River/Rescue Knives

River / Rescue Knives are a fairly important item for experienced rafters and kayakers. They have one primary purpose, and it's not for spreading the mayo on your turkey sandwich. If someone becomes entangled in a loose rope or strap, they will need to be cut loose - and very quickly if they happen to be under water at the time. On very rare occasions, it is also possible for someone to get trapped under a large raft. It's pretty hard to cut through the two layers of a self-bailer's inflatable floor, but in theory in can be done, and on bucket rafts it's fairly simple since you are dealing with only a single layer of material.

Knives are one of those accessories you buy and hope to never use, but Murphy's law has a way of catching up with those who are unprepared. Do bear in mind that double edged knives must be used with utmost caution if you are cutting away rope that is next to someone's skin. Single edge knives are our preference for this reason. Blunt tip models are also safer for use around people, though you could not cut through a raft floor without a pointed tip. Again though, this would be a very rare occurrence.

Keep your ropes contained and with a little luck, you will never need your knife.

River / Rescue Knives are a fairly important item for experienced rafters and kayakers. They have one primary purpose, and it's not for spreading the mayo on your turkey sandwich. If someone becomes entangled in a loose rope or strap, they will need to be cut loose - and very quickly if they happen to be under water at the time. On very rare occasions, it is also possible for someone to get trapped under a large raft. It's pretty hard to cut through the two layers of a self-bailer's inflatable floor, but in theory in can be done, and on bucket rafts it's fairly simple since you are dealing with only a single layer of material.

Knives are one of those accessories you buy and hope to never use, but Murphy's law has a way of catching up with those who are unprepared. Do bear in mind that double edged knives must be used with utmost caution if you are cutting away rope that is next to someone's skin. Single edge knives are our preference for this reason. Blunt tip models are also safer for use around people, though you could not cut through a raft floor without a pointed tip. Again though, this would be a very rare occurrence.

Keep your ropes contained and with a little luck, you will never need your knife.