Boating/Rescue Knife Recommendations

[nate j]

Long story short, I find myself signed up for some boating this summer, and feel a suitable knife may be in order.

I could be convinced otherwise, but I’m strongly leaning towards a fixed blade over a folder for speed and ease of access.

This will be all fresh water, though salt water could be in the cards at some point in the future.

I’ve been looking at the following, and would welcome opinions on them, or any alternative suggestions:

Spyderco Enuff Salt
Pros:  Known quality, suitable for salt water
Cons:  Expensive at around $150

Myerchin Offshore Safety/Dive
Pros:  Known quality knife, probably OK for salt water, reasonable price around $50
Cons:  Chintzy-looking sheath

ESEE Imlay Rescue
Pros:  Known quality
Cons:  Izula with some tweaks, not designed from the ground up for this application; weird secondary retention mechanism; not ideal for salt water; one of the pricier options at about $90

NRS Pilot
Pros:  Seems like it could check most of the boxes; reasonable price around $50
Cons:  Unknown quality; not ideal for salt water

[greenbear]

Le me throw another option into the mix the Fox 233 sailing knife. I had one of these for years, the blade is good and locking, it also has a marling spike. Not too large but well designed to sit snuggly in the hand. Check it out, link to Heinnie Haynes UK supplier below, but it is readily available in the USA from a number of well known dealers.

https://heinnie.com/fox-sailing-knife

[Alan K.]

A rescue knife is supposed to free you from entanglement if you turn over.  There are requirements for all crew to wear a rescue knife at all times written into the rules of European offshore sailboat racing and if you look up the rules, you'll probably find minimum requirements and or recommendations.  I have several Myerchin knives, both fixed and folding.  Like them a lot but prefer the first gen fixed blades and their nylon sheaths to the current generation knives in their leather sheaths.  You should know Myerchin only extends their warranty to the original owner, so if you buy a used Myerchin you're on your own if you break it.  My suggestion is their titanium folders because they are very light, even with the marlin's spike and they will fit in your pocket.  I'd also suggest the Victorinox Rescue knife, or Skipper Pro or any other easy opening and locking, partially serrated folders in stainless, including several models of one hand opening Leatherman tools.  Last suggestion is to just carry rescue scissors.  As much as I favor EDC fixed blade knives, sometimes unobtrusive is better, and the close quarters of a boat is one place where you don't want to be the only one walking around with a fixed blade knife on your belt or PFD. You don't want to be that weird knife guy who's scaring the other guests.  I get that enough.

[nate j]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

Perhaps I should have been more specific in the beginning and said that this will be river/whitewater activities, not sailing.

I have several of the Myerchin Ti folders, and they are good knives.  The Fox looks nice as well and I know they make quality kit.  While I do find folders much more convenient for general EDC than fixies, I’m unconvinced that a folding rigging knife is the best choice for this application.

Alan, it’s interesting that you brought up the Myerchin sheaths.  I agree leather and water don’t seem like a good combination.  Sadly, a quick search of the ‘bay did not bring up a single Gen 1 Myerchin fixie.

The Gen 2 Offshore Safety/Dive still comes with a nylon sheath, though retention via what appears to be a velcro flap seems like it would make for a slow draw.

I did find some aftermarket kydex sheaths for some of the Myerchin fixed blades, but they cost nearly as much as the knives.  Still, I could probably get a new Myerchin FB + kydex sheath for about 2/3 the cost of the Spyderco Enuff Salt…
 

Also, I did follow up on the suggestion to check the offshore sailing racing rules.  They specify that “Each crew member shall have…A knife, to be worn on the person at all times”.  But no other details, requirements, or recommendations are provided.

Finally, I don’t mind being the weird knife guy with a FB on his PFD.  I doubt it will get many second looks where I’ll be going anyway.

[Alan K.]

The CRKT Bear claw, Gerber River Shorty, or Gerber Cross River all look interesting.  Pretty much any dive knife would also seem appropriate for your use. 

[nate j]

The CRKT Bear claw, Gerber River Shorty, or Gerber Cross River all look interesting.  Pretty much any dive knife would also seem appropriate for your use. 

Yes, those do look interesting.

It appears the River Shorty may have been replaced by the Cross River in Gerber’s lineup.

