30boat
N/A
Never barefoot.Not even down below.I've broken a toe against a bit of joinery once.
Barefoot on board?
- Thread starter john_morris_uk
- Start date
Poignard
Well-Known Member
If Eric Hiscock was happy to go barefoot: Quote "In warm weather I prefer to go barefoot on board" and "One would not wish to spoil the pleasure of a cruise or passage by making and enforcing many rules" Unquote, that's good enough for me.
My attitude is that I wouldn't dream of telling other people what to do unless it was absolutely necessary. My 12 years in the Royal Navy, enjoyable as it was in many ways, has left me with a lasting aversion to being ordered around!
ps my favourite footwear on board is a pair of carpet slippers.
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prv
Well-Known Member
Presumably you never go barefoot at home either, then? Can't see much difference between joinery in a cabin and in a house.
Pete
30boat
N/A
There is a huge difference.My living room is 31 sqm.I can move freely about.And yes I never go barefoot at home.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
My thoughts seem to have generated a lot of heat. Hopefully enough to keep your feet warm anyway.
The one point that I am really really not convinced about is the claim by several people that barefeet grip better. My experience of wet barefeet on GRP is that its a VERY slippy combination; far less grip than a good deck-shoe under the same circumstances.
I suspect that there is a simple pleasure in going barefooted that people are willing to go to some lengths to justify. I quite like walking barefoot on a beach etc. However when I am on board I bet I am more agile and hop about the boat rather quicker in my deckshoes (sans socks in the summer) than many people do when they are barefooted.
Regarding superyachts and the demands for no footwear. My experience is that the crews are usually trying to keep the dockside dirt off the teak as they have to clean the stuff. I have been on plenty of super-yachts where overshoes were provided for visitors - and the crew had 'on board shoes' that never went ashore to collect dust and dirt to grind into the deck. The practice of the superyacht industry is a red herring though to my original proposition that people should wear something on their feet when at sea on a small boat. Of course you can chose not to, and I am very much against the 'nanny state' mentality of telling people what to do, but I still think many people do foolish things without thinking about the consequences.
Smelly deck shoes are solved with a bucket of milton or very dilute bleach (same difference) overnight.
The one point that I am really really not convinced about is the claim by several people that barefeet grip better. My experience of wet barefeet on GRP is that its a VERY slippy combination; far less grip than a good deck-shoe under the same circumstances.
I suspect that there is a simple pleasure in going barefooted that people are willing to go to some lengths to justify. I quite like walking barefoot on a beach etc. However when I am on board I bet I am more agile and hop about the boat rather quicker in my deckshoes (sans socks in the summer) than many people do when they are barefooted.
Regarding superyachts and the demands for no footwear. My experience is that the crews are usually trying to keep the dockside dirt off the teak as they have to clean the stuff. I have been on plenty of super-yachts where overshoes were provided for visitors - and the crew had 'on board shoes' that never went ashore to collect dust and dirt to grind into the deck. The practice of the superyacht industry is a red herring though to my original proposition that people should wear something on their feet when at sea on a small boat. Of course you can chose not to, and I am very much against the 'nanny state' mentality of telling people what to do, but I still think many people do foolish things without thinking about the consequences.
Smelly deck shoes are solved with a bucket of milton or very dilute bleach (same difference) overnight.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I don't understand your aversion to shoes no socks?
Just been pointed out that you didn't say that!
Ignore my comment! You said socks no shoes...
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prv
Well-Known Member
That's because you've misread it. He said socks, no shoes - which is pretty slippy on almost any smooth surface.
Pete
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
Ah apologies - brain interpreting what I thought he had written rather than what he had actually written!
Seajet
...
My thoughts are same as John Morris.
I happen to go around barefoot at home all the time ( inc outside ) but no way on a boat, not enough grip let alone protection.
My time in hotter climes was on a steel boat, so trying to go barefoot even if I wanted would have been looking like the lizards which scuttle across French Canal locks, you can almost hear them saying 'ouch, ouch, ouchy !'
Maybe my boat maintenance is poor, but often when swimming and hanging onto the side of a boat, I've found my feet on sharp barnacles etc.
Deck shoes every time for me.
I happen to go around barefoot at home all the time ( inc outside ) but no way on a boat, not enough grip let alone protection.
