![]() ![]() However if you’re a professional sailor on a large yacht, the Skipper Pro is a no-brainer for your on-deck work. If you’re an inland sailor cruising from island to island, grab the Skipper and enjoy more tools with less weight and a slimmer profile. Conclusionīoth the Skipper and Skipper Pro are great tools that work exactly as they’re designed. The tweezers and toothpick included on both aren’t things I use because I default to my Victorinox Classic SD, but they’re available if you need them. Also, the Pro version skips the thread slot to make it stronger. The cork-screw on the Skipper isn’t something I find useful, especially as Sailor’s drink grog! Both knives feature an awl, which I believe is very useful. I’m not sure why they didn’t include it especially as there’s room below the massive marlin spike. The Skipper does include a dedicated Philips screwdriver, which I definitely missed on the Pro. ![]() (Especially when spending free time at the marina.) They also both feature a flathead screwdriver, as well as a smaller one on the can opener. (My longest stay on deck during a storm was more than 24 hours on a 65 foot yawl ship.) Some Shared Featuresīoth knives feature a bottle opener that I really enjoy. Remember, this type of weather can last for hours or even days. Whether that’s when you’re roped to the deck or are grabbing the railing as you move about, you’ll need to dedicate one of your hands to these tasks. Storms and other rough weather require that one of your hands be available as a life support system. Additionally, the Pro accommodates ropes up to a full inch or more and includes a serious marlin spike.įinally, the Skipper Pro offers an advantage when using it one-handed. This is where the Skipper Pro will shine. On such a boat the folding shackle key and small pliers of the Skipper will be mostly useless, as most of these ships will have bolts 8-10mm’s in diameter. Imagine setting out on an eighty foot long, two-mast sailing ship, or something even larger. However if you’re setting out in your boat and plan on being days away from solid ground, the Skipper Pro is what you should consider. If you get caught in a storm, it’s usually your own fault even if you don’t have these high-tech devices. So with a weather alarm on your watch, phone or weather station it’s easy to avoid a storm. On most lakes (except maybe the largest in Canada) you can usually get back to the safety of a marina or a bank within a couple hours. In these situations there’s rarely a storm that will cause you to only have one hand available. The blade of the Skipper doesn’t work well one-handed, but this isn’t really necessary when sailing for pleasure on something like a lake. This tip-loop is a handy feature if you want to finish a thick line with a nice braid, made from something like a thin house line. The spike’s small tip-loop is also usable for up to three-quarter inch rope. The marlin spike that’s included works great on ropes from a half to three-quarter inch in diameter. The Skipper’s regular shackle key is suitable for most shackles you’ll find on these kind of boats. In addition to the serrated blade, the Skipper features precision pliers that are great for manipulating safety pins, small bolts, nuts and other items. (Let’s say a boat up to 40-50 feet.) The knife features a serrated blade with a safety tip. The “regular” Skipper model is a great option for lake sailing or a small family-sized sailboat you’d take day-cruising along the coast. So let’s dive into a quick comparison between the two options!įirst, let me say that I’m a certified sea and lakes sailor, in addition to being a sailing instructor in the past. Despite the “Pro” nomenclature I wouldn’t say that it’s an upgrade, just something created for a different type of user. However during the last two seasons I’ve also had a chance to use a Skipper Pro. I’ve been using their original Skipper for years and I love it. ![]() When you think of sailing knives Victorinox may not be the company that springs to mind, but they have some solid dedicated sailing models in their Skipper lineup. Sailing season is over, so I’ve been decompressing and evaluating some of the gear I used this past year.
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