[Paddlewise] Knives and tethers

G'day,

There's a practise in this neck of the woods of wearing a knife on a PFD in
case of emergencies. For example: needing to cut through an entanglement
when capsized (I've never heard of this actually happening); or more
commonly to cut sail lines, tow lines and fishing lines on a kayak in
distress; or most commonly and importantly to take an oyster off a rock at
lunch time.

Trouble is that most knives in a holster on a PFD come adrift and are
consigned to Davy Jones during practise rescues. Like wise the thought of
dropping one, while upside down in a kayak, with a grey nurse shark swimming
away with the bait and the fishing line tangled in the paddle tether,
wrapped round the PFD and hooked on to the camera stand; is more than some
of us in Oz can bear.

So we blunt the tip of the knife and secure it with a length of bunjee
wrapped around the hilt and tied to the PFD. The line not so long that it
can tangle and not so short that it can spring back violently when released
from an outstretched hand. Nevertheless this approach has its critics who
point out the dangers of a tethered knife falling out of its holster and
catching and cutting the body of a kayaker.

Do any Paddlewisers clip knives to a holster on their PFD, if so do you
tether it as well and in that event have you ever been injured by a tethered
knife? Also is their anyone out there with real life experience upside down
in a kayak using a knife?

All the best, PeterO
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