Catalina 22 Spreader boots

Mar 20, 2015
3,094
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
Making Leather Catalina 22 Spreader boots

My rubber spreader boots had definitely seen better days.
I had wrapped tape around them until I got around to getting, or making, new ones.

Old Rubber Boot.jpg

What to use now ?

In addition to the traditional leather, and the typical rubber ones available, I discovered that there are some newer designs, made of woven cloth, that allow moisture to drain & evaporate.

https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?5338

Taylor also makes some like that, but none of the local suppliers list them or have them in stock.
I figure I'll make or buy some of these, but I wanted a quicker solution.

I have some Moose hide, and some thread I used when working on my boat cover, so I decided that I'd try make some leather ones.

Using "Inkscape" (an open source vector based graphics program), I created a template, based on an image I found online.
I then used some old blue jean material to make a test version, to see if the dimensions were right.

It was then a simple task to trace and cut two copies from the Moose hide, mark and punch the stitching holes with a awl, and stitch them onto the spreaders with a "herring bone" stitch.

Stitching was a bit of a hassle initially, but it was easy once I did one side.
I used a large curved needle, and the same UV protected thread I used on my DIY boat cover.

$60 for leather spreader boots ? How about ones in true Canadian materials for Free ? LOL

FWIW: Thrift stores are a good source of pieces of leather. A single cowhide jacket would supply enough leather for multiple little projects.

Moose Hide Boots.jpg Installed Boots.jpg

A PDF version of the template is below.

Printing instructions on the template

Thread holes on template are a location guide, and don't need to be as big as shown. As long as your needle and thread fit through the hole it is fine.

C22 Leather Spreader Boot Template.pdf
 

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Last edited:
Sep 14, 2014
1,251
Catalina 22 Pensacola, Florida
So what is the import tariff on them, I wont tell the big orange haired guy if you wont.
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,094
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
So what is the import tariff on them, I wont tell the big orange haired guy if you wont.
hehe. I figure you can scuff the PDF up a bit so it appears like it's old. :laugh:

I just got back from working at a music festival. Should have time to do the PDF tomorrow. :)
 
Dec 5, 2011
550
Catalina Catalina 22 13632 Phenix City
Thanks for posting, I think I'll give this a try as I have some leather laying around the shop some where.