|
previous topic :: next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
|
 Fri Jun 03, 11 3:45 pm |
 |
|
| caps wrote: | | Please, how many of you have actually needed a knife out there...for kiting. Do I really need one more thing dangling from my harness or can I just keep it in the car? |
How many times has a parachuter needed a backup chute? |
|
|
pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
|
|
|
1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
|
| Fri Jun 03, 11 6:19 pm Yes, its necessary. |
|
|
| caps wrote: | | Please, how many of you have actually needed a knife out there...for kiting. Do I really need one more thing dangling from my harness or can I just keep it in the car? |
I have needed it and I have seen it needed. The one time I forgot it, I was snowkiting this past winter. I self landed and the extra steering line I pulled in to put my LE into the wind, wrapped around the bar. I could not de power nor release. It was blowin hard enough for me to be fully powered on my 10. The wind died for just a moment and I avoided a potentially shitty situation. If the wind did not let up I would have needed my line knife in a BIG way ! That was the only time since I began kiting in 98' that I have not carried it. Wont make that mistake again. I do believe that was my Mulligan.
I think it is a good thing to have ! If you rig it right, it wont be in your way.
If you kite for the next 15 years and cary the line knife every time you sail and you use it ONCE, it will have been worth it.
But then again, thats just my opinion .... Life is about choices. |
|
|
caps
Since 23 Dec 2010
347 Posts
Obsessed
|
| Fri Jun 03, 11 8:31 pm Re: Yes, its necessary. |
|
|
| 1surfer wrote: | | caps wrote: | | Please, how many of you have actually needed a knife out there...for kiting. Do I really need one more thing dangling from my harness or can I just keep it in the car? |
I have needed it and I have seen it needed. The one time I forgot it, I was snowkiting this past winter. I self landed and the extra steering line I pulled in to put my LE into the wind, wrapped around the bar. I could not de power nor release. It was blowin hard enough for me to be fully powered on my 10. The wind died for just a moment and I avoided a potentially shitty situation. If the wind did not let up I would have needed my line knife in a BIG way ! That was the only time since I began kiting in 98' that I have not carried it. Wont make that mistake again. I do believe that was my Mulligan.
I think it is a good thing to have ! If you rig it right, it wont be in your way.
If you kite for the next 15 years and cary the line knife every time you sail and you use it ONCE, it will have been worth it.
But then again, thats just my opinion .... Life is about choices. |
If you're truly getting yarded, I doubt you'll be able to effectively use the knife. Only if things lighten up will you be able to make the move...or simply undo the line as you did. And to be straight with everyone, I do actually carry one kinda as my security blankie. I'm just wondering if out of all the kiting hours of people viewing this thread that there must be some firsthand experience using their rusty...ah...trusty knife to get out of a bad situation. If out of all these collective experiences there is not real evidence of its usefulness, then maybe we should ditch the blade and at least carry something useful like fins or a flare gun. |
|
|
Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4297 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
|
| Sat Jun 04, 11 4:45 am |
|
|
| caps wrote: | | Please, how many of you have actually needed a knife out there...for kiting. Do I really need one more thing dangling from my harness or can I just keep it in the car? |
It's one of those things you might only need once in your life, but that one time will be so critical that carrying it all of the other days will be worth it beyond measure. How often does a helicopter really need vertical takeoff? How often does an airliner need engine fire extinguisher bottles? How often have you needed a smoke detector in your house? Kite long enough and you'll need your knife. Do you really want your last thought in this life to be "Crap, I wish I had a damn knife... " ?
| caps wrote: |
If you're truly getting yarded, I doubt you'll be able to effectively use the knife. |
Maybe, maybe not. Yeah, something could happen that leaves you without options. But not carrying a knife eliminates your options from the get go. It also depends how you have your knife mounted. Can you get to it easily? Do you have a lanyard attached to it so you don't lose it if you drop it?
To be honest, this is something the industry has dropped the ball on. There are proven ways to attach knifes to your gear. We shouldn't have to improvise. Board shorts harnesses are perfectly suitable for knife pockets with lanyards, and yet we have nothing decent even with those.
Last edited by Nak on Sat Jun 04, 11 4:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
|
| Sat Jun 04, 11 7:45 am Arnaud |
|
|
| Actually, I was thinking of carrying a small espresso machine while I kite from now on, just in case Arnaud De Rosnay comes sailing back from the horizon. I can congratulate him and make him a nice fresh cup of coffee. |
|
|
A.K.
Since 01 Jul 2006
190 Posts
Stoked
|
| Mon Jun 06, 11 10:00 pm |
|
|
There is no perfect solution here. The biggest dilema is how to carry the knife. In theory it should be rust resistant, blunt tip, easily operable with one hand in any direction, and easily accessible. Oh, and it can't fall out of its holder during a crash.
Salt water guys have an additional challenge because I had my knife rust out and break with just five ocean sessions. There is inverse relationship between rust resistance and sharpness. If you ride in salt water you need to clean the knife after each session.
IMO, the best solution here is to go to the white water kayaking knifes which are designed to address a majority of the issues above. For full time ocean riders look to knifes used in salt water fishing.
Besides kite safety your knife will predominently be used for spreading peanut butter, opening beers, and tightening fins - that why I suggest the NRS knife below. I can't vouch for the sheath because I have not used this knife yet but its on my short list.
