Footwear for sailing?

We had a two week flotilla in the Med and I was barefoot on the boat 99% of the time. Loved it. But by the end the "textured" gripping plastic deck made my feet quite raw and I plan for deck shoes next time. I use normal crocs but after a while your feet go soggy with sweat :eek:. So socks or no socks in "deck" shoes? and what is the problem with leather? (ie how are you supposed to look after them in a wet and salty environment).
 
nigelmercier said:
Don't even consider leather. There will be howls of protest at this, I suggest you ignore them.
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Having largely eschewed animal products for a while, my bargain dubarry deckies were the first leather footwear I'd bought in about 20 years. I was actually pretty surprised that they take and recover from a good soaking very well and aren't at all bad to wear when wet. Obviously not as good in that department as my Tevas which I just plain don't care about getting a soaking. Interested to see Iain C's link: seems like crocs are evolving to be slightly less hideous.
 
Thanks for all the responses.
It would seem that as long as the footwear has a non marking sole that grips a wet deck then its down to personal preference.
I've got several pairs of trainers that meet the requirements plus my dinghy boots so will go armed with all of them for the weekend (might be staying on board saturday night).
Winter sailing I will probably wear my musto breatable dry suit (has rubber socks) along with dinghy boots.
Perhaps think more about fashion next spring.
 
Ok, unless you are sailing something very wet in the depths of winter a dinghy dry suit really isn't suitable. You know that bit in between races when you want to unzip it and get it off your neck? Yeah, that...all day.

If its not raining and there's no spray you are probably just better off with shirts or jeans and a few layers. I would also hesitate at dinghy boots...they really are not ideal. Dinghy kit is designed to work when wet, with pretty constant aerobic exercise keeping you warm, and moving around the boat every few minutes. Yacht kit is designed to be comfy enough for you to be stood or sat in the same place for hours on end, you're not supposed to be wet, and you need to be able to dump heat quickly when you have a short period of very high exercise, such as grinding a winch.
 
I use Dubarry (invariable pronounced Doobry on our boats) boots in the winter. In the summer it's either bare feet, manky old Sperry Topsiders, crocs or Keen sailing sandals depending on mood.
 
Iain C said:
Another vote for Crocs boat shoes. They are brilliant and easily get worn more than my Dubarry deckies or Musto boots now (OK that will change in winter).

Unlike normal crocs they look really good, and you can wear the same shoes all day...on the boat, in a wet dinghy, on the beach, in the surf, in the shower, around town and out to the pub. Highly recommended...in fact I've even sailed an RS600 in one and they were fine!
http://www.crocs.co.uk/crocs-mens-b...en_GB,pd.html?cid=0A6&cgid=men-footwear-shoes
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Those are "low key"? (Their claim.) Even the name of that colour "volt green" seems inappropriate for getting wet!

Mike.
 
The dark blue and white ones look just like normal deckies...especially when worn in a bit, they even start to crease like leather...
 
If it was my boat the most important footwear would be something other than what you were wearing before coming on board and that will have picked up all the grit from the street. Everyone I know in my marina has that golden rule for visitors and it is customary to shed the footwear before boarding. One (Swiss, of course) even has freshly clean, cloth, elasticated covers for whatever, or not, is on your feet.

In the Med. I - and any occasional crew - only wear deck shoes when stepping out on the searingly hot, teak planking during the heat of the day. However, I do accept that it is very easy to misstep and injure a foot on deck fittings in a seaway.
 
You will find most trainers nowadays are have none marking soles. I avoid trainers with metal on as they can scratch the gelcoat.

I have a pair of these for the winter:
zoom_asset_12892132.jpg

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-100-mens-winter-boots-black-id_8013019.html#avantages

In summer well barefooted, tired cheap deck shoes.

In the middle
20130806_172901_zps23328980.jpg

Although some disagreed with my choice of shoe, as my winter choice will demonstrate again...
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?367521-What-am-I-doing-wrong&p=4307490#post4307490
 
One additional thought, if I may.

If you wear court shoes (tennis, squash) or other trainers, be aware that some of them have long tongues. These can catch lines so when you step up you find a sheet is caught between the top of your ankle and the tongue. Proper sailing shoes are quite flat to avoid this.
 
mjcoon said:
Yes, but it says those are for kids in kids sizes "Kids' Beach Line Boat Shoe (Juniors')". Seems wrong way round, to me...

Mike.
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Well, unless my blue and white size 11s count as junior sizes, I think you may be struggling with their website ;-)
 
I usually wear something like these:
WGW23107.jpg
But I have to cross a quarter of a mile of boggy ground and a seaweed-covered pebble beach, then board the tender in shallow water to get to my boat ...
 
Iain C said:
Well, unless my blue and white size 11s count as junior sizes, I think you may be struggling with their website ;-)
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I didn't have a struggle, and just copied the words (perhaps I shouldn't have infringed copyright!). Did you look? Perhaps all the adult ones in the sensible colour got snapped up and only kids' sizes are left now...

Mike.
 
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