Be carefull out there! Almost didn't make it back!

Some Leatherman have a wire cutter, but it would not be a one squeeze cut. Steel wire like that has a tendency crush first before cutting (flashback from cutting a clothesline with side cutters).

If you are not alone, it would be quicker for the other person to remove the ringding and clevise rather than to cut the wire, which is not that easy to do in such a situation.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

I have had a leg completely tangled up in the mainsheet after a capsize but my head was still above water so I was able to take my time getting free, but the danger is real and any tool like a knife or wire cutter may give you just the power you need to save your own life. Good topic.

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1990 "Formula 1" H16 (# 009)

I'm glad you had a handy help that helped you in this situation that could have been a drama and as you say in the title "almost didn't make it back".

Your story begins exactly like what happened to my brother in 1999 on a 420 : nice wind, two on the boat until a bigger wave after a sudden gust of wind : boom suddently hits my brother while taking the wave, two at sea in big waves and tide current. They were both in the water but his crew mate didn't find him among the waves, mast, sail, current... and it ended with the rescue team and helicopter but it was too late when they found him, hypothermia is going really fast in the atlantic sea in April and that was the end of the story.

I'm still sailing, my kids have sailing school every summer and know the story and we do the necessary to avoid any such drama in the family : life vest, weather check, knife on lifevest, "man at sea" exercices....

Nicolas

nicolas, sorry to hear that!

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Has anyone heard of a "shackle buster" or something of similar name on a hand tool?

That name came up on a thread a long while back but I have not seen anything with the feature.

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kswis001,

Gotta ask! Will you be considering installing a chicken line?

I know this opens a whole new can of worms; as in, every good solution creates a whole new set of problems, but would it have stopped the "tether ball" wild ride to the front of the bridles?

The cons are 1) another line to tangle in and 2) if not installed correctly it could yank something else the wrong way, and 3) is there even a correct installation for a chicken line?

I asked someone recently about installing a chicken line and all they did was laugh.

I assume chicken lines are not, and never will be, a Hobie authorized add-on feature.

Personally for now, I use all my 235 lbs in every way to make the boat stay down without trapping out. Get down! And stay down!

richandpat,
Glad to see you taking my advice. I hope you never have to use your new knife but its good to have it there just in case. To those of you reading this saying it will never happen to me, that is exactly what I thought before also.

Nicolas,
I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. I'm sure it must have been hard on you. I'm glad you and your family are still able to enjoy sailing after going through something like that.

JJ,
I have a one of those shock cord covered in webbing righting lines on my boat that could be used as a chicken line I guess. It ties to the rudder post, goes around the front pylons and back to the other rudder. It would have helped prevent the "tether ball swing" if I was holding onto it, but my hands were already full. I had the jib sheet in the front hand, and the hiking stick in my back hand. My crew was on the tramp at the time using both hands for the mainsheet because it was very gusty and the mainsheet had to be continuously worked. I have swung forward of the boat many times before as I'm sure many others here have done as well, and never had a problem with it. I think it was just one of those rare instances where something went wrong that usually doesn't happen.


I looked around online doing some research about what knife to get and ended up at bladeforums.com. Its a site very similar to this one except for knives. After some discussion with some experts there, I ordered what seems to be the best fit, a Spyderco Saver Salt for about $50. I'll let you all know what I think after it comes in but it seemed to fit all of my requirements:

small folding knife with clip to fit on PFD
easily opened with one hand
very sharp fully serrated blade
completely rust proof in a saltwater environment
bright yellow handle so its easily found in an emergency
blunt tip so I don't stab myself while cutting free

You might already have one. Most retractable righting lines will double as a chicken line since the non stretchy part is tied to the back of the boat. We call it an OH S*#T! line and use it whenever trapping out in big waves or heavy weather.