I was able to find the Cross River under $20, which seems to be about half what they are typically going for.  So I got two of those + a Bear Claw for about $100 shipped.  Seems prudent for knives that could end up at the bottom of a river.

I’ll post my initial impressions when they arrive.

  Alan!

[Farmer X]

I can vouch for the ESEE's quality. But you are correct in that carbon steel isn't the best option for salty environments (ask me how I know). The Spydie could be a compelling option.

[nate j]

Yes, I have several ESEE knives already, including an Izula, which is the basis for the Imlay Rescue, so I know they are solid.

The Imlay Rescue is actually 440C, which I would expect to be fine in fresh water but not ideal for salt water..

In the end, the goofy secondary retention mechanism (why not make a sheath that actually retains the knife securely without the need for a secondary retention strap?)  and relatively high price point steered me away from the Imlay Rescue.

If cost were no object at all, I would probably have gone with the Spyderco Enuff Salt.  And I may still get one at some point.  But I was unable to find one below about $150, and that seems a bit salty for a knife that, as I said, could easily end up at the bottom if a river somewhere.  So, I’m going to at least try some of the cheaper options first, and see how I get on with them.

[BPRoberts]

Mora makes a fixed blade with a cork handle that'll float. Comes staonless plain edge pointy or blunt top serrated. Just under 4 inch blade, Mora quality, super cool. MSRP is around 40, but you can find them around 25.

[Alan K.]

I forgot about the Mora cork.  If you like Moras it's got a lot going for it.  I think I saw them on sale recently too.  I wish I could remember where.

[nate j]

Yes, those floating Moras are interesting.

Cork is such a soft wood, though, I have to wonder how durable the handles would be.

I was able to find the version with PE and sharp tip for around $25, but the blunt tip SE version (probably the one I would want) seems like it is going for more.

Also, while a floating knife is a cool concept that might be useful on a lake, I’m thinking it wouldn’t be much help in my application.  If I dropped it in a river, I would likely just get to watch it float away down the river, as opposed to watch it disappear beneath the surface; either way, the knife would be lost.

I’m considering the use of a lanyard to help mitigate the loss issue, but this has the potential to introduce a new entanglement hazard…
 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Here are three different threads on the subject:

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,71554.0.html

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,58831.0.html

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,66346.0.html

If you can't tell, this is one of my all time favorite discussions.   

Unfortunately all of my favorites are long since discontinued but they are also well worth searching for IMHO.

In no particular order my favorites are:

Benchmade River Knife- more for diving than boating, but works well and comes with a MOLLE type attachment that also works with the lash tab (black square thing with slots in it) that are found on many PFD's.

CRKT Neckolas by Terry Renner- the ultimate neck knife, preference given to the orange serrated version over the blue version since it has a rounded tip.  The weird looking handle is actually very comfortable and automatically orients itself to your hand.

Spyderco Calypso- because the Neckolas wasn't ugly enough, Spyderco went one less appealing and created this in H1 which orients itself well in the hand and transitions from dive to boat knife seamlessly while also offering many carry options.

You really can't go wrong with any of those.  I wasn't as big a fan of the CRKT Bear Claw Rescue as I thought I would be.  It has a nice handle but tends to be a bit too curved for my liking and is actually a lot bulkier than it looks.

The offerings from Aqua are good and well priced. They don't instill the confidence of the other, higher end knives, and the materials are a little less impressive (it's almost a clone of the Benchmade, but BM has soft, neoprene textured handles and Aqua has hard plastic) but they are certainly good enough to get the job done and you won't feel as bad if it goes in the drink.

Whatever you get, I strongly recommend it be something with a lanyard hold or attachment as you will absolutely want to either tie a line to it or at least a floating lanyard so if it does go for an unauthorized swim you aren't as likely to lose it. 

And Remember Uncle Def's two rules of boating.

#1- always have a knife
#2- if it's not secured, it's not yours.

(Sometimes they are numbered the other way around, but as you should be following both of them to the letter, it doesn't really matter.  They are both Rule #1.)

Def

[nate j]

Some great reads there.  Thanks Def!

[nate j]

The CRKT Bear Claw and Gerber CrossRiver have arrived.

