Deck shoes leaking

[davidwf]

Recently bought a pair of Chatham Schooner deck shoes ( 2 year warranty) they are fantastically comfortable but left shoe leaks even in light rain so you get a wet foot.

Sent them back to Chatham under warranty who stated that as they are hand sewn only one shoe leaking is not a manufacturing fault. Obviously the person sewing the left wasn't very good. Strange how they major on the sole being really non slip on wet decks but its ok for them to leak.

In fairness to Chatham their web site does say that their deck shoes are not waterproof, however to me that means not waterproof in torrential rain or if I stand in a puddle. I have a pair of boots for that.

My old Dubarrys, Musto, M&S, Orca Greens and a multitude of other worn out deck shoes do not leak.

So beware if you want to keep your feet dry don't buy hand stitched shoes.

 

[sailorman]

i didnt realise that deck shoes were waterproof

 

[richardbrennan]

If its any consolation, my Sebagos leak as well. I never, in common with sailorman, thought they would be waterproof, I wear boots if it is wet.

 

[davidwf]

If its any consolation, my Sebagos leak as well. I never, in common with sailorman, thought they would be waterproof, I wear boots if it is wet.

Yes agree I wear boots when its wet but light rain for a couple of minutes is in my opinion something a shoe should be able to withstand.

 

[prv]

My current deck shoes are not waterproof. I wouldn't expect them to be. The old ones not only were not waterproof, but actually soaked up water in the inside of the sole and took forever to dry.

Pete

 

[TYKE]

Recently while stepping over guard wires when rafted up it came home to me how important it is that deck shoes should float!

 

[penfold]

Recently while stepping over guard wires when rafted up it came home to me how important it is that deck shoes should float!

If you're still in them you don't want them to be bouyant!

 

[Searush]

My 10quid pairs from Aldi/ Lidl are fine in rain & wet sand/ light mud - soles have good anti-slip properties too.

I suspect you have been duped by the fashionista's marketing hype. You don't always get better by paying more y'a know.

Hand stitched? Really? One stitch at a time using an awl? Or hand stitched on a machine - like all other (non-glued) shoes? Or are they moccasin style (like mine) which have to be hand stitched?

 

[alant]

i didnt realise that deck shoes were waterproof

Mine are!

Put them in the washing machine from time to time & still ok.

Waterproof in my oppinion, means that they do not fall apart when wet.

Or lose colour onto my feet, or get crinkled whelts because the stitching has shrunk.

 

[westhinder]

Not waterproof is one thing...

My current deck shoes are not waterproof. I wouldn't expect them to be.

Neither are my Sebago's and neither do I expect them to be. But what's worse, is the odour my most recent pair develop after a few hours' use. I have worn Sebago's for over 20 years now and this is the first pair that has done this. None of my other shoes behave like this, I can wear my Dubarry boots all day long without the merest hint of an odour.
Washing them does not help, an anti-odour spray brings no lasting solution. Any advice?

 

[JohnP]

Put plenty of clear dubbin over the holes and leave for a couple of days. I do this with all of my sailing shoes. I recently bought some Clarks leisure/walking shoes. Leaked at first sign of rain. Dubbin has cured the problem.

 

[davidwf]

Put plenty of clear dubbin over the holes and leave for a couple of days. I do this with all of my sailing shoes. I recently bought some Clarks leisure/walking shoes. Leaked at first sign of rain. Dubbin has cured the problem.

Many thanks for this suggestion, I have some Nikwax for my walking boots that I will use.

I find it strange however that so many people seem to accept that deck shoes leak, after all the manufacturers shout from the treetops all about their super non slip soles that work great in the wet.

As in my first post I have had many different pairs of shoe that I have worn out over the last 40 years sailing and not one pair has leaked to the extent of these "hand made ones".

Oh and I bought them not to waste money but because they are extremely comfortable to wear, something I have found hard to find in cheap ones.

