Leather sailing boots

Ammonite

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Over the past few years I've had two pairs of top end Musto sailing boots that have been great for a couple of years before the sole goes rock hard and you're sliding all over the place. Maybe its the way Ive been treating them, I dont know, but I only wear them for the purposes intended and (some) associated trips ashore, while my wifes cheapo rubber variety remain fine. I'm loathed to go down this route as I like the comfort and look of a proper leather boot but dont want to be splashing out £200+ for something that only lasts 2 - 3 years, an aspect which is understandably not covered by the reviews. Any suggestions or are other makes the same? Its the duration of the sole / grip I'm really interested in. Thanks
 
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KINGFISHER 9

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I've had 'non-slip' deck shoes go hard in the same way ... jump off the swim platform on to the pontoon and you're off like Torville & Deane .... I've found over the years that razor cut soles are the best for non slip and they don't seem to lose their grip with age. - both boots and shoes. They do need a good mat to wipe them on to save any possible grit being stuck to them.
 

jwfrary

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You know what, the new dubs aren’t what they used to be but they are still the best....ummed and ard about the lastest pair, last ones went 5 years of hard commercial use and my waterproofs have gone the same way. Now, 5 years seems about the lot. I’ll be suffering a damp bum for a couple of years before the waterproofs get changed!
 

Euphonyx

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You know what, the new dubs aren’t what they used to be but they are still the best....ummed and ard about the lastest pair, last ones went 5 years of hard commercial use and my waterproofs have gone the same way. Now, 5 years seems about the lot. I’ll be suffering a damp bum for a couple of years before the waterproofs get changed!
I'd say 5 years of commercial use is as good a testament as they could wish for!
 

wully1

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Last year I had my 20 year old Dubarry boots relined and re-soled in the factory for 50 Euro. Good for another 20.
I had mine refurbed too. I love them and hope to get another refurb out of them.
The new ones can’t be refurbed which is sad.

My land based equivalents are a pair of Altberg walking boots which can be refurbed - hand made in Yorkshire, dry,warm and oh so comfortable
 

LiftyK

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I can recommend something that has restored two pairs of much loved sailing footwear for me. It’s easy and inexpensive. After fixing a leaking inflatable canoe with the very wonderful Stormsure, I had the idea to try revive shoe soles with it. Contacting Stormsure for advice, they’re always helpful and responsive, I learned that it would be more effective and much cheaper to
1. Buy a tube of Stormoprene adhesive from Stormsure
2. Visit Pinbax online shop and buy Pinnell & Bax Pro Grip Patch - 8x12 cm Rectangle, £1.52
3. With regular scissors, cut the patch to fit and glue it on. Job done.

It works! In my experience, size 5 feet will use two patches. Anything bigger will need three patches, to cover heel and front. The glue is sufficient for very many patches. The result looks great and the grip is excellent. Keep those shoes going for many more seasons.
 

KompetentKrew

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No pair fitted me as well the Dubarrys, as each size is available in regular and wide.

I ended up getting a deal on another brand, but I'm not sure accepting it was really such good value.
 

Babylon

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I once started a thread on this very subject when the soles of my expensive Henri Lloyd leather boots went rock hard after a couple of years: getting off my boat in winter and alone onto my mid river mooring I literally went flying and came down head-first, my skull missing a large metal cleat by barely an inch, but at least the cleat proved to be a life-saver as I could just grab it to stop myself continuing into the freezing river.

HL eventually replaced them for free, but the replacements had to be thrown away for exactly the same reason two years later! (Which proved that the problem was intrinsic to the sole material and not how or where I stored them when not in use.)

If a car tyre was manufactured with the same cynically designed-in case-hardening and non-replaceability, there'd be carnage on the roads, but for some reason Dubarry, Musto etc can get away with this?!

After a few years of wearing rubber boots I went back to leather for breatheability and comfort, but at least my Orca Bay boots (which have so far lasted for three years) are only half the price of Dubarrys.
 

