Boat boots/shoes

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GEM43

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I’ve always worn “boat shoes” for fair weather sailing and HH sailing boots for tougher weather. Trouble is that the soles are slippery on our teak deck, I’m fed up of “skating around” so next season I want a better solution. I’m thinking of buying something non-boaty such as Meindl walking shoes for fair weather sailing, but have not identified a boot product yet. Any suggestions for suitable tried and tested products?
 
Many (nearly all) boat shoes become slippery after the second season. This is worse if you do not wear them in concrete to wear off the dead rubber. If they are older than 2 years, bin them or wear them around the house. Same with most boots. The manufacturers actually admit this.

Most trainers are pretty good, but wet traction is variable. Also, the thinner the shoe, the better the grip if you step on a rope or irregularity. They conform better. Stiff or thick soles just roll off.

It all depends on the compromises you want. On my cruising cat I wear trainers. On my sport boat I wear deck shoes and waterproof socks (Gill makes really good ones).
 
Sandy said:
I asked the same question many months ago. Having seen an advert for Conker Deck Shoes in an old magazine. As I already owned a pair of their shoes, a bit alternative but great fun, I popped down to Totnes, twinned with Narnia, and had a long discussion with them about their deck shoes, as they are a little more expensive than other brands. What "sold" it for me was that fact that I can get them resoled, repaired, re-stitched, bits added and bits removed. You can even have them custom made, a bit OTT for a pair of deck shoes in my opinion. The are bl00dy brilliant.

At the Devon County Show this year saw a bargain an end of line Chatham deck shoe, marked down from £90 to £15. Took them on a pals boat this summer on a two week trip and they are now only fit for the bin.
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I posted this back in 2016!

I've still got the same pair of deck shoes with the original, proper grippy soles! They cost £185 back then so about £24 per annum and they feel like wearing a pair of slippers. I still expect them to place them on the lid of my coffin when I die.

The really, really, annoying thing is they have stopped making the Musto Sea boot I like, leather shoe and Gortex leg bit, and you now need to buy something that is more suitable for the Southern Ocean.
 
I have a pair of Merrell GTX walking shoes which are pretty good but I bought some Helly Hansen Skagen sailing shoes last time home and they are super comfy and seem to grip well
For boots I have my old offshore boots (RedWing Petroking) but I havent actually had the need to wear them yet
 
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GEM43 said:
something non-boaty such as Meindl walking shoes for fair weather sailing, but have not identified a boot product yet. Any suggestions for suitable tried and tested products?
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Non-boaty boots, the Japanese fishermen / fish processing plants boots are excellent, you can climb a 45° wet plastic hatch. After a few hours the feet will be steam cooked and an NBC threat air treatment will be needed when you take them off :)


white boots.jpg
 
I have no experience of wearing them afloat but I can say that if you like Meindl walking shoes then you’ll certainly appreciate Scarpa walking boots.
 
I have had the same problem for years. However this season I have discovered the Extratuf ankle deck boots and they are sooooo comfortable. Much cheaper in the USA but they do sell in the UK. You can buy trendy colours or traditional. They were originally manufacturers of commercial fishing footwear and the leisure versions are equally well made.
 
The soles of boat shoes / boots indeed harden and become very slippery after some time. If it helps your decision, Dubarry are recommending using sandpaper to soften the soles of their boots. I haven't tried this yet.
 
merjan said:
The soles of boat shoes / boots indeed harden and become very slippery after some time. If it helps your decision, Dubarry are recommending using sandpaper to soften the soles of their boots. I haven't tried this yet.
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Another use for the belt sander!
 
GEM43 said:
I’ve always worn “boat shoes” for fair weather sailing and HH sailing boots for tougher weather. Trouble is that the soles are slippery on our teak deck, I’m fed up of “skating around” so next season I want a better solution. I’m thinking of buying something non-boaty such as Meindl walking shoes for fair weather sailing, but have not identified a boot product yet. Any suggestions for suitable tried and tested products?
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Have you thought about crampons? Should be just the ticket on your teak deck, plenty of grip.
 
I have gone back to wearing my mid '80s Mustos. Squidgy soles and very grippy. Luckily someone also gave me a second pair.
 
I use a cordless drill and a sandpaper flap wheel on the soles of my (and my wife's) boots and deck shoes every year or so. The boots (Dubarry and Musto) are 14 years old, but still grip like new.

Takes about five minutes a pair.
 
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+1 for sanding .The soles of my Dubarry sailing boots got very slippery. In the end I sanded them and this gave the boots a new life. It made a big difference.
 
I wear my Dubarry deck shoes almost every day for day use. So the soles only last 4-5 years & I have bought several pairs over the years. Never have a grip issue on my boat even when the tread pattern starts to disappear.
 
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