My time in hotter climes was on a steel boat, so trying to go barefoot even if I wanted would have been looking like the lizards which scuttle across French Canal locks, you can almost hear them saying 'ouch, ouch, ouchy !'
Maybe my boat maintenance is poor, but often when swimming and hanging onto the side of a boat, I've found my feet on sharp barnacles etc.
Deck shoes every time for me.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
I dislike shoes of any sort onboard in hot weather but I still discipline myself to wear something if out of the cockpit.
My pal who I sail with in Turkey, broke a toe against a chainplate going barefoot last year and had to come home early as the open wound became infected.
I have two slightly different types of walking sandle, one pair more open at the front than the other.
When things are really uncomfortably hot, the pair with fairly open toes feel best and these are a size too big so that the sole is sticking out a good centimetre + from my toes. Otherwise in the U.K. if not sailing wellies, its a pair of Clarks 'air sole' with a GorTex lining or a pair of old deckshoes.
My pal who I sail with in Turkey, broke a toe against a chainplate going barefoot last year and had to come home early as the open wound became infected.
I have two slightly different types of walking sandle, one pair more open at the front than the other.
When things are really uncomfortably hot, the pair with fairly open toes feel best and these are a size too big so that the sole is sticking out a good centimetre + from my toes. Otherwise in the U.K. if not sailing wellies, its a pair of Clarks 'air sole' with a GorTex lining or a pair of old deckshoes.
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BrianH
Well-Known Member
That seems an unnecessarily pejorative way to express your distaste of other customs - I personally don't "think its [sic] clever to go bearfoot [sic]", I think it's comfortable. Especially where I sail in a warm climate where it seems perfectly natural.
As I mentioned in another thread, I keep a pair of deck shoes available for going on deck because the teak is too hot to walk on with the summer sun. I also don them if water, either rain or spray, is sweeping the deck - although the only benefit of the wood deck is the grip, even barefoot, whether wet or dry. At all other times I prefer no shoes, which I think both healthy and hygienic.
prv
Well-Known Member
Must admit I didn't really like the phrasing either, but refrained from saying so as possibly not intended the way I read it.
After all, the obvious inverse of "many people think that its ok to walk about the deck of their boat with no shoes on" is "It is not ok to walk about....". My gut reaction to such wording is "well how dare you dictate what is and is not ok for other people to do".
But as I say, could just be a case of unfortunate phrasing rather than intent
Pete
Billjratt
Well-Known Member
I like being barefoot.
Especially aboard, but usually when the boat is stationary and no emergency movement is likely to be needed.
Our last boat had a lot of sticky-up bits which threatened to separate me from my small toe several times, but in the Med you do (well,I did) that sort of thing.
I have to agree with the pre-poster who found his feet didn't fit any normal shaped shoes after a while - this just exascerbates the problem, as the "nothing to wear" excuse comes easily to hand(foot). (Apart from the oversized sandals, again forementioned)
Present boat has wider, less cluttered, teakier decks which are a real pleasure, even in Scottish weather, so I'm keeping my feet in alfresco condition and looking forward to next season.
How many of you paused to put on deckshoes as you rushed from your dark cosy bunk to deal with a dragging anchor ? I tended to do it boIIock naked and the found the greatest discomfort came from the bits of jellyfish on the (amazingly warm) anchor chain- but that's another topic.
Especially aboard, but usually when the boat is stationary and no emergency movement is likely to be needed.
Our last boat had a lot of sticky-up bits which threatened to separate me from my small toe several times, but in the Med you do (well,I did) that sort of thing.
I have to agree with the pre-poster who found his feet didn't fit any normal shaped shoes after a while - this just exascerbates the problem, as the "nothing to wear" excuse comes easily to hand(foot). (Apart from the oversized sandals, again forementioned)
Present boat has wider, less cluttered, teakier decks which are a real pleasure, even in Scottish weather, so I'm keeping my feet in alfresco condition and looking forward to next season.
How many of you paused to put on deckshoes as you rushed from your dark cosy bunk to deal with a dragging anchor ? I tended to do it boIIock naked and the found the greatest discomfort came from the bits of jellyfish on the (amazingly warm) anchor chain- but that's another topic.
