Keeping boat knives sharp?

[sushi42]

Here's a topic we don't normally discuss here. Boat knives, fillet knives and the general bait knife. How do you all keep them sharp? I have always just turned in my very dull blades to a sharpener and had them re-ground. He is now out of buisness. Seeing as I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 knives that I use it would be very proactive to keep them sharp. I do own a steel and I do my best to keep the edge on my working blades but once that edge is gone, not even the best steel will bring it back. Does anyone use an electric knife sharpener that gives you an edge equal to a re-ground blade? Please give me your comments on this. Thanks.
Sushi42-

[FullStrikeAngler]

I have purchase probabaly every stone and sharpening system know to man over the past years. This year I finally invested in a professional sharpening system that actually works.
Made in Oregon, the EdgePro system uses a wet stone system so your knives are not destroyed as with the quick sharpening systems on the market.

I can put a razor edge on any knife I own and the learning curve is made easy with the DVD the owner provides with the product. Of course, you have to pay for this quality and most people will probably shy away from the price tag. All I can say is if you do buy this you can throw away all the tools/stones you have bought as this system is simply the best.

Here is a link to the EDGE PRO site.

[sushi42]

I have purchase probabaly every stone and sharpening system know to man over the past years. This year I finally invested in a professional sharpening system that actually works.
Made in Oregon, the EdgePro system uses a wet stone system so your knives are not destroyed as with the quick sharpening systems on the market.

I can put a razor edge on any knife I own and the learning curve is made easy with the DVD the owner provides with the product. Of course, you have to pay for this quality and most people will probably shy away from the price tag. All I can say is if you do buy this you can throw away all the tools/stones you have bought as this system is simply the best.

Here is a link to the EDGE PRO site.

Thanks FullStrike, gonna check that out.

[28Conquest]

That edge pro looks pretty cool, but not real cheap!

I was getting very frustrated with my fillet knife last year and after a fair amount of googling, I ended up investing in a "Knives of Alaska" knife set. These were my first high quality (i.e. expensive) knives, and as promised, it made a huge difference in how well the knives hold their edge. Basically, I think you can make ANY knife amazingly sharp, but high quality knives will still be super sharp even after cutting through scales, bones, etc, in a tough fish.

I did notice that my knives are somewhat susceptible to rust, so I don't leave them on the boat and I always clean them, touch them up, and oil them after each trip. Usually just going over them with an ordinary knife steel works great, but I occasionally go over them with a DMT diamond whetstone.

[gmoney]

A good stone and a steel, with a knife that has a soft blade (high carbon content in the steel) will keep your knife razor sharp, and will allow it t be re-sharpened in a matter of moments.

[scbaseth]

I've worked the deck on a charter boat since age 12 (22 now) and I have always used the classic dexter russell high carbon boning knife with a ceramic stick. I used to use a high grit stone, but I'd go through 3 or 4 knives a year like that. With the ceramic I can make a single knife last an entire year and keep an amazingly sharp edge. Ditto with the upkeep, high carbon is really susceptible to rust, so washing, drying, and oiling is a must.

[scbaseth]

A sharp knife gives you much better control, making it much safer as well. I keep my ceramic on the cutting board and do a once over to the blade every 3 fish. I have a few expensive knives that I keep for my own personal use, but I think a high carbon dexter russell gets plenty sharp enough to slide through cod and haddock like butta. If someone is on a budget i'd recommend that they save money on the knife and spend it on a nice ceramic (The one I have was 60$), or one of the sharpening systems mentioned above. The great thing about the ceramic stick is that it requires absolutely no upkeep. Leave it out in a salt water spray for the entire summer and it'll still work perfect.

[JPA]

I love my Chef’s Choice electric knife sharpener. They claim that the diamond stones will not detemper the steel. I’m not sure if this is true but the edge holds long enough and it takes less than a minute to put a great new edge on any knife. I don't use the best knifes but they are never dull because sharpening is not a significant chore.

[KAISER]

the Chefs choice is a PERFECT machine. it will accuratly re-grind your knife but it will grind some material away too.

a Ceramik stik is great to maintain the grind. Steels do not sharpen. They peen over the grinding markes. for cutting fish dont use a steel unless you are a sushi master.

You can get a two knife set of boning knives at Sams Club for $8 (if you are a member) The steel in these knives are of the highest quality. Forschner knives are great too.

A knife that does not rust is not a good knife. You need high carbon to get it sharp and High carbon is fuel for rust.

If your knife is really rusty ech it with navel jelly and then re grind.

[Albiemanmike]

Sushi,
I have had the same problem over the years knives are good new but don't stay that way for long. I found a super nice sharpening system in my searches but it was way too expensive. Then I was trolling an email list for them and found a woman in CA. that was selling an almost new one and bought it this winter. It is the best sharpening system I have ever tried and makes sharpening idiot proof. I can shave with my knives after 3-4 minutes on the wheel. They are expensive but worth every penny I spent. I got the T-7 and the hand tool kit with it that sharpens all kinds of tools. I mainly use it for knives but it will do chisels and planers as well. And there is a wide assortment of jigs you can purchase to sharpen almost anything.

http://www.tormek.com/en/machines/t7/index.php