October 2009
Crunch Time to a Watery Grave
I got my Crunch a few years ago, after originally getting a Charge Ti. I do a huge amount of boating, which involves tightening bolts and the like. The locking pliers of the Crunch turned out to be a must, so I sold my Charge to my father and bought the Crunch.
About 6 months after buying it, I hadn't really used it that much and was debating whether to continue to keep it on my lifejacket strap or not (that strap is designed for so much; my pager, crunch and other equipment stay there permanently!). I said I'd take it off once I got in.
However, the very same day, I was in a small 3.5 meter RIB, in about 8 foot swell, with about 25 knots of breeze, so it was pretty horrible conditions, but I must admit, my favourite! It's much more challenging!
On the transom of the boat, we have a fuel water separator bolted on with a single bolt and, with all the heavy swell and jumping over waves, the bolt came undone (I gave a huge lecture when I got back about boat maintenance!).
Now the bolt goes right through the transom, and the nut is on the inner side of it, so the bolt went swimming with the fish but the nut was in the boat, luckily. So I now had the fuel water separator lying on the floor and needed some way of putting it back, although I had no bolt. With the separator on the ground, the engine would suck up any water in the fuel and I'd be in real trouble. I have worked on the engines a few times and knew that the pull cord housing had 4 bolts holding it on and that they were pretty similar in size.
The tool kit on the boat has only one spanner, but the bolts were recessed by about a centimeter, so the spanner wouldn't work. I reached for my Leatherman and got the locking piers on the bolt. I got it out and, amazingly, it was the same size as the bolt from the fuel separator. I had the spanner on the back to hold the bolt (dropping that would be much better than losing my Crunch!) and I had my Crunch on the nut. 2 minutes later the fuel separator was back on, and we were heading back over the waves!
We were quite close to land but it would have taken a bit longer to get someone out to tow us in, and we also couldn't have kept going!
There are so many times, even back at base, when we need something, and instead of saying "can someone get me a screwdriver" or the like, it’s always “someone pass me a Crunch!” They are the tool of choice for us and we're always recommending them to others, especially having snapped and destroyed other well known branded multi-tools where my Crunch just takes it in its stride!
I just got a Charge TTi as well as at home, I'm always borrowing my old Charge as my Crunch is on my life jacket in the base. The blades on the charge or unbelievably sharp and again, I'm always recommending it! Even with one or two nicks in my hand by the blade, I'm always showing of the cuts and showing how sharp the blades are, and people are always amazed. At least 4 guys I know have gone out and got one of your multi-tools!
Thanks again Tim for such a great range of tools, and to allow me keep jumping over those waves!
Alex L.
Dublin, Ireland
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.