Ruffles
Well-Known Member
Some Summers back we were in Weymouth. I went shopping in Debenhams for some bedding. Wasn't until I got back I realised I'd made the whole trip without shoes.
I rarely wear shoes on the boat even in Winter. Mind you I cycle all year in London in shorts and sandals.
I must have tough feet. Still hurts when I stand on Lego though.
I rarely wear shoes on the boat even in Winter. Mind you I cycle all year in London in shorts and sandals.
I must have tough feet. Still hurts when I stand on Lego though.
Mariner69
Well-Known Member
To swing the lamp, this reminds me of my first trip to sea in a Merchant ship at the beginning of the 70's.
It was late January and we sailed from London, the next day our first job as a cadet unit of twelve was to scrub clean the afromosa (sp?) boat deck.
We all got exited and decided to be like 'real seamen' and took off our boots and socks, rolled up our trousers and set to with the mops to cover the deck.
What we didn't realise (or perhaps care about) was the first treatment, before sand and holystones, was a careful mopping of the deck with caustic soda which we did bare foot.
Twenty four feet and ankles, all a funny puffy and very sore pink, was our excuse to avoid work the following day.
Answered by "if you can't stand on the decks you can swing in the rigging so start stripping the derricks at No.4 hatch."
You live and learn.
It was late January and we sailed from London, the next day our first job as a cadet unit of twelve was to scrub clean the afromosa (sp?) boat deck.
We all got exited and decided to be like 'real seamen' and took off our boots and socks, rolled up our trousers and set to with the mops to cover the deck.
What we didn't realise (or perhaps care about) was the first treatment, before sand and holystones, was a careful mopping of the deck with caustic soda which we did bare foot.
Twenty four feet and ankles, all a funny puffy and very sore pink, was our excuse to avoid work the following day.
Answered by "if you can't stand on the decks you can swing in the rigging so start stripping the derricks at No.4 hatch."
You live and learn.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I hope that those who know me well on here will also know that being pejorative and prescriptive (and in any way intentionally obnoxious) is not as far as I am aware in my character. I didn't mean it to read that way at all - but I did intend to start a gentle discussion on the merits and demerits of bare feet on decks - or my preferred option of wearing some sort of deck shoe.Must admit I didn't really like the phrasing either, but refrained from saying so as possibly not intended the way I read it.
After all, the obvious inverse of "many people think that its ok to walk about the deck of their boat with no shoes on" is "It is not ok to walk about....". My gut reaction to such wording is "well how dare you dictate what is and is not ok for other people to do".
But as I say, could just be a case of unfortunate phrasing rather than intent
Pete
Have I ever been bare foot on a boat? Ans - yes - but only in the most benign drifting and sunbathing conditions when mid ocean and after being on board for a while.
Do I think people need to be very careful about going bare foot? Ans - see previous posts.
prv
Well-Known Member
TQA
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In the Caribbean cruising community it is considered good manners to remove footware if coming aboard as a guest.
I go barefoot but appreciate the risks as I have a lump on my little toe as a result of a collision with an eyebolt before I had my mental deck map fully established.
I did 7 years barefoot liveaboard cruising in my 40s and the hardest thing about going back to work was putting my feet back into prison at work.
I go barefoot but appreciate the risks as I have a lump on my little toe as a result of a collision with an eyebolt before I had my mental deck map fully established.
I did 7 years barefoot liveaboard cruising in my 40s and the hardest thing about going back to work was putting my feet back into prison at work.
Rigger Mortice
N/A
A friend of mine never wears shoes anywhere. A bit eccentric, but he seems to get by.
I prefer to be barefoot on the boat but experience tells me it's not the wisest of things to do. I've lost count of the number of times I've stubbed my toes. Nowadays I find that a pair of Crocs are quick and easy to put on. It helps, but I do forget sometimes and stub my toes yet again!
I prefer to be barefoot on the boat but experience tells me it's not the wisest of things to do. I've lost count of the number of times I've stubbed my toes. Nowadays I find that a pair of Crocs are quick and easy to put on. It helps, but I do forget sometimes and stub my toes yet again!
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
Good point - but if you read my original post you will see that I agree that people who live FOR YEARS AT A TIME on their boats can probably manage to go barefoot much of the time without problems.
I am not sure it is wise for us more occasional sailors and charter sailors, tempting though it may be.