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2756 |
|
|
1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
|
| Tue Jun 07, 11 6:12 am How ? |
|
|
If you had several wraps of line around you forearm, tight enough to make a depression in the skin, how would you use this knife to get under it and cut the line without cutting your skin ? Please describe ....
_________________
Ozone Reo's. C&k Beach Boy Service, Windsurfing Waikiki, Hawaiian Windriders, NSRN. |
|
|
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
|
| Tue Jun 07, 11 6:23 am Re: How ? |
|
|
| 1surfer wrote: | | If you had several wraps of line around you forearm, tight enough to make a depression in the skin, how would you use this knife to get under it and cut the line without cutting your skin ? Please describe .... |
I certainly am not a rescue professional, but if kite lines were wrapped around an arm or leg tight, would you have to cut it where it is wrapped tight on the body? Couldn't you just cut it where the lines extend out to the kite from the wrapped body part? I would think the cutting the lines 1 inch away from the arm would release the tension and allow the person to unravel the knotted mess around their arm? Or would this not work? |
|
|
1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
|
| Tue Jun 07, 11 8:25 am Re: How ? |
|
|
| Blazeheliski wrote: | | 1surfer wrote: | | If you had several wraps of line around you forearm, tight enough to make a depression in the skin, how would you use this knife to get under it and cut the line without cutting your skin ? Please describe .... |
I certainly am not a rescue professional, but if kite lines were wrapped around an arm or leg tight, would you have to cut it where it is wrapped tight on the body? Couldn't you just cut it where the lines extend out to the kite from the wrapped body part? I would think the cutting the lines 1 inch away from the arm would release the tension and allow the person to unravel the knotted mess around their arm? Or would this not work? |
In many cases, no. The friction can keep the lines tight with what is called a "no knot" and cutting them near the wrap may not release the tension, thus creating a tourniquet. Than can result in loss of limb. River knives are good for the river sports like kayaking and rafting. The lines associated with those sports are much larger in diameter. For kite lines of the strength that we use, a hook is the way to go. The blunt tip allows you to dig under tight lines without injuring the flesh.
My Benchmade hook has lived in salt water but does not tarnish. If there is one rescue tool that I would not go without for kiting, the Benchmade hook is it.
_________________
Ozone Reo's. C&k Beach Boy Service, Windsurfing Waikiki, Hawaiian Windriders, NSRN. |
|
|
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
|
| Tue Jun 07, 11 8:49 am |
|
|
| makes sense |
|
|
Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4297 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
|
| Tue Jun 07, 11 1:02 pm |
|
|
From another thread:
| beech wrote: | A friend of mine was trying to help the guy out. He kited right next to him and told him to cut his lines so he could drag him outta there. Apparently the guy said he couldn't get to his knife and he had lines wrapped around his legs.  The freighter pilot was laying on the horn... yeah a ship horn, and not little horn toots, like... laying on it solid for minutes. I would have loaded my wetsuit from just that.
Anyhow... that captain steered that giant freakin ship around the kiter and saved his life. |
Here's why you need a knife, and you need it accessible. Not a bad idea to carry a spare attached to a float so you can toss it to somebody in need. Yeah, you shouldn't need to, but trust me, watching somebody die is not an experience you want under your belt. |
|
|
Wanna-Go
Since 14 Sep 2009
95 Posts
Central, Wa
|
| Wed Jun 08, 11 7:39 am |
|
|
| So far in a year and a half of kiting some 30 times I haven't gotten tangled in my lines. I did tho find the need to start out this season with a knife and a sea whistle. In the 3 separate lessons I've taken nothing was mentioned of the 2 but I think both items should be incorporated into safety accessory items. |
|
|
JMatic
Since 12 Aug 2008
252 Posts
Boise, In Dat Ho
Obsessed
|
| Wed Jun 08, 11 7:50 am |
|
|
So I bought the Benchmade hook knife and it arrived a couple days ago, no real kite line testing yet-however the quality of the knife itself is impeccable.
The blade is insanely sharp, the tip very blunt which would make it easy to address the line wrapped around skin issue and the bottle opener will come in handy post-sess.
It seems though that the sheath is poorly suited to holding the knife in place during a major impact as it barely fits in its place dry.
Using the breakaway lanyard around the neck solves this problem and most of the issue with salt-water at the coast. Besides, how much of your typical kitesurf session is spent neck-deep in the salty?
_________________
Snapflugen de kinder spietzel. |
|
|
luke
Since 06 Jul 2005
399 Posts
Obsessed
|
| Wed Jun 08, 11 8:44 am let's do a bench test |
|
|
I have plenty of old kite line. Does anyone with one of these benchmade knives want to meet for some cutting.
And if the test is successful, where can I buy one?
If the internet is the only place to purchase one, then who wants to go in on a group purchase if the test is successful? |
|
|
1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
|
| Wed Jun 08, 11 8:50 am To buy |
|
|
Here is the link to buy directly.
www.benchmade.com/products/5
_________________
Ozone Reo's. C&k Beach Boy Service, Windsurfing Waikiki, Hawaiian Windriders, NSRN. |
|
|
Campbell
Since 07 Sep 2008
409 Posts
Camas, WA
Obsessed
|
| Wed Jun 08, 11 8:53 am |
|
|
| Just bought one too. Nice knife, but have to figure out how to make it accessible and resistant to impact. Thanks all for the important info on kiting safety. Seems like this year it's especially neccessary to take a hard look at how we're preparing prior to the shit hitting the fan. |
|
|
|
