Yachting Monthly – March 2018

HOW WE TESTED
No one multitool had the same tools as the next,
so we devised a number of challenges typical to
those one might fi nd on a fraught voyage with
the Yachting Monthly team.
The best knife in the world is no good if you can’t
get into it, so all the knives were opened, if possible,
with one hand, two hands, bare hands and gloved.
Next, the blades were tested, cutting rope on a
fl at surface and looped. Where a knife had a shackle
key, this was tested; where it didn’t, we used the
tool’s pliers. All knives had to have one
or the other to make our selection.
Screwdrivers were tested by driving
brass screws into seasoned pine, with
no pilot holes, to assess the tool’s grip
on the screw and whether the driver
blades would fold in.
Saw blades were tested on a 2in x
2in piece of timber. While the saw
blades were short, it was good to see
how they would cope in an emergency.
Finally, we soaked all the tools in
seawater and left them for a month
in plastic bags – as tools left in wet
oilskin pockets can be – to see how
well they fended off corrosion.

KNIVES AND THE LAW
On a boat, a locking blade is good, but carry
a knife with a locking blade around in public and
you could have it confi scated or face a maximum
of four years in prison and an unlimited fi ne.
Under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice
act 1988, it is illegal to carry a folding knife with
a blade longer than 7.62cm (3in) in public without
good reason. Folding knifes with a locking blade
are classifi ed as lock knives. These too are illegal
to carry in public without good reason. While
both types are illegal in public, there is the caveat
that you can carry a knife if you have a reasonable
cause for doing so. The wording of the law states
you can take knives you use at work, to and from
work. But there is no mention of use for a leisure

activities such as

camping, fi shing and

sailing. I spoke to my local

police about this and they said

that sailing could be considered

good reason, but it would be

a decision for the courts.

Interestingly, even if you are using the

screwdriver on a multitool with a locking blade

in a public place, it is still an illegal weapon.

If, in your haste to make it to the closest pub

your knife is still in your pocket and

you are stopped by the police and

searched, you are neither on your

way to work nor in the act of perusing

a hobby – so be wary. However, if you

are going to or from your car from

your boat, it’s more likely for a court

to consider this a good reason.

GROUP TEST

Wichard Offshore

£38.50

Gerber Bear Grylls

£26.99

Victorinox Swiss

Champ £79

Victorinox Angler

£46

Gerber Crucial

£49.99

Leatherman

Sidekick £69.95

Leatherman Wave

£129.95

THE

TEST

SEE

OVER

LEAF

Currey Lockspike

Captain £42.95

YM’s technical editor

Graham Snook owns

and cruises a Sadler

32. He has a variety
    of multitools for
    jobs on board