 

[alant]

Neither are my Sebago's and neither do I expect them to be. But what's worse, is the odour my most recent pair develop after a few hours' use. I have worn Sebago's for over 20 years now and this is the first pair that has done this. None of my other shoes behave like this, I can wear my Dubarry boots all day long without the merest hint of an odour.
Washing them does not help, an anti-odour spray brings no lasting solution. Any advice?

Had this problem with an expensive pair of Musto 'technical' deck shoes (thought I should modernise my image). However, after one wearing on a trip to France, with these deck shoes never getting wet, they had a strong agricultural smell. Complained to Musto & was advised that any salt should be washed off with fresh water after each use & please buy some of our anti smell gunk.

Told them this was a load of bullucks & eventually got a refund + lots of vouchers to spend at one of their franchise shops (only Bicester is actually Musto).

 

[Burnham Bob]

the smell is very probably due to a new synthetic material being used that doesn't breathe like leather or suede. i have always worn clarks sandals and had no problems but buying a pair from a different manufacturer with a synthetic footbed i found a faint whiff developed - which is odd when you consider sandals are open. i think the synthetic footbed accumulates sweat and moisture that then harbours bacteria.

 

[Leighb]

My experience of several brands of deck shoes is that they all leak if walking through long wet grass, or standing water.

They don't need to be waterproof to be comfortable grippy deck shoes. For wet conditions at sea I wear boots, otherwise deck shoes, in fact I hardly ever wear any other footwear. I do have a pair of black shoes for weddings, funerals etc.

Currently I am on my 4th or 5th pair of Henri-Lloyds, before that it was Chatham, and back when I felt more affluent I had Dubarry.

 

[jamesjermain]

Neither are my Sebago's and neither do I expect them to be. But what's worse, is the odour my most recent pair develop after a few hours' use. I have worn Sebago's for over 20 years now and this is the first pair that has done this. None of my other shoes behave like this, I can wear my Dubarry boots all day long without the merest hint of an odour.
Washing them does not help, an anti-odour spray brings no lasting solution. Any advice?

Put them in the freezer for 24 hours

 

[reginaldon]

My 10quid pairs from Aldi/ Lidl are fine in rain & wet sand/ light mud - soles have good anti-slip properties too.

I suspect you have been duped by the fashionista's marketing hype. You don't always get better by paying more y'a know.

Hand stitched? Really? One stitch at a time using an awl? Or hand stitched on a machine - like all other (non-glued) shoes? Or are they moccasin style (like mine) which have to be hand stitched?

A man after my own heart - mine came from Ald,i however I still wear open sandals, feet rarely feel the cold, maybe they will when I get old - I'm a mere octagenarian at present.

 

[richardbayle]

My experience of several brands of deck shoes is that they all leak if walking through long wet grass, or standing water.

Err, deck shoes, long grass? On a boat?

Hmm if you wore your deck shoes on my boat after walking through wet grass you'd catch an edge, I can tell you.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

for those of you who remember Xwww.themainsail.comX .... I won a pair of Dubarry GoreTex deck shoes from them having given an in depth write-up on a particular outboard engine.
They are still totally waterproof several years on but you'd never catch me paying over a hundred quid for a pair!

 

[MissFitz]

Had this problem with an expensive pair of Musto 'technical' deck shoes (thought I should modernise my image). However, after one wearing on a trip to France, with these deck shoes never getting wet, they had a strong agricultural smell. Complained to Musto & was advised that any salt should be washed off with fresh water after each use & please buy some of our anti smell gunk.

Told them this was a load of bullucks & eventually got a refund + lots of vouchers to spend at one of their franchise shops (only Bicester is actually Musto).

+1

Well not me, him. He's a sucker for anything fancy & technical, saw an ad for the Mustos & went rushing out to get a pair, after two wearings they were no longer tenable in a confined space. Sadly didn't occur to me to pester Musto for a refund, wish I had!