General Footware when messing about in /on boats

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I've always worn "proper" deck shoes, though more often M&S or Clarkes than Seabago, but a few wet trips back from the mooring after putting the boat to bed have got me thinking that tennies may well be the way forward.

I use M&S "deck shoes" as casual wear and perhaps on visits to the boat in the marina, but would never consider them as suitable for use on a wet, heaving deck. I currently use a relatively new pair of Dubarry sneaker/ mocassin semi-tech-style ones from their outlet shop in Kildare, and my twenty year old, re-soled Dubarry classic boots when it's wet or when I expect to have to stand/ walk in water.

 

[Stemar]

Gucci brings back Dunlop's '£30' Green Flash trainers with a £435 price tag

A fool and his money are soon parted.

If someone expects me to wear Gucci on their boat, I'll be wearing charity shop shoes as a matter of principle. Ok, I won't be invited back, but I rather doubt I'd want to go back, or even go the first time.

 

[Stemar]

I use M&S "deck shoes" as casual wear and perhaps on visits to the boat in the marina, but would never consider them as suitable for use on a wet, heaving deck.

Mine seem to give good grip, as good as the pair of Sebagos I got from TK Maxx. However, I do my best to avoid the wet, heaving deck bit. If I really must, I have a pair of Dubarry boots, but the fact that I've worn them a dozen times in the last ten years gives an indication of the success of my avoidance strategy

 

[Alfie168]

I just don't get bare feet on yachts. There is so much power in everything and moving around needs secure footwear with a level of support and protection. A stubbed toe is the least of your problems.

Stepping off onto a pontoon coming in in to moor up.. risk of splinters... turned ankles etc.

Moving around the boat in heavier weather, I just don't want people tentative about their feet. There is enough to worry about.

So on my boat - no-one is allowed bare feet. No flip flops. Proper foot-ware... deck shoes or non marking trainers etc in dry weather. Sailing boots or sailing wellies when wet.

Bare feet and wet boots are for dinghies.

M

It's nice to sail in bare feet, but there is far too fine a line to be drawn between stubbing your toe and breaking your toe for me to be tempted. I wear my Keen sandals with a toe cap.

 

[alahol2]

Crocs literide clogs, good grip but not cheap anymore.

 

[stranded]

Bare feet is fine in good weather. Clothing should match conditions

I’m bare feet when swmbo is contemplating a thicker pair of socks - aboard and ashore. I reckon I break a toe about once a month but it’s a price worth paying - shoes give my toes claustrophobia.

 

[Caraway]

I just don't get bare feet on yachts. There is so much power in everything and moving around needs secure footwear with a level of support and protection. A stubbed toe is the least of your problems.

Stepping off onto a pontoon coming in in to moor up.. risk of splinters... turned ankles etc.

Moving around the boat in heavier weather, I just don't want people tentative about their feet. There is enough to worry about.

So on my boat - no-one is allowed bare feet. No flip flops. Proper foot-ware... deck shoes or non marking trainers etc in dry weather. Sailing boots or sailing wellies when wet.

Bare feet and wet boots are for dinghies.

M

Do you require your crew to pipe you aboard as well?

 

[Gary Fox]

Closed toe sandals are great, I wear them all the time as I hate having soggy damp feet. My feet now have hard skin as nature intended, though I need small bolt-croppers to do my toenails.

 

[dansaskip]

Bare feet are fine - better grip than any footwear - and you don't suffer from soggy shoes - great advantage when you dinghy ashore and launching the dinghy from a beach . Yes you need to watch your step but then it pays to be careful anyway and not rush about the deck.
Thing is people in this country are not used to going barefoot at all and their feet are soft so you to toughen them up by going barefoot.
I sailor I knew in NZ rounded the horn barefoot and it is very common in NZ for people to go barefoot, town centres, supermarkets, offices .

 

[Poignard]

Bare feet are fine - better grip than any footwear - and you don't suffer from soggy shoes - great advantage when you dinghy ashore and launching the dinghy from a beach . Yes you need to watch your step but then it pays to be careful anyway and not rush about the deck.
Thing is people in this country are not used to going barefoot at all and their feet are soft so you to toughen them up by going barefoot.
I sailor I knew in NZ rounded the horn barefoot and it is very common in NZ for people to go barefoot, town centres, supermarkets, offices .

I once saw an African stub out a lighted cigarette end with his bare foot. Their soles of their feet (the ones who go barefoot from birth) are like the soles on shoes.

 

[colind3782]

White soled plimsolls which come up at Lidl once in a while for a couple of quid. When I see them I buy a couple of pairs and they last well and grip well and I don't care when they get covered in detritus.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Ahoy there ; many thanks for all the somments and suggestions posted on here;

My guess is that Deck Shoes are not for paddling in if using a Dinghy for Boat access
Welly Boots are not for Dinghy acess either cause they Hold water
Open sandles are for those whom embark from a pontoon and do not get wet or have close contacts with Deck Boat gear
So my present choice of Suit Boots seems ok for me in my circumstances ; them warm, afford some protection, do not hold water so appear dry once aboard, reasonable cost, can walk into the local Cafe Pub easily; so my choices made, thanks CP

 

[prv]

Bare feet if it’s warm enough and relatively calm. I do slip some shoes on when things get boisterous to reduce the risk of hurting my feet with a slip or stumble. I wear “lowland walking shoes” from Decathlon which are essentially just trainers in more muted colours. I do have some “proper” leather seaboots (don’t remember the brand, but not dubarrys) but with a deep and sheltered cockpit I rarely need to wear them. I have several pairs of wetsuit boots from years of various watersports activities, but I wouldn’t consider them for yacht sailing.

Pete

 

[Moodysailor]

Boots if it's raining, trainers if not. I'm not a huge fan of deck shoes anymore but after seeing the price of the new "trainer style" deck shoes, I realised I can use my old running trainers for less money & they work great, keep my feet cool, dry fast, and look good. My current ones are New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon. Loads of grip on non-skid, light and are so comfy I don't get any fatigue.
I don't run a much these days, but as I have two pairs of these and given how long they last, I doubt I'll need to buy anymore for a while!

FWIW - I'm another one in the "don't ask me how I know" camp when it comes to barefoot. I'm sometimes envious of those who do, I must be a lot more clumsy!

 

[PabloPicasso]

Such a shame what's happened to Dubarry. Why can't they continue to make the old type?? I won't buy a pair with moulded soles, just not worth it if they aren't repairable.