Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

[ricohman]

The admiral and I had a bit of an altercation today. Lets put it to a poll.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Yes, I care.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

She walked on the forward area that is painted with her gravel/sand cover shoes then threw them through the forward hatch into the cuddy.
Gravel and sand on the bed. She would never treat the house like this.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

It's not that big of a worry when you have a vinyl deck finish... just hose it off at the end of the day.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

It's not that big of a worry when you have a vinyl deck finish... just hose it off at the end of the day.

The deck is vinyl, but I don't want to hose out the cushions in the cuddy.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Shoes don't make it any further than the swim platform on our boat. And if your feet are that dirty, you had better learn to walk on water before you come aboard.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

The deck is vinyl, but I don't want to hose out the cushions in the cuddy.

Simple fix:

Demote Admiral to Swabbie and see how she like cleaning grit and filth out of seat cushions.... unless you don't have the "jewels" for it.... but then you'll need to follow her around like a Chihuahua making sure her feet are clean before she sits in the cuddy.

 

[the vision]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Don't want it in my boat , but if it happens just hose it off no big deal. I'm gonna wash the boat when we get home anyways.

 

[generator12]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Yeah, I care. Don't like it in my pickup either, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Abhor it in my Mustang, but, again, sometimes it's unavoidable. But in the boat, it's a choice.

 

[Tagerman]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Doesn't bother me on the outside areas and deck. I use the transom shower to push it down the drains and out the side of the boat. When it comes to the cabin I don't let any shoes in the cabin and all are asked to wash feet before entering. I'm very particular about keeping the cabin clean.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Sand/gravel covered shoes on the paint,,, OUCH!

It's not that big of a worry when you have a vinyl deck finish... just hose it off at the end of the day.

I don't think you have have a lot of people climbing into your boat from shore...... Mud will get tracked all over the place and sand will find every crack and crevice. Sure you can flush it out to some degree with water, but eventually you will have a bunch of trapped sand in a tinny boat. It's best not to let sand and mud to get in the boat in the first place.

After a 3 day camping trip to the lake I had sand all over the place as I didn't have a good way for people to get into the boat with clean feet. I went out and bought a folding step stool and chopped the legs off at and angle to match the shore, swish your foot in the water and step on the stool then swish your other foot around and step into the boat. Works great in sand, not so good in mud/clay. When leaving the beach, reach over the side, grab the stool, swish it off, fold it up and stow it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

I have non-skid. "Boat" shoes only. I don't know anyone would track mud or gravel into the cockpit of a boat out of respect. Some sand is expected when you live on the coast.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

I'd join the others in checking the box marked "I care but it's part of life."

Like anything, isn't it a matter of degree? You should see my white boat after a weekend duckhunting and loading in and out from the marsh with hip boats and black mud. If I had a wooden restored varnished boat, of course I'd keep the sandy feet off the deck. Loading 4 adults, 6 yound children and beach stuff from the beach, it's sand city. Hose it off.

I treat my boats like a pick-up truck and would regard your question like caring for the bed--you don't intentionally scratch it up and you do what you can to reduce it, but it's there to be used.

but dropping sandy shoes through the hatch is just sloppy

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Yeah, I care. Don't like it in my pickup either, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Abhor it in my Mustang, but, again, sometimes it's unavoidable. But in the boat, it's a choice.

As long as my crew does the best they can to avoid it I can wash up later but don't blatantly muck up the boat or you won't get invited back.

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

I bought a 87 Sport Craft 210 Fisherman out of Florida last year. The original owner would allow clean shoes only (he said invariably some dirt/sand gets in). He had a dust buster vacuum that he would use to clean up after people exited the boat. He did this every time he used it. I know he wasn't lying, because that boat has a floor that looks show room new, not to mention the rest of the boat looking that good. So I think there is some sense to carefully managing your deck. Remember that sand and dirt acts just like sand paper and will scratch/ruin your deck if not cleaned up regularly.

I have good friend who has a Ranger 620. The fiberglass floor is trashed in it, but he's a pro fisherman and he'll just sell the boat and buy another in a few years. I'm like the old guy who I bought my boat from. I want to make it last, so I've continued the tradition on the boat he started. I figure if it's worked this long, it will as long as I own it as well. -Joe

 

[Expidia]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Haha, funny you mentioned sand. I walk around barefoot in my boat. After returning to boat from parking lot, I rinse my (black) Crocs off before I get into the boat and then am barefoot. If I'm walking around and feel a grain of sand on the deck under my toe I have to bend down and pick it up But my wife gets into boat in her boating shoes (this is probably where those stray grains of sand come from).
I don't require my Wife or guests to wash their feet and shoes before they enter the boat (I just have them shake them off). If you get to anal on your wife or guests they won't want to ever go with you. Then you be out boating all by yourself (just you and your worms).

Sure you can wash your deck down after use, but during all those hours each time you are on it sand is like sandpaper to "any" finish constantly wearing down your deck.
If I had a larger boat like a cruiser, I'd just keep a dustbuster on board to clean up any sand.

My boat is 5 years old and it still looks like the day I first brought it home. And I use it a hell of a lot for 8 months too. I just like keeping stuff pristine, especially for resale each time I move up.

I have a Brother in Law with a big boat. A 46 footer. I used to call him Captain Bligh because he went ballistic if you stepped on his white deck in anything but boat shoes . . . you were dead meat .

And I learned to know there was a reason for everything he "barked out at us".

People come to your boat wearing non boat shoes that instantly mar up your deck. They dont have to clean the black marks off (I have to). Some come wearing black sneakers or similar which place black streaks across the deck. Women guests especially if they are invited down to the boat at night (not speaking of my 14 footer) sometimes even come in high heels to his boat .
He would keep a basket on the dock to deposit your shoes in first. Sand on his deck, not a chance. But his boat is probably 20 years old and it still looks brand new!

No sand on his deck (or you walk the plank):

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

I don't require my Wife or guests to wash their feet and shoes before they enter the boat (I just have them shake them off). If you get to anal on your wife or guests they won't want to ever go with you. Then you be out boating all by yourself (just you and your worms).

No sand on his deck (or you walk the plank):

LOL, Now those two comments made me laugh. I needed that, as my boat is in the boat hospital getting a new motor

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Pretty much impossible to avoid down here at the beaches and in the swamps and all. Besides, if you're worried about sand in the boat the whole time, you're not relaxing enough, and no one will want to go out with you again because they won't be able to relax either, which is sorta the point, right? Boats get wet, dirty, scratched, dented and dinged....on every trip! Nothing you can do about it. You gotta embrace it and make sure your boat is utilitarian enough to hose out at the end of the day and be done with it. That's why I'll never understand carpeting in a boat? I don't even like it in houses. Embrace he entropy and enjoy.

 

[SolingSailor]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

Standard procedure for landing parties: dunk you feet in the bucket at the boarding point. Dry with the towel near the bucket.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Do you care if people board with gravel/sand on their shoes or feet?

It depends whether I'm on a pleasure trip or fishing trip. No shoes in the boat on a pleasure trip. Take em off before you board. Fishing trip? No big deal, wash it off afterwords.

Mind you I don't have a 30 foot with a cuddy either...