Dubarry boots - slippery sole - solutions?

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West Coast

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I have an old (ish) pair of Dubarry boots (circa 15 years) - fair bit of use each season. No leaks, but over past year the sole grip has deteriorated and these are now very slippery, especially on teak cockpit floor

Suspect the sole material has maybe hardened? If so, any ideas how to reinstate the grip?
 
You did well. My Dubarry deck shoes went hard in two months. I got my money back from the chandlers but I have a feeling that you won't be as lucky. Over the years I have tried roughing up soles but with no effect and most of my shoes and boots go hard within a very few years. You would have to alter the composition of the material to make any difference and I don't know what would do this.
 
Thanks folks, google searches show this is a common problem with no immediate solution other than resole. Seems dubarry no longer resole their boots (according to my local chandler).

Reluctant to spend lots on such a boot if the soles are expected to harden after perhaps only 5 years or so........
 
West Coast said:
Thanks folks, google searches show this is a common problem with no immediate solution other than resole. Seems dubarry no longer resole their boots (according to my local chandler).

Reluctant to spend lots on such a boot if the soles are expected to harden after perhaps only 5 years or so........
Click to expand...
I have a pair of Musto Ocean Boots [https://www.marinesuperstore.com/footwear/boots/musto-hpx-ocean-boot] and consider that £200.00 is a pretty good price for something that keeps me warm and at a five year life, I am expecting 10, that would be £40 per year.

Are you sure you are not from Aberdeen?
 
My Dubarry boots are probably of similar vintage to the OPs, regretfully they were not made during the period when re-soling was an option.

On my boat, wet and dry, grip on the teak deck is fine. Strangely, I was on another boat recently and the boots had absolutely no grip on the teak (dry). It was verging upon being dangerous so I changed from boots to an even older pair of Dubarry deck shoes. No problem with grip when wearing these.
 
Try Vaseline and see if the material reacts. If it does it will soften up the rubber. Likely will be an elastomer that is resistant to oils though. What have you got to lose?
 
West Coast said:
Thanks folks, google searches show this is a common problem with no immediate solution other than resole. Seems dubarry no longer resole their boots (according to my local chandler).

Reluctant to spend lots on such a boot if the soles are expected to harden after perhaps only 5 years or so........
Click to expand...

Your local chandler is wrong. I dropped my 20 year old pair of boots into Dubarry in Ballinasloe last month as I drive by the factory regularly on trips to Galway. They replaced the soles and totally refurbed them including a new breathable lining and leather tops for €50. Basically a new pair of boots now.
 
Euphonyx said:
Your local chandler is wrong. I dropped my 20 year old pair of boots into Dubarry in Ballinasloe last month as I drive by the factory regularly on trips to Galway. They replaced the soles and totally refurbed them including a new breathable lining and leather tops for €50. Basically a new pair of boots now.
Click to expand...

That is very well worth knowing. Thanks.
 
Dubarry have a service agent in England, you email them a pic. of the boots, if they are of the repairable vintage they then ask you to send them to them, they do a complete refurbishment including resole, last year the charge was £65.
Google will find the address.
 
I don't subscribe to the theory that you shouldn't wear your sea boots when not on the boat, I think the sole benefits from a bit of abrasion while walking to and from the marina office.
Obviously check the soles for grit before you climb back on board.
 
Quandary said:
Dubarry have a service agent in England, you email them a pic. of the boots, if they are of the repairable vintage they then ask you to send them to them, they do a complete refurbishment including resole, last year the charge was £65.
Google will find the address.
Click to expand...
+1
 
Red Panda said:
I don't subscribe to the theory that you shouldn't wear your sea boots when not on the boat, I think the sole benefits from a bit of abrasion while walking to and from the marina office.
Obviously check the soles for grit before you climb back on board.
Click to expand...

Many people have a pair of Dubarrys for on board and a pair of el cheapos for the hard...
 
The soles of two consecutive pairs of Henri Lloyd leather GoreTex boots became hard and dangerous after only a couple of years or so (the second pair were a free replacement for the first)! Now I just wear my brother's ten-year old Gill rubber seaboots which he once left aboard, or deck shoes in fine weather, and normal shoes when going ashore.

Why piss several hundred quid against the wall for technology that isn't fit for purpose?
 
I did a North Sea trip once in April.............my Dubarry boots kept my feet much warmer than the rest of me. Dont know if rubber boots would have done the job.
 
"Dont know if rubber boots would have done the job."
Rubber boots will keep your feet dry.
Good, thick boot/skiboot socks will keep your feet warm.
There is no need to pay through the nose.
 
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