Safe cutting on the rib

ba_fisher · 04 May 2015, 03:03

What should I use for cutting bait, etc, that has a low likelihood for puncturing the tubes?

Starovich · 04 May 2015, 06:03

Care and common sense.

Anything sharp enough to cut bait has the potential to cut tubes.

Use a cutting board and a knife with a blunt/rounded tip.

I've had knives on board for fishing/diving/safety and never had an issue, just need to keep your eyes open and your brain in the on Position.

A1an · 04 May 2015, 08:19

Tie the knife to a seat back/A frame with enough string so you can use it but not enough that the knife can reach a tube.

Pikey Dave · 04 May 2015, 08:28

...and don't forget....Always cut towards your mate.....

Phil M · 04 May 2015, 10:15

I made this yesterday.......

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Cut from some scraps of marine ply. The legs are hinged so fold under the top for storage. I haven't tried it in anger yet but it seems pretty secure and stable. I will probably put a bungee hook on it to secure it to the seat.

Phil

Hightower · 04 May 2015, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1an

Tie the knife to a seat back/A frame with enough string so you can use it but not enough that the knife can reach a tube.

Nice in theory but not a good idea in practice. One large wave whilst using your knife and you'll end up putting your fingers on for bait

Hightower · 04 May 2015, 10:28

I've been fishing for years in mine and have never had a problem in using sharp pointed filleting knives for bait preparation tasks/preparing caught fish. Just make sure you carry out these tasks inboard of where the tubes are and you'll be fine. Common sense is all you need really, just keep an eye on new fishing buddy's and instruct them accordingly.

The Gurnard · 04 May 2015, 11:49

The weapon of choice in my Inflatable is ...a big pair of Scissors.

Simply because one quick snip and I have decapitated a fresh caught mackerel before it has time to squirm its way all over the floor of the boat. Fish and scissors are then thrown in a plastic bucket. They also cut nice strips off the dead mackerel for bait.

Probably more chance of putting a fish hook through a tube than cut it with a bait knife or scissors. Also watch some fish.. A large spur dog put a nice 6" long scar in my PVC tube with the spike in its dorsel fin. I was kind to it though..and let it go again without the scissor treatment as its a protected species in our waters

I wont post a photo of snipping the head of a mackerel..but it is instant and humane.. better than letting them twitch to death in a bucket or bash their skulls in hitting them on a thwart or using a priest.

hippyhunter · 04 May 2015, 14:58

Paramedic shears if you're not confident of using a knife on your boat.

A mate of mine once said ' if you haven't got a knife what are you doing with a rope, if you haven't got a rope what are you doing on the water '

Jim

paddlers · 04 May 2015, 15:58

I tend to keep my knife & bait in one of those floppy yellow builders buckets, saves a lot of mess as I cut the bait in the bucket.

jyasaki · 04 May 2015, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippyhunter

A mate of mine once said ' if you haven't got a knife what are you doing with a rope, if you haven't got a rope what are you doing on the water '

Not to belittle your mate, but there are no ropes on a boat unless you have a bell...

BA; the best advice I can give is "be careful". I have no problems with using a knife on a RIB, but you do need to be prudent about it.

Your bait station is pretty nifty; perhaps tying the blade to keep it in close proximity to the cutting surface? I'd think the most likely time for trouble is when you're not actually using the knife to cut.

jky

hippyhunter · 04 May 2015, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Not to belittle your mate, but there are no ropes on a boat unless you have a bell...

It was on a swiftwater rescue course, we were more in the water than on the water (trying not to be under the water)

I've always got a little blunt nosed knife on my buoyancy aid, I know where it is when I need it and it gets sharpened or at least checked before every trip.

I picked up a floating rope off Mull 'crab patch' years ago in lumpy weather and had to cut it off the skeg in a hurry, as I did a large wave came over the back of the rib and hit me square in the chest/face, I took a sharp intake of breath and the knife which was between my teeth disappeared. I was happy to have stayed in the boat because I was on my own.

I started carrying a spare after that (spare knife not spare boat), I also bought a handheld vhf which is tied to me in case I fall out.

Proper paramedic shears will cut through most stuff in a hurry and they're designed not to puncture.

All the best,

Jim

jyasaki · 05 May 2015, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippyhunter

I started carrying a spare after that (spare knife not spare boat)

LOL. Okay, that was a good one. We used to heckle the tech divers about having a spare [everything] stored in their drysuit pockets.

Quote:

Proper paramedic shears will cut through most stuff in a hurry and they're designed not to puncture.

EMT shears are great for cutting when you get the stuff to be cut into the blades.

In your example (a line wrapped around prop) they're not going to do a lot of good (though you *can* get some small amount of cutting action by using the sharpened scissor blade as a makeshift knife in an emergency.)

I carry a small sheath knife on the A-frame, and have several other knives stored in the boat (a small folding riggers knife in the console, and a couple of dive knives stored in the forward seat, though they're buried enough to probably be unfindable.) Several pairs of EMT shears as well.

jky

A1an · 05 May 2015, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Nice in theory but not a good idea in practice. One large wave whilst using your knife and you'll end up putting your fingers on for bait

Why would 12" of string on a knife make you cut your finger off?

any fishing charter I've been on has had the bait knife tied to the handrail to stop it going overboard in the rough, same with the chopping board.

paintman · 05 May 2015, 18:47

Just exercise reasonable care when using sharp and pointy things. Not THAT difficult surely?
You could always buy a hard boat instead......

kerny · 05 May 2015, 19:00

I keep my fishing gear including knife and cutting board in a Wilko plastic tool box and when gutting and filleting I use the bench seat as a table. Come in handy them bench seats

Portholme · 05 May 2015, 19:40

Not to belittle your mate, but there are no ropes on a boat unless you have a bell...

Bolt rope????

Whizzbang · 06 May 2015, 07:46

Get one of these
http://rickyoungoutdoors.com/gerber-...guthook-knife/

Whizzbang · 06 May 2015, 07:47

They are a tenner on blades and bows.

Hightower · 06 May 2015, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1an

Why would 12" of string on a knife make you cut your finger off?

any fishing charter I've been on has had the bait knife tied to the handrail to stop it going overboard in the rough, same with the chopping board.

I do a lot of fishing on Charter boats and many skippers do keep their knives on a string. However I did hear through a fishing club member that someone slipped on the floor after the boat was rocked by a wave. They didn't let go of the knife that they where using and ended up cutting the palm of their hand as the blade pulled though. It cut everyone's day short as the Charter had to make for home where the guy had a number stitches at the local hospital.