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Hi, I just purchased a Dakine Nitrous ,only used it once and it seems pretty good.

What I cant figure is that the kite knife is secured inside a zippered pocket on leg of the boardshorts.

Anyone who owns will knows that the zipper is a small little standard zipper.

I have never had a need to use a kite knife...but the question I have for Dakine and anyone else is.....

How, if I am getting totally nailed on the inside with lines all around me would I be able unzip the little zipper, reach into the pocket and then get the knife out to start cutting??

Seems like it would be better positioned up or near the bar. or maybe on the back of the shorts???

I dont know.... -- I have seen guys attaching it to the spreader bar and have done this myself with a cable tie, but then it could also be potentially interfering and causing an accident like one that was just posted with the lines getting wrapped around the knife pouch.

What is the rationale Dakine? - I'll keep it in the pocket if that is what is proven more safe.

Anyone ??

Thanks and safe kiting.

you're point out a very important issue...I got a line tangles around my hand while th kite was powering up...it was my right hand..there was no way I could get to the knife...fortunately for me my spreader bar was also tanlged in the mess and it took most of the pressure...leaving my with a bloated hand ..I was lucky...

I know people who attached the knife to the spreader bar..however I had the knife out for a bit and lost the knife..it was on land so found the knife again, but if it falls out like that it really isn't a good patent..

Maybe you can attach it on you spreader bar inside the bag with one of those plastic things the price tags are attached...strong enought to keep the knife, but weak enough to have it break if you pull hard enough...

alex

i like the placement on the maui magic darkrider, it's stuck into the top of the harnes on one side near the back, so you never actually lose it (it's help in with velcro) but you can pull it out one handed should you ever need to use it

I leave it hanging out and ziper up while riding cus thers no way i'll get to unzip in apanic,

There has been more than one case of a rider not being able to reach the built in pocket at the rear of some harnesses. There have been other cases in which the kiter grabbed his hook knife but dropped it.

What to do?

Why not carry two, with the backup in a second location? Be sure to secure your backup in a way to avoid tangles and with something that can break free if it is caught by kite lines by accident.

Problems happen all the time. The only reason for not taking reasonable precautions is if you conclude it will never happen to you or if you just can't be bothered. Four hundred feet of high strength line flapping around you in waves and wind and NO KNIFE?

Tough call.

FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Thanks...leaving it hanging out with a spare at the back of the harness is prollly the way to go.

I use a thin bridle line about 1m long (anyway just over arm's length) to tie the hook knife to its pocket because I figure if I ever need it there's a good chance things will have gone pretty much tits up, wrapped in lines in waves with kite spiralling or loading up in waves or other nasty shit, so there's a good chance I'll drop it and end up without a knife, whereas if it's on a bridle line just run your hand down the line and grab the knife again.
Give ya a second chance anyway
Coil the line up and push it into the knife pocket. Away from the blade if poss
Mac

Over the years, I have tried carrying a kite hook knife in about 6 different places. Here are my first and second choices:

FIRST: Back of helmet...carve out a slot in the foam at the very back of the helmet, and contact cement a little piece of velcrox onto one side of the slot. Sew a little piece of the opposite (Hook Vs. Loops) onto the little ook knife (Dakine works best, for the knife and Ace Protec for the helmet)so only the curved handle piece is visible and the velcrox is stuck together, holding it lightly in place.

You can get at the handle with either hand....quickly since your hand is already on your forehead giving yourself a dope-slap!!!

SECOND: Contact cement or sew a little upsiddown pouch on your wetsuit or life jacket, using the velcrox idea also. It is where parachutists and EMTs carry their hook knifes and sissors.

I did a survey on the beach last year, carrying a little piece of spare kite-line around and gave everyone with a kite knife a chance to try their knife. The only knife that wasn't too corroded to quickly cut the line was a Jack Knife style double bladed hook knife (it was 2 years old !). You have to replace the hook knives reqularly, depending on the salt water concentration.

i've had my harness for a year now, and i fly regularly, the hook knife in my darkrider is still razor sharp, no corrosion at all, the balt on it has rusted to hell but the blade cuts like a stanley knife. i usually wash my harness down with fresh water after i kite and let it dry.

escaladorjoe

I leave it hanging out and ziper up while riding cus thers no way i'll get to unzip in apanic,

I also havethe nitrous and but I'm affraid that if I ride with the knife outside of the zippered pocket I will eventually loose!!!

you haven't had problems???? After lots of sesions with lots of jumping, wiping out, etc, etc.... The knife hasn't fallen????