Footwear and falls

[airdvr1227]

Fell getting on to my boat yesterday. Second time since we've owned her. This time caught my flip flop on a line as I was stepping down to the swim platform. Only thing that kept me from going in the drink was catching my shorts on the rear cleat. Complete yardsale on the swim platform. Also, last time involved catching a flip flop on a line. A friend of mine suggested that flip flops are a contributing factor and shouldn't be worn while boating. Thoughts?

 

[JASinIL2006]

I haven't tripped wearing flip flops on my boat, but I almost never wear them just because they seem to catch on stuff. I much prefer Tevas. They attach much more securely to my foot and don't catch as much stuff.

 

[southkogs]

I thought we just had a topic like this, but now I can't find it.

I generally wear flip-flops around and on the boat, but that's as much because I typically stash 'em on board and go barefoot as much as possible. I've got a smaller boat (20ft) and I'm not up running around on it that much. Even when I was sailing more, I was mostly in bare feet - I'd meet the hardware from time to time, but not too bad.

If it wasn't going to be barefoot for me, I'd probably find a pair of canvas boat shoes.

 

[fhhuber]

My main issue tends to be the shoe sole slipping on a wet deck. Even with the pebble grained fiberglass this can be a problem.

Its hard to find a gum rubber soled shoe any more and the modern plastics I have been finding just don't grip as well.

But... Converse has their old All-Star (used to be what EVERYONE wore for HS gym shoes) which comes in a version that is really close to the old gum rubber sole (still not real gum rubber) and gives the best grip I have found.

 

[jkust]

Back in the day, I said i'd never own Crocs when they came out. They looked silly. My wife bought me a pair and I quickly realized they are superior to flip flops having had decades with flip flops and breaking a pair or two every season and of course catching them on things. My suggestion then is replace the flip flops with Crocs. Other than the rear strap tearing around the rivit, they are indistructable. My kids can wear through the bottoms but i've not come close.

 

[gm280]

I guess I am at the totally opposite end of this scenario. I can't walk without shoes on. And I never ever think about boating without shoes. Stepping on a fish hook and stubbing toes is never a good thing in my book. So I have to wear shoe that fit well and protect the feet everywhere I go. Just the way I am. :noidea:

 

[wrvond]

As my diabetes progresses the damage to my feet continues to worsen. This means that I can no longer feel my toes, so I seem to not be picking my feet up as high as I used to. Small things trip me easily these days and my balance is out the window.I have to be slow and deliberate in just about everything I do. I can't go barefoot on hard surfaces due to the Morton's neuroma, and even shoes hurt. The only thing I've found that doesn't hurt too much is some kind of slip on thing from Nike. I hate those things because they won't come off when I want them too, and won't stay on when I want that.
So, I don't regard the flip flops as much of a trip hazard if you are used to wearing them. Instead, I'll bet you were tired, distracted, and/or in a bit of a hurry.

 

[thumpar]

I usually wear flip flops on boat days but throw them in the boat before I get in and throw them out to go get the trailer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

deck shoes......designed for boat decks......

or bare feet

 

[mjf55]

No flip flops on a boat. My wife was pressuring cleaning the deck of out walkaround, she steped down the stair to the main deck, slipped, fell, landed on her back, with her shoulder blade hitting the step.
Fractured her scapula. 4 weeks in a sling. Will not be fully healed until Christmas time frame. Will probably always have some pain, especially when the weather changes ( Orthopedic Doctor said she is now the weather lady ).
I thank God she did not fall OUT of the boat ( it's on a trailer).

No flip flops on a boat, at any boat I own.

 

[jkust]

I guess I am at the totally opposite end of this scenario. I can't walk without shoes on. And I never ever think about boating without shoes. Stepping on a fish hook and stubbing toes is never a good thing in my book. So I have to wear shoe that fit well and protect the feet everywhere I go. Just the way I am. :noidea:

I'm like you...I have the flattest feet around and daily activity without shoes is like torture after a certain amount of time each day. I have to actively manage how much time I have shoes versus don't have shoes on as I have a limited amount of time I can go without them even in the house because of the wood floors. The worst thing I ever did was wait tables all the way through college as it just destroyed my feet. I just don't wear shoes in the boat. We don't fish and there is no clutter to stub toes on and unless I stand at the helm, it isn't an issue while sitting. Many times I will stand on the throwable or a life jacket while at the helm which is great.
Crocs are great for feet like mine that give at least a little bit of cushion if not any arch support.

 

[garbageguy]

I'm with GM - I almost always wear shoes of some kind, and almost always on the boat. I got some "boat shoes" that were on sale from WM last season, and they're great. Good gripping soles, beatable mesh-type uppers, drain in the bottom. They have very good grip on my non-skid fiberglass deck (I use non-skid deck cleaner - cleans well, and leaves a suitable surface condition). I learned from my father, who was an infantry-man in WWII, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET

 

[thumpar]

I used to have those water type shoes with the meshy top and drain in the bottom. They work great until you get in the water that has sand in it. It collects in the holes and inside the shoe. I would have to constantly take them off and rinse them to keep my feet from being rubbed raw.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Deck shoes on the deck of a boat. Or good sneakers. Flip flops might be comfortable but aren't for moving boats or driving anything.

 

[mr 88]

Deck shoes on the deck of a boat. Or good sneakers. Flip flops might be comfortable but aren't for moving boats or driving anything.

^ Bingo,I leave a pair of good soft rubber sole sneakers on the boat,keeps me from tracking stones into the soles and eventually the gel coat. They don't flop off and offer toe protection from deck hardware along with draining the water from the sole that a flush bottom sole wont,no brainer.

 

[boatman37]

i wear flip flops but they usually come off as soon as i get on the boat and stay off until i walk up to the bathroom/parking lot area. my wife bought a pair of Keens and loves them on the boat. said she was going to buy me a pair but i'd rather be barefoot. even going out to walk around the dock i am still barefoot. i have lost a flip flop off the swim platform but was able to catch it before it floated away

 

[gm280]

I guess my "have to wear something on my feet all the time" issue comes from my hunting days. I use to do a lot of walking through the woods and always had a very good pair of boots on. And even working in the shop I have to have my feet protected from everything, especially when welding. So I got so used to wearing foot protection, I literally can't go without a total covered footwear. I never could wear flip-flops. It seem like more effort to keep them on then they were worth, to me anyways. Bravo to those that can go barefooted or flip-flips. I just can't do it. JMHO

 

[JoLin]

I frown on flip-flops on my boat. They're just plain dangerous. Too easy to catch on something or slide out of. I own deck shoes, but normally wear a pair of West Marine branded sandals. Non-skid sole and leather uppers that wrap around the foot and have an ankle strap. They work great. Many companies make similar, including Sperry, Teva and Columbia.

FYI, I tried to find mine at the West website, but appears they don't carry them anymore. Looking around for an example, I found these on the Sperry website, and they're closing them out and offering free shipping! I just ordered a pair...

http://www.sperry.com/en/big-eddy-sandal/25110M.html

 

[wrvond]

Thanks for the tip! I just ordered a pair of Big Eddy sandals in navy. At that price I can afford to try them out to see if I can wear them.

 

[jforrest1]

No Title

I'm begging ya - no socks!