Sailing boots.

[Allan]

I have been on my boat since new years eve and the only part of me that has been cold was my feet. I plan to buy some boots but I don't really want to pay the nearly £200 price tag I have seen on some. Are there any alternatives?
Allan

 

[MoodySabre]

Have a look at this
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=2106615

 

[Allan]

Thanks for that, that seems to have saved me half! I have been thinking of trying rigger boots first, before I go to proper sailing boots. I can get rigger boots for £25.
Allan

 

[jack_tar]

I think you would find that the steel toes in a pair of rigger boots act a a heat sink i.e the steel becomes v cold and thus your feet become cold. ok if you are walking around but largely standing still colder than anything else

 

[matelot]

and if you fell in the toe caps might act like a fishing weight ;-)

as an alternative to the fashionable leather boots why not some oversized rubber ones with wooly socks?

 

[FullCircle]

Try these -
We have had them for 2 seasons now, very warm as they are made from wetsuit material uppers, with moulded boot and deck show soles. Well insulated.

Around 60 quid if I remember.

http://www.yachtboot.com/range.php

 

[deaks]

Progressing from training shoes through to Black wellies I got fed up with cold and aching feet. Being at the helm for a few hours in bad weather made me go for the Musto HPX shorty boot with a good footbed added for comfort.
The Instructor on my Day skipper practical in 2003 was in his 3rd pair of Dubarry's that season and whore them simply because they came free with the job, every pair leaked.

The Mustos while not the cheapist do look after my feet, warm with thick socks and waterproof.
Buy the gear to fit the job, when the sun shines I wear my crocs!
Though at minus 7 this morning up in Cumbria I'll think I'll be indoors today.

 

[deaks]

By the way, the Mustos have lasted 4 years and about 5,000nm and are still in good nick.
Like any gear, look after them and they will look after you.

 

[brianhumber]

Expensive boots work because they are the easy way of putting insulation on your feet.

I buy large long lasting cheap farmers boots and wear multi-layers of cheap woollen socks. Result = warm dry feet and money in the bank

B

 

[samwise]

Dubarrys are not cheap but they are the business. Comfortable and warm, never sweaty. You could live in them! Likely that you'll spend more on unsatisfactory cheapos in the long term.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Hi Allan, I spent the first years in cheap wellies. I then sailed with ice on the sails in early November in the Clyde and the next uear I wore my new Musto HPX boots on a similar trip. They are a size too big and take some thick socks. Very, very good!
I also won some top of the range Dubarry Fastnet boots last year. Very good too and both types GoreTex. I've not experienced the extreme cold in the Dubarrys yet though.
It is probably true that GoreTex boots will not only keep you totally sweat free, but wont leak as cheaper ones can do, so allowing your feet to stay perfectly dry and so warm. However, in time, all boots will 'die' and let you down.
You obviously have to assess your needs and see how deep your wallet is. GoreTex is my choice whatever the make but if that's too expensive then cheaper boots a size too big and experiment with different types of socks and inserts is my advice.