Keepin' the Feet Warm as a Winter Liveaboard

[MedSailor]

It's true, after 10 years I've abandoned ship for a house (temporarily). Today though, it's 20F outside, snow everywhere, and the winds have been as high as 35kts, so I don't feel too bad about my decision...

Right now I'm wearing something on my feet that I wish I had found 10 years ago. Unless I had the wood stove roaring and the air circulation fans going, it was usually cold at the floor of the boat. I've been known to wear fleece socks over regular socks, but since they're bulky I have to take them off to put on shoes/boots to go above.

Enter the fleece Slipper/Sock. A soft enough sole that you can put them up on the couch without disturbing the fairer sex, and you could even sleep with them on if you wanted to. Enough sole though (suede) that you can pop out on a deck covered with the morning dew for a quick survey of the anchor, anchorage, stars, or to stand at the rail and try and write your name in phosphorescence...

Not as sexy as a hurricane-proof anchor, or a drogue for 40' waves, but an awesome piece of kit all the same. Unless you cruise in the tropics exclusively, buy them, you'll thank me later.



Men's Fleece Slipper Socks: Slippers | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean

NOTE: The sizes run small. I'm a shoe size 10-11 depending on the brand and had to send back the med. The large is only barely big enough.

MedSailor

[Faster]

Nice... in a related matter, our main berth is an aft double, not awthartship like so many nowadays and so the foot of the berth always seems the coldest part of the boat - esp when first climbing in.

Last New Years we hit on an idea.. we were out for the night, but had booked a marina so we could plug in and easily keep warm.. before we left my wife bought one of those small heating pads, about 1x2 feet, with thermostat control. Early in the evening we slipped that down under the sheets at the foot of the berth and turned it on.. amazing difference later on when going to bed.

We did have to turn it off in the middle of the night.. it got to be too much after a while. We've used it again since then - works great.

Of course in other circumstances a good hotwater bottle or hot rocks will do too!

[travlineasy]

The older I get, the colder I get. Temperature outside right now is 28 F and will fall below 20 tonight. I'm sitting here in my office, space heater running full blast, and I'm still freezing my a$$ off. Next winter, though, will be different. I intend to sail south until my age (71) and the temperature are about equal. That's where I'll stay until the Chesapeake's water temperatures climb about 60, then I'll head home. My new philosophy is "Never expose your body to a temperature lower than your age." Makes perfectly good sense to me.

Cheers,

Gary

[PBzeer]

I only have my feet on the floor when standing, or sitting at the nav desk (my usual spot). I wear wool blend socks and have throw rugs on the floor and at the nav desk I have an old blanket that I fold over until it's about 4 inches thick to put my feet on. For going topside, I have 10 dollar moccasin type slippers with a hard sole, that I can step into easily with bulky socks on.

[wingNwing]

Hmm, I've always said that you should never sail where the wind speed is higher than the latitude, but as I get older I think I like your philosophy better...

(edit: Oops, that was, wind speed higher than the temperature. Actually, either way, I like travelineasy's way better)

[dongreerps]

Wonderful thread! I'm 76. True that every year older, I need a degree warmer. Also true that if your feet are warm, you are warm. Electric mattress heating pads are available, and (at reasonable cost) are available custom made. With dual controls. Cheap at twice the price. If you are plugged in at a marina. Also available are under rug electric floor heaters. No need to go custom design here. Just an off the shelf unit of the right size. Put a reflective insulating roll on the floor, then the electric pad, then a rug (how about sheepskin) If you do that, plan on leaving it on, set to the lowest possible setting for several days, and then just wait. It takes my isolated workshop 8 days to warm up, but it is really nice when it does.

[treilley]

Below 20 now and going to near zero tonight. All we need to stay as warm as in a house is a good diesel furnace. I am in a T-shirt and pajama pants with nothing on my feet and am perfectly comfortable. In fact much warmer than in my drafty 200+ year old house we used to live in.

Nice tip on the slippers thou.

[sawingknots]

damm,i thought i was the old man of the sea,at 65 maybe i'll join some kindof teen club,anyone want to buy a creampuff,low mileage, only driven on sundays call br549-samples auto sales oh btw the tires are dry rotted

[Bene505]

Thanks for the tip on the slipper socks.

Originally Posted by treilley

Below 20 now and going to near zero tonight. All we need to stay as warm as in a house is a good diesel furnace. I am in a T-shirt and pajama pants with nothing on my feet and am perfectly comfortable. In fact much warmer than in my drafty 200+ year old house we used to live in...

Which furnace do you have?

regards,
Brad

[boatpoker]

Under our aft double bed - 2X 250watt heat lamps
in our mid-engine compartment - X2 250watt heat lamps
under our galley sole, 1X 250watt heat lamp
Each compartment has a small computer fan to move the air around.

Thirteen Toronto winters - all with warm feet