Nonskid Deck Shoes That Skid

[Ducati]

I have a fairly new pair of leather Sperry deck shoes. We races last weekend and they slipped all over the place. The decks were dry (no rain) and I would have been better off in bare feet. I was thinking of roughing up or sanding the bottoms in order to expose fresh rubber.

Comments?

 

[higgs]

Assuming the non skid deck is in reasonable condition, perhaps the shoes sat on the shelf for a long time. I have found that shoes that don;t get used get slippery over time. Sanding the soles certainly won't make them worse, will it?

 

[alexco38]

I have a pair of Sperry that does that too. May be the rubber has hardened. Another pair of Columbian deck shoe of the same age doesn't. Strange.

 

[rpwillia]

5 years

My Sperry's seem to last about 5 years before the soles get hard and lose their grip. I know about a year ago we had a bash fest on Sperry, but I personally like them. The newer sneaker models are great as they keep my feet comfortable all day which is no mean feat.

 

[Gail R]

My Sperry (by New Balance) sneaker-style boat shoes got run over the belt sander periodically. It helped. Then the entire sole started separating from the upper so I got a pair of Harkens.

 

[noprob2]

Teva sandal

The teva halyard shoe is the best boat shoe for hot chesapeake days
sticky on deck and cool as a flip flop
almost as good as bare feet with advantage you do not stub your toes
t

 

[KD3PC]

wearing boat shoes on asphalt, (oils and such) make them harden up..sanding them down or new ones...are about the only option.

second vote for Teva and I like ahnu as well, light open and easy

 

[Stu Jackson]

I bought a pair of the Sperry "sneaker" model and haver been very happy with it, except for one area on our boat - the cockpit sole. I've discussed this with a few folks, and their take is the non-skid is worn on the deck not the shoes. Could be, 'cuz I've tried any number of different shoes on that area. These new shoes hug like heck everywhere else on the boat, and I'm very happy with their grip and support.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I used to only buy Sperry "Top Siders." Not any more. I found their pattened sole would lose traction after only one or two seasons. Virtually any athletic shoe will work better and longer. I stumbled upon "Summer Sneakers" sold by L.L. Bean for $35 that are just about perfect. Light weight, dry fast, and great traction at a very good price. No more "Top Siders' for this kid....

 

[Chris Burti]

Try wiping with a little solvent...MEK, acetone, lacquer thinner...should soften up and clean glazed soles.

 

[RECESS]

I know this may be sacrilegious for some. I bought a pair of white soled Faded Glory loafers from Wal*Mart and keep them in the boat. I change my shoes at the boat so I do not absorb any thing getting there.

They cost me $8.50

 

[larryw]

I had a brand-new pair of Sperry's slide out from under me IN THE SLIP. They became my "dock party shoes" and I got a pair of sneaker-type Harkens on sale at WM

 

[Joe]

I've worn the Sperry "spinnaker" for years. Very comfortable, affordable, good looking and never experienced any slipping. It's an athletic style shoe. I've been know to purchase two pairs when WM has them on sale for under $40. Sperry and Harken have their $100 shoes also... but I like the spinnaker.

I have also found the Timberland leather, two eye, slip on to be very satisfactory but I don't wear it as a boat shoe that much any more since I found the other.
http://www.amazon.com/Timberland-Me...mage_z_x_0?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&img=0&color_name=x

My experience over the years is that the athletic type shoe is a far superior boat shoe in that it will stay on your feet and doesn't harden up. The leather slip ons will also SLIP OFF... so I have taken to wearing them as a good looking casual rather than a serious sailing shoe.

Finally, I've tried cheap shoes.. like the Wal-Mart type....... Sorry, but they hurt my feet and there is nothing worse than ill fitting shoes.

 

[zeehag]

i cou dnever find a sperry mqade shoe to not slip out from under me when i needed the traction--i go barefoot so i know i wont have the traction in the first place---i have always sailed barefoot...lol....in cold weather i wear sox with crocs...lol......

 

[rardiH36]

Shoes Marketed For Hard Court Tennis Are a Better Bet

When the BoatUS stores were closing down several years ago, I bought two pairs of Sperry Topsiders boating shoes at a to-crazy-to-pass-up $10/pr. The model purchased was similar to the one on this link:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=438277&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10120&subdeptNum=10863&classNum=10910

One of the pairs hasn't seen cement/asphalt except for the distance between my deck box on the dock near my bow and the boat. The other pair is still in its original box.

Turns out the (gum-colored semi transparent rubber) sole hasn't been very anti-skid even though my deck is recently redone with Interlux anti-skid granules added.

What has been much better for me are whatever shoe brand that I am using for tennis (Nike, Adidas, Head, Fila, or whatever has the best $ to tread wear deal at the time of purchase). This better on-boat traction even after I have worn the soles down smooth quite a bit on the tennis court. Also a good tennis club that has spent thousand’s $ on hard court surfaces has a similar standard for shoes as a boat owner: Soles need to be “non-marking”.

My Sperry shoes look the part for boating though. They would be perfect to compliment Kaki pants, a navy blue blazer, an Ivy League tie ... AND the mega-yacht I don't yet own. (Also don’t have an Ivy League degree – which I do respect very much.)

 

[higgs]

Zeehog

I assume you are not racing. I wear shoes on the course, but otherwise go barefoot.

 

[Stu Jackson]

but otherwise go barefoot.

Ouch!!!!

I keep hitting my now very shortened toes on the darned jib fairleads and midship cleats whenever I go forward and we have good wide side decks.

I salute you ,sir!

 

[Benny]

It could be the shoes but it could also be the presence of dried salt on the deck. It is always advisable to hose off a boat after every use but if you are going racing it would be good to hose it off before going out also.

Don't recommend going barefooted and have a few broken toes to back up the recommendation. (Cleats 3 - Toes 0)

 

[thereisabelle]

hate to sound cheap, but the best pair of boat sneakers i ever had were made by coleman. got em at the ft. laud boat show 15.00 back in late 80's. can't find them now. you would think you could walk up the mast. LOL!

 

[jibes138]

This may sound strange but

I have used Rockport boat shoes for years and have had great results with them. Never a problem with traction and i wear them all over the place. They have inserts like a running shoe so are very comfortable.
Last year I noticed a pair of flip flops on the boat and decided to wear them to go someowhere, the instant they hit the dock they went right out from under me, I was left dangling between the dock and the boat hanging onto the dock line to avoid going in, Very close to a serious injury, so test your shoes very gingerly before trusting your body to them.
I think the Rockports originated in Main but now I'm sure come from China.