I have been racing big boats on Lake Michigan for 10 years. This last weekend was the 1st time I had ever been on a boat with a bolt cutters. I thought to my self for a minute, "why?" but then it became glaringly obvious. Steel halyards and stays don't cut well with a rigging knife. Also, in a fatal moment of dismasting it would certainly expidite the removal of the wreckage so that the boat could return to port under engine power.

This got me to thinking, would it be prudent to carry a smaller wire cutters on board? Something that would cut thru the heaviest of rigging on a cat. I wonder if the Worrell or Tybee sailors carry something do do just that.