For racing yachts you have something similar for emergencies. It's a cartridge actuated cable cutter where a bullet in the cutter sends a blade through a half inch rod of steel that's holding the rig to the boat. You put a hook around the cable, pull a trigger, and whatever was inside the hook is now 2 pieces...

Toby, in response to cutting the depower rope...

check out the benchmade hook knives:
http://www.benchmade.com/products/5

I've seen these in all sorts of rescue scenarios. They are even intended to cut thick and bulky things like boots and ropes. After reading all these knife debates I haven't seen anyone mention these.

i got a parachute hook knife, the blade open up teh more force you put on them - so you get afresh bit of razorblade as you pull - blades pushing into each other - cut my old lines soooooo easy - trouble is you dont want to test it out too much as they go blunter! best to plan for not having a knife ie doing/understanding everything you can do not to get yourself in the shit.

like laird said - training to walk with rocks under water is like training to fail - far better to train taking the bombs and never get caught on the inside or over the falls

I just saw the new Dakine hook knife... Wow. it's GREAT.

They redesigned the handle and put in the good single beveled, double blades.

I bought 2 at only $10 each!!

I would like to think that the information in this thread had something to do with their incredible upgrade to the knife. They did everything that we suggested needed to be done.

THANK YOU DAKINE.

Is this the new one?

http://www.dakine.com/p/kite/accessories/hook-knife

NOOOOO! Do not buy that one.

Buy this one!

I was out the other day when a thunderstorm rolled in. I was headed straight into shore when in the excitement and gusting of the wind my kite went down and started to twist. Wouldn't normally be an issue, but the twist made a relaunch dubious, so I decided to keep the kite on the water as it sunk somewhat. Then I swam towards shore. Eventually without my noticing it, the lines wrapped around my legs which I didn't notice till I was close in.

Everything was fine as it turns out, but if the kite had relaunched and flogged around I would have been screwed as I was now attached via my legs.

My procrastination at getting a hook knife came to an end and I got a Dakine for 11 bucks.

sweet , i was just thinking yesterday i need to get myself a linecutter