Deck shoes

[DavidTocher]

Friends who are richer than me wear proper deck shoes with leather laces but they find that the lace knots come undone easily.

Is there a special knot which will solve this problem?

 

[seaesta]

A well rigged noose from the yard arm may stop 'em coming aboard and prevent any uneccessary damages claims from your well - heeled but badly tied crew.

More seriously I think the answer lie in the tightness of the knot.

 

[Guest]

Hi, I have never really had this problem and swear by Dubarry leather deck shoes. I find one of the best tricks is to ensure that at some point they get nice and wet. This will help soften the leather and keep those laces from not coming undone. This might get those nice expensive shoes wet but thats what there for. Plus they wont fall over board every time they trip an the darn things!

 

[Sinbad1]

There is a special knot. I only discovered this after many years of leather laces coming undone.

When you make the first 'loop' of your bow, you will always run the free end of the leather lace around the first 'loop' in a clockwise direction before pulling it through to make the second 'loop' which produces the bow.

You need to run the free end of the lace around the first 'loop' in an anti-clockwise direction.

This is damned awkward as you have been doing it the other way for hundreds of years.....but the end result is that when you pull your two 'loops' to tighten the bow, you are effectively creating a reef knot instead of your usual 'granny's knot'....it will last for weeks!

 

[jimi]

Really wet

I recently rescued a dubarry which had spent 3 days floating in the marina for its owner. Not only was the shoe unharmed but he never had any problems with the knot on that shoe again! There was significant marine life damage though, Richard!

 

[coliholic]

Well we've had some pretty weird and wonderful posts here in the past, but this has got to take the biscuit.

How to tie a shoe lace?

For heavens sake man, get a grip. Tell 'em to buy shoes with Velcro.

 

[ccscott49]

Used l;eather laces in the army for donkeys years, can't remember them coming undone much. Tie the knot very tight, old laces tie better, but you can ucse a bit of flag line/halyard, like I do when they break!

 

[DoctorD]

Use trainer type deck shoes

These don't look as nice but are much more practical and secure. I got a set of Harken trainer-type deck shoes in the US last year (at half the UK price) and they are much better than docksiders or similar trad leather shoes. Compass do reasonable price ones over here I believe.

 

[Guest]

Re: Really wet

i have rescued several mariners that have spent serveral days floating in the marina. Let me tell you that they have never smelt better than my dubarrys. Plus, unlike the soggy mariner, they are still dependable when there is no gin!

 

[Guest]

Re: Really wet

Does your marina often have dead bodies left to float in it for several days?

Please advise where so that I can avoid.

 

[Plum]

Re: Deck shoes - yes there is a special knot

Yes, there is a special knot (bow) for deckshoe laces that does not come undone but also releases easily. However, I cannot describe it in words. It is shown in the book called "The Rigging Handbook" by Brion Toss. I recall that he calls the knot a Turtle knot (or was it a tortoise knot?). If you really want me to try I will have a go at describing it in words.

 

[jimi]

Re: Really wet

Maybe they were'nt dead, just sober!

 

[pugwash]

Easy...

...but how to explain it?

Start with left over right as for an ordinary bow, or reef knot, then put in an extra one for luck. Tie the bow and pull very tight. If possible get it wet. With just the right tension you can slip your deeck shoes on and off like moccasins for the rest of the whole season and never touch the knot. One of the mags had a picture feature on this a year or so ago.

 

[billmacfarlane]

David , why are so interested in your friends' deck shoes ?

 

[bob_tyler]

Kinky?

 

[billmacfarlane]

Just what I was thinking . Shoe/foot fetishist ?

 

[DavidTocher]

I'm not. I don't have a foot or shoe fetish. Its the knot required that is of interest.

david

 

[jimi]

oh dear .. a bondage freak!

 

[Trevethan]

I am very surprised Pauline hasn't chimed in on this one....

 

[ToMo]

Give her time...she reciently had another birthday you know - comes to all of us!!!
1...2...3...4...5...good grief I got to 5 and I'm still alive! <G>
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