kite knives

DOPEFLY · Since 13 Oct 2007 97 Posts Maui

That is awesome!! Laughing

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 485 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

when you can carry two?
I had the little dakine knives on both my seat and waist harnesses. I started thinking those things are awful small to handle, especially when wearing gloves. So I bought a couple of the ones with the longer handles. Figured I might as well just keep both on me at the same time. The knives hang on my harness straps in their pouches. I also secured the bigger knife with a lanyard in case I drop it during a kitemare. When your adrenaline is flowing in a scary situation, ESPECIALLY if you're cold, the fine motor skills are the first thing to go. Get a knife with a big handle so you can actually hold on to it. Plan for worst case scenario... which means figure out what your gonna do if you drop it!!! Have a back up plan, and plan for helping out someone else as well. If I need to I can give my back up knife to a kiter in distress.

Oh yeah, and wear some kind of PFD (some impact vests provide decent floatation) when youre out on that beast (aka the Columbia River). I don't care how many kiteloops and handle passes you can do... your kite WILL go down for whatever reason one day when youre out in the drink and you WILL have to tread water and self rescue at some point if you kite enough. I have not kited for 12 months yet and I have already done 3 or 4 self rescues on the river. Without floatation it can get hairy REAL quick!!!!!!! PFD also makes it easier for another kiter to drag you back to shore.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

NCKite_Ryder · Since 16 Mar 2011 38 Posts Nor Cal Coast

I use the mystic knife w/ a lenton style mystic harness (knife holder opening is in the bottom of the spreader bar). I kite at Ocean Beach SF and having that knife is essential as the winds are heavy onshore, and the surf is extra heavy with the nasty of the nasty currents. I tether the knife to my C-ring with a piece of kiteline because the holder in the spreader bar tends to drop the knife out, and because if you drop the knife while trying to use it and lose it....... well you're FU#@ED!

I had heard the blades get rusty and yada dada bla, so I tested an older rusty knife on a line and it was smooth as butter. I was honestly a little surprised how easy it cut it through it. I had never thought about fishing nets though..... not much fishing these days in the Bay Area so im not to worried.

This is the original (first) thread from when Scott Murray died at Ocean Beach last spring. Some good info on knives. Apparently surgical scissors are the ticket. Sorry to bring up old sad news but we can all learn from each other.

http://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8432&sid=29b44f011b91d63980e3947d42f20185

This is the other thread: RIP SCOTT

http://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8432&sid=29b44f011b91d63980e3947d42f20185

Kite Safe, and AWESOME!

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

didn't seem to get in the way - mounted here (really wanted two knives on the back of the harness like the ninja guys but the handle pass leash will hang up...)

big needle, pliers, 20lb test fishing line mounted at three points (two top and one tip) thru holes in the holster - around and needle thru harness twice at each point tied the fishing lines together with 3 or 4 square knots will coat the knots in super glue to finish

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Gman,

Nice job!

When considering all possible locations (helmet, vest, leg strap, harness pocket, boot, etc) for a rescue tool (knife, sissors, wire cutters, hook knife)...the location you have chosen makes the most sense, for the majority of people who kiteboard. I don't think that anyone would object to using a spreader bar pad, and they would always have the pad with them.

Unfortunately, the kiter needs to tinker up his own sheath. Below are pictures of a way of doing this, for those who prefer a long handled hook knife. I like the idea of making this sheath, so that there is no chance of a stray kite line or leash snagging on the handle of the knife. If you could cover the handle of your knife with part of the sheathing, that would protect it from snagging a line.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

DaKine,

Here are some modifications, which I hope you will consider in the next redesign of your hook knife:

(1) long single bevel blades
(2) Flotation
(3) bright color
(4) elastic wrist strap
(5) keep the same nice big handle
(6) spreader bar pocket above the bar

Here are some pictures of a mock-up, illustrating the above features.

NOTE: The elastic is an important feature, and this idea was relayed to me by the very helpful kiteboarder (Jeff) who dragged in the victim, in the recent rescue at the Event Center. Even though (by request) the knife was not used during the rescue, Jeff relayed to me that the tangle of lines was so extensive, that he worried about what to do with the knife, in order to have it available for additional line cutting, during the rescue. Slipping the elastic around one arm, after the initial use, would solve this problem.

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

Wow, that looks great! Can I send you a pad? Very Happy

How much?

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Toddjb,

Sorry, but aspects of kiteboarding equiptment, fall under the "Each one teach one", with the requirement that each succeeding person makes an improvement on the idea presented or the device constructed.

We need each others help with a lot of issues that pertain to kiting.

One improvement that I would suggest in making the long pocket, to hold the knife, is to make it out of much heavier cordura cloth, so that there is no chance that the 'hook' of the knife would snag on a wrinkle, fold, seem, or hem, in the cloth of the pocket. The hook knife should slide in and out with no snags, so the addition of a plastic stiffener would probably be a good idea. The velcrox should be the only thing securing the knife, from slipping out.

It is easy to "shoot yourself in the foot", as the expression goes, when you go about inventing... so don't fall victim to that! Give any modification a real-time and real-life test in the water, so that you don't trick yourself. Safety first.

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

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I'm going to mount this on my leg.