The CrossRiver (henceforth CR) has the more traditional knife handle shape, with the exception of the trigger lock (more on this later).  The blue plastic is hard, but the textured gray material has a softer, more rubbery feel.

The Bear Claw (henceforth BC) has hard plastic orange scales.  They have only a very light texture, but overall grip on the knife is still really secure thanks to the ergonomic design and index finger hole.

Both seem quite secure in hand, though the CR achieves this mostly through material selection, while the BC achieves it mostly through geometry.

The lanyard attachment point on the BC is simply a hole drilled straight through the handle.  However, the relatively thick handle and relatively small hole diameter make it difficult to use.  I was able to get a medium size split ring in it, but it was a bit of a battle and the ring doesn’t move freely.  So, while it does function, this lanyard attachment point seems like a lazy afterthought.

In contrast, the CR’s larger lanyard hole, bordered on one side by only a slim strip of steel, lends itself easily to a variety of attachment options.

The BC’s sheath feels middling quality.  It arrived with a metal clip and screws, and is drilled and tapped in two locations.  This allows the user to mount the clip for tip up or tip down carry, though the inability to switch between the two on the fly/in the field may be a disadvantage for some users.  Also, this sheath is really designed for right-hand use only.

When I had only seen pictures of the BC, I wondered about the screw in the blade.  Once I got the knife in hand, it became clear that the head of this screw fits into a divot in the sheath, helping the knife stay in the sheath with a strong friction fit.  It passed the shake test with no blade rattle.  I like that drawing the knife requires only grabbing the handle and pulling on it; nothing else.

The CR’s sheath feels a bit more cheaply made, but has some interesting features.  The unusual spring-loaded trigger lock on the knife handle locks it into the sheath, and once locked in it won’t come out unless the trigger is pressed.  It also passed the shake test, though there was some blade rattle.  I like the fact that the knife locks securely into the sheath, and the designers placed the trigger where it would be likely to be pressed by the index finger when taking a normal grip on the knife.  However, I could see this being awkward if grabbing the knife in an unorthodox way, e.g. with the non-dominant hand.  Also, a bit of care needs to be taken when re-sheathing the knife to make sure the lock engages.

For you lefties, it’s worth noting that the CR sheath is fully ambidextrous.  It also incorporates both a belt clip (for tip down carry) and a PFD clip (I’m assuming for tip up carry).  The belt clip seems fairly secure, but I’m left wondering about the PFD clip.  I feel like some real-life testing is in order.

Both sheaths have lanyard attachment holes, though the BC sheath has more than the CR sheath.

The CR features a straight, blunt-tipped CE blade that is listed at 3”.  The BC has a SE hawkbill-style blade, also with a blunt tip, listed at 2.38”.  If one expects the rescue knife to also be serviceable for food or general utility use, I think the blade shape and larger size of the CR make it a better choice for that than the BC.

The relatively straight handle and blade of the CR mean that, when I grip the knife, the tip of the blade is pretty much where my mental model expects it to be.  In contrast, the curved handle and blade of the BC cause the blade to extend from my hand at an odd angle, which doesn’t align with my normal mental model.

Barring some catastrophic failure or weakness that isn’t readily apparent, I believe either knife will be serviceable in a boating/rescue/emergency application.

As noted earlier in this thread, I paid roughly $20 for the CR and $60 for the BC.  Is the BC a better boating/ rescue knife than the CR?  In some respects, yes; in other respects, no.  Is the BC 3x better than the CR?  That’s a tough case to make IMO.

[nate j]

More pics…

[Alan K.]

I'd suggest the BC or the CR or both CRs should go on your PFD, tip up. Might want one on each side of your body, and don't use it or them for anything.  Your rescue knife only has the one job because you don't want it to be dull when you really need it. You can carry another knife such as a Mora Basic for food prep or whatever else may need cutting.  They don't weigh much.

[nate j]

I'd suggest the BC or the CR or both CRs should go on your PFD, tip up.

That’s pretty much the plan, though both at once may be overkill.
 

Anyone out there carrying two rescue knives?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd suggest the BC or the CR or both CRs should go on your PFD, tip up. Might want one on each side of your body, and don't use it or them for anything.  Your rescue knife only has the one job because you don't want it to be dull when you really need it. You can carry another knife such as a Mora Basic for food prep or whatever else may need cutting.  They don't weigh much.

