting positions) and a large locking swiss army knife for my folder. I find the Victorinox multitools to have much better corrosion resistance than Leatherman models.
 
Well, assuming that you're on any kind of sailboat big enough to be doing this, you won't have need of a multitool, because you'll have real tools readily available to do that kind of work.

I'm going with the crowd here and saying that you'll want a Salt series folder for your every day knife. Get it in yellow, easier to find if dropped.

For the fixed blade, the Aqua Salt is the same kind of steel, which is a very good thing. Be sure to also get a sharpener (the Spyderco sharpmaker is excellent.)

What kind of boat do you have? A couple of friends of mine went around in a Westsail 32 about 10 years ago. I also have dreams of blue seas and white sand, but for now I'm stuck in the prairies. :confused:
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
Well, assuming that you're on any kind of sailboat big enough to be doing this, you won't have need of a multitool, because you'll have real tools readily available to do that kind of work.

I'm going with the crowd here and saying that you'll want a Salt series folder for your every day knife. Get it in yellow, easier to find if dropped.

For the fixed blade, the Aqua Salt is the same kind of steel, which is a very good thing. Be sure to also get a sharpener (the Spyderco sharpmaker is excellent.)

What kind of boat do you have? A couple of friends of mine went around in a Westsail 32 about 10 years ago. I also have dreams of blue seas and white sand, but for now I'm stuck in the prairies. :confused:
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I recommended the multi-tool on the premise that "The knives would be used from anything from diving, cutting rope, killing fish, opening cans (in case of emergency), chopping wood if needed etc etc etc." And, the "island visits".

:thumbup:
 
qpush said:
When Spyderco say "New! H-1 Will Not Rust!" does that really mean that it WILL NOT rust if left in a bucket of saltwater for 3 weeks
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A forum member did exactly that and the Salt was fine. Very low maintenance knives. I can't say zero maintenance because they still need to be sharpened and the lockbacks need to be inspected for junk buildup.
 
Kershaw Sea Hunter. For the price, get 2 or 3 so you'll still have a knife after you drop one overboard. :D
 
Mission Knives are sea worthy and you need to pay for that comfort.
But like everyone else has said, Spyderco is about right.
Products with extraordinary quality you can trust in and out of water.
 
You are about to begin a journey that will define your entire life. I did it in the 80s, and it was not what I expected (that is an understatement).

As for knives, what I came to use was a process of elemination. A fixed blade knife with a shackle key hole in the blade became a constant companion. Back then the tradeoff was the steel; if it held an edge it was not stainless and dulled up pretty fast. Blunt tip, of course, since it was a sailing tool. As for linework, I had an excellent folding knife, razor sharp sheepsfoot blade and spike. A good idea for your fixed blade, get a lanyard on it that clips to you! A pitching deck, a cross sea, and Beaufort 4 will make that obvious. You know the mantra, one hand for the ship, one hand for you.

Have a great adventure!

Greg
 
Wenger Alinghi Yachtsman's Knife

W16310.jpg


* One-handed-opening 3.9" serrated blade with safety lock
* Shackle opener
* Marlin spike with needle
* Ruler - inch/cm
* Needle nose pliers
* Wire cutter
* Patented locking screwdriver
* Cap lifter
* Wire stripper
* Narrow tip locking screwdriver
* Reamer/Awl with sewing eye
* Phillips head screwdriver
* Key ring
* Ballistic nylon pouch
* Gift box included
* Actual Size: 5.1"
* Corrosion-resistant stainless steel tools
* Ergonomic handles with knurling
* Limited lifetime warranty
 
get two identical fixed blades, with lanyards & belt (safety) clips on the lanyards.

a knife on a boat doesn't have to fold up and hide, it's YOUR boat, one.. and second, not losing your primary blade without a replacement = priceless.

THEN get a folder if you want..
 
I'd get more 2 knives for a trip that big.



But to answer your question, I'd get a Fellkniven pilot, and a spyderco pacific salt.
 
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Masteroffajitas said:
I'd get more 2 knives for a trip that big.
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You bet I will... I will probably buy 5 other cheap knives just in case but you really want to have 2 EXCELLENT ones that you know will stand up to the task at any time...

Again... thanks for your suggestions guys.

I have been checking out ALL your suggestions and it seems that most of you know what you are talking about :)
 
The H-1 steel in the salt series isn't difficult to sharpen in the way that, say, S90V can be. If it's serrated you will need a sharpener that can do that. The Spyderco sharpening set will do everything.

Another fixed blade to consider would be the Spyderco "jumpmaster" made of H1 also. It's serrated and designed just for cutting ropes, straps etc. I believe it has a kind of sheepsfoot type blade for safety too.

A lot of these reccomendations are pretty good, IMO. Joe
 
how about a Leatherman and a Grohmann #3 Boat Knife, these were carried by the Canadian Armed Forces for years. Match it up with the "yachtsman" style sheath with Marlin Spike for rope work:

CoastGuardR3SWM.jpg
r3sa.jpg
 
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