Re: [Paddlewise] Knives and tethers

Early on I was "shamed" into buying every piece of safety device 
available--yes, I own a pair of sponsons!!! I've never had to use my 
knife in an emergency situation, but that's true of my radio, flares, 
etc. Being cheap, I bought the cheapest knife I could find, a blunt tip 
in a plastic holder, for $20. I never tethered it, but I thought if I 
did, I'd tether it just long enough to be able to cut the tether when I 
needed it. I have been impressed with the very simple clip sysytem and 
have never had a problem in reentry practices, but I did lose the knife 
once when I was scrambling around on a reef after a small incident. I 
rebought the same knife. My only problem was I didn't maintain it well 
and although it was stainless steel, it apparently wasn't rustless 
steel. Every now and then I'd scrape off a layer of rust and sharpen it up.
A couple months ago, I decided to buy a new one and was surprised to 
find it was now selling for only $12! For variety, I went with a lethal 
pointy tip this time, due to my friend Duane's recent encounter with a 
Great White!. I've already poked myself once! I thought of springing for 
a bit more cash to get a more rustproof steel version, but figured I 
couldn't go wrong at 12 bucks! I'm proud to say I was able to train 
myself into the new habit of removing it after every paddle and giving 
it a coat of WD. It is still as shiny as the day is new and ready to 
poke me in my future endeavors!

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net

On 12/13/2010 11:58 PM, PeterO wrote:
> 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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