The situation now is you have to get inside your boat.
First borrow a good bolt cutter and get a hacksaw with a bi - metal blade.
I do not know the type of padlock you have. Usually on boat they are not
very big and are preferably made out of brass. If the bolt cutter does not
cut through you will have to finish off the job with the bi - metal blade.


As for your question is" If I invest in a bolt cutter, will it be useful
as emergency gear in case of a dismasting or do I need a different tool to
cut S.S. rigging
wire quickly?"

A good bolt cutter may do the job?? To cut the rigging quickly on a
dismasted boat a special tool loaded with a 22 Caliber round is the best
device to use. That's what the around the world racers are carrying.
Other cutting tool maybe available.







"Lauri Tarkkonen" wrote in message
...
In "Roger Long"
writes:

I'm locked out of my boat and have to cut the small pad lock off the
companionway.

If I invest in a bolt cutter, will it be useful as emergency gear in
case of a dismasting or do I need a different tool to cut S.S. rigging
wire quickly?

If the cutter is good enough for the padlock it will cut the ss-wire
aswell. I would expect the padlock to be hardened so that it is tougher
and if you buy the cheapest bolt cutter you might get a dent in the
blades of the cutters while cutting the padlock.

- Lauri Tarkkonen