Some may question ST and WWUW advice on keeping a knife handy to cut the rope but here is a little story to illustrate such sage advice.

I was backcountry saltwater fishing in a gheenoe.   (You need to Login or Register
A super sweet set-up that you can still paddle especially with a current. Anyway, I had some 25 ft of anchor rope as I would usually tie off along the side of the boat in 3 to 5 ft of water. At the end of one trip I decided to try a hole in a pass. It didn't look like it but the tide was moving pretty good and when that anchor finally caught there wasn't enough scope and the current was literally pushing the boat out from under me. With only inches to spare and a few seconds left I grabbed a bait knife and cut the line. Sitting somewhat sideways the boat would of filled and probably sank very quickly and I would of been in a world of hurt back in the middle of nowhere with night coming on.

Stuff can happen, be ready for it. I more or less got lucky and didn't have to pay for my stupidity or ignorance or whatever you want to call it.