Boat boots/shoes

Chiara’s slave said:
It’s launching the kite that gets my feet wet. Mrs C always steers for that, and it's done from the lee tramp. Like being in a jacuzzi, if there is wind and waves. In the cooler months I race in dry trousers, seals at the ankles. We’d avoid the kite and use the furling code 0 for cruising, to avoid being so wet.
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This sort of thing is not a problem on proper boats 😅.

- W
 
As DB says ... you tend to get wet feet what ever you do ... so why not just step in ... accept it and dry off once done.

If I'm launching / recovering I pick my oldest but reasonable sporties and accept the wet feet.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
We are out. Only cos we are away for a chunk of winter and I’m working intensively on the house. Launch 1st week of march for the spring series.
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Then for you (fellow tri sailor) I'm going to recommend Gill waterproof socks and deck shoes instead of wet feet of boots. They were a revelation for me for spring and winter sailing. Far more agile and totally dry and warm. But too much over about 60F, unless it is quite wet.
 
thinwater said:
Then for you (fellow tri sailor) I'm going to recommend Gill waterproof socks and deck shoes instead of wet feet of boots. They were a revelation for me for spring and winter sailing. Far more agile and totally dry and warm. But too much over about 60F, unless it is quite wet.
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I have a pair. Very good as long as your feet aren’t immersed, which as you know is an occupational hazard on the lee tramp. I occasionally wear dinghy wetsuit boots with my dry trousers if its cold and definitely wet. No such problems where we are headed though. Just booked the Dry Tortugas ferry from Key West😁
 
Chiara’s slave said:
I have a pair. Very good as long as your feet aren’t immersed, which as you know is an occupational hazard on the lee tramp. I occasionally wear dinghy wetsuit boots with my dry trousers if its cold and definitely wet. No such problems where we are headed though. Just booked the Dry Tortugas ferry from Key West😁
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Mine are tight, even wading ashore (unless you go over the top!).
  • Have they started to leak? how long did that take?
  • Brand? I have Gill and Randy Sun, and both have been good for 5 years of seasonal use.
For really serious nasty, I have drysuit with feet attached. Just the thing for mid-winter kayaking. Overkill for all but the nastiest sailing, which I try to avoid. I've worn wet suit boots with it sailing, but stretched out trainers are much more comfortable to me.
 
My socks don’t leak, they just get overwhelmed by a F5 wind over tide. You can be waist deep in white water in those conditions, with a 1.5m very short chop. Patches of overfalls are common in our home waters too.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
My socks don’t leak, they just get overwhelmed by a F5 wind over tide. You can be waist deep in white water in those conditions, with a 1.5m very short chop. Patches of overfalls are common in our home waters too.
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Got it.

I'm always interested in other people's durability findings. I used to write a lot of product reviews (not any more) and it's an old habit. I never wanted to recommend something that didn't hold up. I tested lots, but the opinions of others are very helpful.

I haven't had to weather the waterproof socks yet this year (the water stays warm here into October), but then it suddenly can drop to near freezing. Hard frosts every night now.
 
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