Boye Boating & Rescue Knife Review and Giveaway!

The folks at Boye Knives reached out to share information on their Folding Boating and Rescue Sheepsfoot Knife with Titanium Marlinspike. I said I’d be happy to share my review with our readers, and they agreed to send us two extra knives to give away.

The truth is, I’ve mostly stopped looking at boating knives since I met the Spyderco crew and Small Craft Advisor began selling their knives years ago. Spyderco has been my knife of choice ever since.

I didn’t anticipate this review would turn into a comparison article, but given the Boye folder’s similarity to my favorite Spyderco knife—the Saver Salt—a comparison is inevitable.

A view of both sides of the three knives mentioned: The Boye, the Spyderco Saver Salt, and the Meyerchin Sailor’s Tool.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Quick Features & Spec Snapshot

Boye Sheepsfoot Folding Knife with Titanium Marlinspike

• Blade Steel: Boye Dendritic Cobalt — excellent edge retention and rust-resistant

• Blade Style: Sheepsfoot, blunt tip for safety, 3″ blade; overall ~7″; weight ~2.5 oz

• Handle: Zytel with built-in titanium marlinspike that pries up to 200 lb, doubles as shackle key, non-magnetic

• Purpose: A full-featured rigging and sea-rescue tool — highly rated by Practical Sailor for boating tasks

Spyderco Saver Salt

• Blade Steel: H-2 (nitrogen-based, non-rusting)

• Blade Style: Sheepsfoot, hollow/full flat-saber ground, serrated edge

• Dimensions: Blade ~3.09″; overall ~7.16–7.19″; weight ~2.2 oz

• Handle: Textured fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) with oversized round hole and ambidextrous clip

• Purpose: Compact, corrosion-proof rescue-style folder made in Japan for marine and emergency use

As you can see, these knives have very similar specs. The biggest difference might be the retail price: the Spyderco sells for around $147, while the Boye retails at $239.

At first glance, it might seem like the Spyderco is the easy choice, but there are a couple of other factors to consider.

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Features in Context

For one, the Boye features a marlinspike with shackle key — cleverly added externally. I don’t use a marlinspike or shackle key often enough to care much about those features on my everyday carry, but I do prefer having them on a boating knife. When I’m on the water or working around boats, I sometimes switch from my Saver Salt to the Meyerchin P300SL Sailor’s Tool — a serrated knife, pliers, and marlinspike combo.

One concern with the Meyerchin is its size and weight. The aluminum-and-stainless tool weighs nearly twice as much as the Boye or Spyderco and measures five inches long closed. Between my wallet, keys, pocket knife, and now reading glasses, I sometimes feel like a police officer loaded with gear, so any weight or bulk savings are appreciated.

That makes the Boye knife especially appealing: only slightly heavier than the Spyderco yet including marlinspike features. I’d have no problem using it as an everyday carry that transitions smoothly to on-the-water use.

Another point worth mentioning is that Boye knives are handmade in the U.S., in Dolan Springs, Arizona. Spyderco is a very American company as well, but the Saver Salt is manufactured in Japan.

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COMPARING THEM DIRECTLY

I’m not a knife expert, but here are my impressions of how the Boye and Spyderco compare in terms of feel, perceived quality, and function.

• Features: With its marlinspike and shackle key, the Boye offers more in roughly the same-size package.
  Advantage: Boye

• Quality: Both knives look and feel like high-quality tools. Both use rust-resistant blades and seem well built. I prefer the brushed stainless fasteners and clip of the Boye — they’ll likely wear better than the black anodized parts on the Spyderco. The Boye’s fit and finish also seem slightly better.
  Advantage: Boye

• Grip and Handling: Both feel good in the hand, and both use a sheepsfoot-style tip to prevent accidental stabbing or puncturing an inflatable. The Spyderco’s textured handle is grippier, and no folder I’ve owned opens as smoothly as a Spyderco, thanks to their patented oversized round hole. Just as important, the Saver Salt has a “ramp” with jimping where your thumb rests during cutting. This adds significant security for precise tasks.
  Advantage: Spyderco

• Cutting Test: In my unscientific test cutting polyester double-braid rope, both knives sliced through in one pull. These serrated blades are incredibly sharp — exactly what an emergency knife should be.
  Tie

• Other Considerations: Boye says its Dendritic Cobalt Crystal blade will never rust and is non-magnetic, so it won’t interfere with a compass or electronics. They also say the marlinspike can pry up to 200 pounds — impressive. The Saver Salt’s H-2 steel alloy blade with aggressive serrations is similarly rustproof. I find its larger spring lock easier to close quickly, though arguably more prone to accidental closure.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

These are both great knives (all three, if you include the Meyerchin, which is a different beast altogether). Spyderco has set the bar for nautical knives with their Salt series — available in many sizes and shapes. They’re quick and easy to use, and razor sharp. For opening, closing, and basic ergonomics, I still give a slight edge to the Spyderco — and its lower price helps.

But the Boye, with its marlinspike and shackle key in such a tidy package, is a very appealing option, especially for a true boating and emergency knife. It’s also satisfying to think of this knife being made by hand at a small shop in Arizona.

Which should you buy? Ultimately it depends on your priorities. Either would be a fine choice for your pocket or your PFD.

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The good people at Boye sent us a couple extra of their Folding Boating and Rescue Sheepsfoot Knives with Titanium Marlinspike to give away to two lucky paid subscribers. Just leave a comment below to be entered.