Excellent advice there.  I agree 100%.

Boating isn't like hiking or climbing where every gram matters.  The boat doesn't care if it's carrying another pound or two.

Great write up Nate! 

It's always good to hear about different knives and different opinions on the same knife I have.  Everyone has different priorities and preferences and that's what I love about the forum!

I usually only carry one knife on me when paddling, and then another in my kit.  That one isn't really accessable if I'm in the boat, but that's okay.  If things get so bad that I can't get at that knife then another one isn't likely to help me either.

I don't do a lot of whitewater, so I run a pretty mild risk of fan/poop interactive instances.  If I was specifically going for whitewater I might reconsider that for myself, but I'd probably also make sure to grab one of those portable scuba tanks.  Being able to breathe underwater seems like more of a lifesaver than another knife.

But that's a general idea- the smart money assesses as many potential hazards in advance and prepared accordingly.

Def

[ThundahBeagle]

Nice write up.

If you dont think the Bear Claw is worth it, my address is....

[nate j]

Great write up Nate!

Nice write up.

  gents!

If you dont think the Bear Claw is worth it, my address is....

Nice try TB!

[nate j]

I was fortunate enough to go rafting on some rapids up to Class III last weekend.

I decided to take the CrossRiver.  In spite of my initial misgivings about the PFD clip (I even ran the lanyard through one of the PFD straps for extra security), it kept the CR securely attached to the PFD throughout.

The trigger lock system, while somewhat unorthodox (as previously mentioned), kept the knife securely in the sheath.

Fortunately, I did not need to use the CR to rescue myself or anyone else.

As expected, no one said a word to me about having a fixie attached to my PFD.

Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the CR, especially considering I paid less than $20 for it.

A good time was had by all.  No pics because I did not take my phone on the river.

[Alan K.]

I think it was a bargain at that price and I'm glad it worked for you. 

[nate j]

I think it was a bargain at that price and I'm glad it worked for you. 

Alan!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, the most fun moments in a boat are the worst times to be trying to take pics!  I have more than a few moments on my adventures where some pictures would have been awesome but also extremely hazardous!   

I'm glad you had a great time and I look forward to hearing more about your adventures in the future!

Def

[nate j]

Yeah, the most fun moments in a boat are the worst times to be trying to take pics!  I have more than a few moments on my adventures where some pictures would have been awesome but also extremely hazardous!   

I'm glad you had a great time and I look forward to hearing more about your adventures in the future!

Def

Def!

[nate j]

Went whitewater rafting again last week.

Again opted for the CrossRiver, but it disappointed me this time, falling off the PFD strap not once but twice (once into the raft, and once on the bus on the way back to the parking lot).  I suspect this was due to the design of the PFD, which left the CR essentially free-hanging from a strap rather than securely trapped between a strap and the PFD.  While I was fortunate not to lose the knife, I’ve lost confidence in it.

I don’t have any more trips currently planned, but next time I do go out I’ll be giving the Bear Claw a try.

[ThundahBeagle]

The CRKT Bear claw, Gerber River Shorty, or Gerber Cross River all look interesting.  Pretty much any dive knife would also seem appropriate for your use. 

Have always wanted one of those Bear Claws for when we break out the kayaks.  However, a member here was kind enough to gift me a Spyderco Atlantic Salt, and that is what I use when I'm at or near the water.

Another contender -if cost is an issue (and it always is in my house)  - the Byrd Cara Cara2.  If they still make them.  It is hella-sharp and is far less expensive,  Byrd being Spyderco's Chinese arm.  I have one as a seatbelt/rescue in my truck

[nate j]

I have an older Pacific Salt around here somewhere. 
The H1 steel really lives up to the hype, but it is semi-retired due to sand in the pivot that no amount of flushing seems to remove.

Moreover, I really wanted a fixie for this application rather than a folder.  I considered a Spyderco Enuff Salt, but couldn’t find them much cheaper than about $150, and decided to try some less expensive options first.  (Paid $20 for the CrossRiver and $60 for the Bear Claw.)

[Spartan19]

If you can find a used Spyderco jump master in h1, that's a great fixed blade knife for line cutting

[nate j]

I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Jumpmaster’s capabilities, but it may a bit more acutely pointed than desirable for this application.