Boot repair

PabloPicasso

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I have a pair of Dubarry sailing boots. Stored in my sail bag over the winter, but now the sole is beginning to peel away from the uppers. The uppers seem good to me, do you think they might be repairable?

Replacements seem expensive.
 
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I recently had my hiking boots repaired by my local, independent, old fashioned cobbler. Great service and MUCH cheaper than new boots!!! Take yours in somewhere and see what they say.
 
I've watched a few youtube videos about resoling. Seems well worth it if the rest of the upper is good.
 
I have a pair of Dubarry sailing boots. Stored in my sail bag over the winter, but now the sole is beginning to peel away from the uppers. The uppers seem good to me, do you think they might be repairable?

Replacements seem expensive.
I used The Boot RepairCompany at Rochkord in Essex. You can find them on-line. They made a fantastic job of resoling an old pair of Henri Lloyd boots which had suffered similar problems to your Dubarrys. Interestingly they used Dubarry soles for the repair. The new soles have excellent non-slip properties too. The repair wasn't cheap but its quality is so good that the fifteen year old boots now look almost new. No connection with the company, just a very satisfied customer.

Mike
 
Dubarry offer a resoling service for the older type... Not the moulded sole design... Maybe check their website.
 
I have checked their website and have emailed them pics of the boots as they suggested on said Web page.

The response will be interesting.
 
I have checked their website and have emailed them pics of the boots as they suggested on said Web page.

The response will be interesting.

Sadly I wouldn't expect the manufacturer to be interested - they certainly weren't with my hiking boots. They will likely be more interested in selling you a new pair - that's the way of the world I'm afraid. I also avoided the 'send them away' overpriced 'specialist'.

The above process reduced my cost from new boots > £65+ > £18 for the eventual repair!
 
Here is Dubarry's reply

Thank you for the email and photos. Unfortunately we would not be able to repair to standard ads the midsole has started to perish mostly du to age but there are other factors. We are sorry about this.

Kind regards

Matthew

Dubarry Service Team
 
Here is Dubarry's reply

Thank you for the email and photos. Unfortunately we would not be able to repair to standard ads the midsole has started to perish mostly du to age but there are other factors. We are sorry about this.

Kind regards

Matthew

Dubarry Service Team
Tay's a pity. They repaired my old-style pair for €65 about 5-6 years ago. The boots failed in the same manner as yours seem to have, the foam-type material between the soles and the uppers turning into crumbly dust.
 
If you're a "practical boat owner" resoleing boots is not that difficult if they are resoleable. I've had various quotes over the years from cobblers and all have been prohibitively expensive. Its worth a go if they're a write off anyway. There's plenty of on line advice. I use a belt sander upside down in a vice as a linisher to prepare the surfaces and finish the welts and a few G clamps and blocks of wood to apply pressure to the adhesive. The main problem is sourcing soles. Some suppliers will only supply to the trade. Its very satisfying to give boots a new lease of life. One of my efforts is coming up for its second resole and the uppers are still in good condition.
 
I have resoled my wife's walking boots with a specialist glue - got online but can't recall the name.
One thing I used is urethane glue (ex Aquasure), it is incredibly sticky it is used to glue or mend components which must remain flexible and be watertight, for example holes in fishermen rubber tall boots, or neoprene wetsuits. I used it over the internal stitching in my goretex trouser as they were not waterproof any more and got a couple more season from them. I tried on my leather boots (not Dubarry) and it sort of worked, but I applied it after having tried first contact glue then sikaflex, so maybe I was asking too much; I would use that before anything else.
 
Klebfest works for me but the tubes have a very short shelf life. I just modified my PVC dinghy using some two part contact adhesive containing epoxy. It's incredibly tenaceous stuff and may try that next time.
 
Sorry. Resoleing was 125quid, plus the UK company that could do the work would not post to Ireland, New boots were 179.But Gull brand, not Dubarry. I'm not sure if I'd bother with Dubarry again. Which is a shame as they are based here in Ireland I believe.
 
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