Ammonite

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I was under the impression from some of the earlier posters that the Dubarry's were better in this respect? Can anyone else comment on the longevity of the grip with these?
 

jwfrary

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I was under the impression from some of the earlier posters that the Dubarry's were better in this respect? Can anyone else comment on the longevity of the grip with these?

my old ones are less grippy that the new ones but perfectly acceptable. (I’m still wearing them in the yard/garden/garage)

have to say on the car tyre example, they do go hard. The fronts on my bmw (brigestone potenza so not cheap tyres) were marked 2016 date code and they were appalling no grip at all. Changed them out it’s like driving a new car. Like all rubbers they go hard. It’s just you normally wear them out before that happens.

I guess yachting Boots are pretty low mileage so the problem is exacerbated.
 

Ammonite

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I can recommend something that has restored two pairs of much loved sailing footwear for me. It’s easy and inexpensive. After fixing a leaking inflatable canoe with the very wonderful Stormsure, I had the idea to try revive shoe soles with it. Contacting Stormsure for advice, they’re always helpful and responsive, I learned that it would be more effective and much cheaper to
1. Buy a tube of Stormoprene adhesive from Stormsure
2. Visit Pinbax online shop and buy Pinnell & Bax Pro Grip Patch - 8x12 cm Rectangle, £1.52
3. With regular scissors, cut the patch to fit and glue it on. Job done.

It works! In my experience, size 5 feet will use two patches. Anything bigger will need three patches, to cover heel and front. The glue is sufficient for very many patches. The result looks great and the grip is excellent. Keep those shoes going for many more seasons.
The Musto's have been donated to my nine year old who shuffles out in them every morning to feed her rabbits so Im unlikely to get them back! It just seems ridiculous that you need to resort to sanding the soles or sticking patches on them. My 10 year old trainers still grip and dont mark the deck whereas I cant even walk down my barely sloping drive in something costing 5 times the price
 
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Ammonite

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my old ones are less grippy that the new ones but perfectly acceptable. (I’m still wearing them in the yard/garden/garage)

have to say on the car tyre example, they do go hard. The fronts on my bmw (brigestone potenza so not cheap tyres) were marked 2016 date code and they were appalling no grip at all. Changed them out it’s like driving a new car. Like all rubbers they go hard. It’s just you normally wear them out before that happens.

I guess yachting Boots are pretty low mileage so the problem is exacerbated.
Car tyres do deteriorate with age but not to the extent of my boots! Maybe I should acquaint manufacturers with the Avarca if only it wouldnt mark the deck :)
Avarca - Wikipedia
 

fien397

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Yep I'd agree you shouldn't have to sand your shoes down :) It does work though, also has the effect of sharpening the edges of the tread pattern

it seems to me that since dubarry changed to a compound that can be thermally welded/moulded they became more susceptible to this. The old ones which dubarry could repair had a more traditional glue on sole.

that said. IMO they are still the best, but the dropping of half sizes, and making them so they can't be re soled is pretty disappointing.
 

Skylark

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I've had a pair of Dubarry boots for a good few years and they have given me perfectly acceptable service. I was disappointed to learn that they could not be resoled and felt a bit duped into buying them based upon their reputation, which is no longer the case.

My Dubarry's reside on the boat but I'm lucky to be able to sail on a number of different boats so a few years ago I bought a second pair. A bit of research led me to Quayside. Made of leather, breathable, warm and comfortable. To be honest, they are every bit as good and possible better than Dubarry, other than they don't have The Solent must-have logo.:)
 

SvenH

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I've had my Dubarry's resoled at the local shoe repair guy, he said that especially the older ones (like mine) had the soles/bond deteriorate over time and had quite a few resoled. He could get original soles, even though based in the Netherlands
 

billyfish

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I'll never buy that type of boot again . Cheapo rigger boots for under 50 quid , plastic toe cap,fur lined, comfy. Just like breathable waterproof clothing . Tosh . I'm 64 and just got my second set of Guy Cotton weathers fully waterproof they don't 'breath' I'm glad to say as it keeps me warm with proper wool underneath. Stop supporting companies that don't deliver what should be easy. RANT OVER
 

Ingwe

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The main thing is to never ever wear your decent boots when you are cleaning your deck with any form of deck cleaner as the chemicals in a lot of them react with the rubber on the soles and make them go hard - since realising this my current boots (must now be 6-7 years old) still have nice soft rubber soles.

Also obviously never store them in direct sunlight for the same reason.
 
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