Deck shoe laces

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Apr 2005
Messages
9,889
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
Has anyone found a knot that will not come undone on leather shoe laces? My deckshoes can be adjusted so that i never need to untie the laces but they come undone of their own volition. Solutions other than knots considered but not new shoes - these ones will last me for many years yet!
 
Throw the leather laces away and fit proper ones ...... Or try a bit of super glue on the knot . I've tried both with good results ;)
 
Leather shoelaces on boat shoes come undone if you insist on tying them in a bow. The best way is to tie them in a reef and further lock with hitches either side and then tuck the ends round and round the rest that comes out of the eyelets. Easy to slip off. If difficult to put on again use a shoe horn.
 
Thank you all. I'm going to try Nigels tip first (possibly with a drop of superglue). The laces are much too thick to tie the double knot and it's not possible to re thread with cord laces because they're sewn into the back part of the shoe. It would spoil the look of them to modify with velcro although that is a feature I'll look for on my next pair.
 
I don't have a diagram, but
Tie the usual half reef knot to start.
Start to tie the second part of the bow as in the TED talk, but keep it up clear of the first knot.
Then, holding the loop and tail on the right side together, pass them through the space again in the same direction.
Pull tight, adjusting loops and tails for length.

That's almost the same technique as "Ian's secure shoelace knot" which you can get to from the link in post #4. The difference is tucking a loop and an end instead of tucking both loops again. Thinking about it, it's probably the same result.

It never comes undone accidentally, but does come undone when you pull on an end. I used it for years on leather laces and still use it on my walking boots. (Don't wear deck shoes now, not enough support)

PS. Properly-made deck shoes have the lace in a tunnel round the back, not sewn in - so you can adjust the fit round the ankle.
 
ghostlymoron said:
Thank you all. I'm going to try Nigels tip first (possibly with a drop of superglue). The laces are much too thick to tie the double knot and it's not possible to re thread with cord laces because they're sewn into the back part of the shoe. It would spoil the look of them to modify with velcro although that is a feature I'll look for on my next pair.
Click to expand...

I bought a proper-looking deck-shoe type "velcro" pair four years ago and have worn them almost continuously - on and of the boat. Only this Spring have the soles worn so thin to become a tad uncomfortable on gravel etc., but they still stay fastened and comfortable. They look even better now stained with diesel, antifoul paint and blood .....
WISH I could find another pair. And being over 65 means I don't loose cred with my offspring!
 
The real solution is to wear Dubarry boots. They do not 'come undone' neither do they fall off or into the water at the critical moment (as one of mine did at 02.30 the other morning causing me to break a toe).

People may laugh and mock them but, at the slightest hint of sailing - off come the deck shoes and on go the boots.
 
chinita said:
The real solution is to wear Dubarry boots.
Click to expand...

I'm sure they're very nice when it's cold and wet. But most of the time a cheap pair of Decathlon trekking shoes do me - they're actually grippier than my "proper" deck shoes.

The "proper" deck shoes are the blue fabric-and-suede trainer style, not the traditional "poncing around in red trizers" pattern which I've always disliked. But even so, they haven't come out from under my bed since I realised my "working on the boat" shoes could also be my "sailing the boat" shoes.

And the non-leather laces do up securely with an ordinary double bow.

Pete
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top