[CaptTony]

I recently spent a couple of weeks in the Windward Islands on a really nice Odyssey 49. I was there to help the owner who was a very nice gentleman. It was an interesting experience and maybe a topic for another post. My question here is simple and brief.

As a boat owner, do you require crew and guests to remove their footwear regardless of what it is?

As a crew member or guest, have you been on a boat where you were required to remove your footwear?

In 40 years of sailing, I've never been asked to do it. I have always believed wearing shoes, especially underway, is a safety mandate. Needless to say, the owner of the Odyssey 49 eventually asked that I remove my shoes below deck. Before that he spread a sheet on the cabin floor for me to step on and the sheet remained even after I started taking off my shoes (try not slipping on a sheet covering a wood floor).

So, please, clue me in on this. Is it normal?

 

[Zanshin]

He's the owner and can make his own rules. While I always go barefoot (and paid the price by breaking toes on two occasions) I will let visitor wear boat shoes on deck but request that they go barefoot below. It saves on wear and tear plus keeps things easier to clean. It helps that the boat is in the tropics, it is a different matter in cold weather.

 

[CaptTony]

He's the owner and can make his own rules. While I always go barefoot (and paid the price by breaking toes on two occasions) I will let visitor wear boat shoes on deck but request that they go barefoot below. It saves on wear and tear plus keeps things easier to clean. It helps that the boat is in the tropics, it is a different matter in cold weather.

I'm not disputing whether or not the owner can make rules. I just never heard of that one (remove shoes) and was wondering how prevalent it is.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Cuts down on tracking salt and other dirt below. Very common.

 

[Faster]

When we visit our Caribbean Cruising friends no shore-worn footwear is permitted on deck or below, and everyone goes barefoot. In the tropics and with a good deck surface I think that's fine.

We do not insist, nor ask that people remove footwear on our own boat, above or below, but we prefer to be barefoot when conditions are appropriate. We believe that overall it's better that if anyone is barefoot, all should be, esp on a smaller boat where getting accidentally stepped on is more likely.

We do insist on non-marking soles and carry "shore shoes" for hikes and walks.

 

[Group9]

I used to have a next door neighbor who was Asian (Vietnamese) and none of them wore shoes in their house and asked you to do the same when visiting.

It probably does make keeping a house or boat clean, a lot easier.

 

[eherlihy]

I try not to wear shoes below on my boat in the summer. I wear shoes on deck, or in the cockpit. I ask that guests do likewise. Frequently, however, I forget.

For winter maintenance, I put cardboard down on the cabin soule.

 

[Siamese]

We don't wear shoes in our house, and ask guests to remove their's. But in that environment, you're going from the gritty, oily, etc., outdoors directly to my beautiful hardwood floor and expensive rugs. Why mess 'em up?

On the boat? Shoes are fine. Of course, only boat shoes are allowed on the boat.

Our Catalina has the vinyl sole that looks like a wood floor. Good looking floor, and we have a nice rug on it.

Sounds like a real pain in the butt to have to remove your shoes to go below, and IMO it makes a lot more sense to have a floor that accommodates boat shoes, than to have guests (and yourself) accommodate your floor.

I'd stay off any boat where I'm required to remove my shoes when below.

Think about it, by the time you walk down the dock, and spend any amount of time on the boat, anything harmful on the bottom of your shoes is gone. Or hell, just rinse 'em off. Jeeesh.

Anal retentive, OCD if you ask me. And, you did.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

. I just never heard of that one (remove shoes) and was wondering how prevalent it is.

Extremely prevalent. In fact I would think most boats require you to take shoes off unless racing.

Even on, or especially, superyachts.

 

[MikeOReilly]

First I've heard of someone insisting on shoes being removed, but then I sail in fresh water and more northerly. Few people up here go without shoes, and I've never heard of an owner demanding it. Certainly you should change from shore shoes to proper non-marking deck shoes when you come on board, but no shoes? Never heard of it up here.

Sounds a bit like the old Italian neighbours we had growing up. All their furniture was covered in plastic so as to keep it perpetually pristine.

 

[sailak]

Not warm enough here to go without shoes.

 

[mbianka]

I'm not disputing whether or not the owner can make rules. I just never heard of that one (remove shoes) and was wondering how prevalent it is.

I tend to go barefoot in warmer temperatures. Though I do slip into "boat shoes" when needed. These are shoes that have never been used on land and never will. I take off my land shoes as soon as enter the cockpit. I don't often have guests on board but, I don't ask them to take their shoes off before coming on board. Since they are usually just sitting in the cockpit and I have dri deck covering the sole.

I have been on a schooner where we were required to leave our land shoes in a basket on the dock and I think we had to have boat shoes on board.

Back in 1999 I was living on board in New York. Rupert Murdoch pulled his 150 foot yacht Morning Glory in front of my boat and had his wedding reception on board his boat. I watched as probably 100+ "movers and shakers" of business and the media arrive for the event. They were instructed to remove their shoes. Though he did provide slippers with the boats name printed on them. I even got a pair. I was impressed that he cared for the boat enough to not let all these folks scratch up the boat while partying on the deck.

 

[capta]

Boat shoes are fine with us; high heels really aren't. Our boat is our home and the home of anyone who is sailing with us, so whatever is most comfortable for them, is just fine with us.
For the wife and I, the shoes come off in the dink and don't go back on until we're headed for shore again. I just can't see any reason to wear shoes aboard a yacht in the tropics. I'm more comfortable and feel safer in bare feet.
I've got my Dubarries if it's a cold day in hell, uh sorry, paradise.

 

[Jim_W]

put on your sailing shoes - Bing Videos
boat shoes here

 

[CaptTony]

So far it looks like we have a split decision on the question; although one thing is coming through loud and clear. In the tropics, which is where I do most of my sailing, take 'em off.

Again, I have always worn shoes when sailing and insisted crew do the same as a safety measure when underway. I guess I'm going to have to rethink that. Anyway, I'm not going to call myself inconsiderate and clueless yet (you can if you want). Maybe we'll get some more answers.

One reply that I did enjoy was this one. Not sure how this will fly considering some of the responses, but it sure makes sense.

Think about it, by the time you walk down the dock, and spend any amount of time on the boat, anything harmful on the bottom of your shoes is gone. Or hell, just rinse 'em off. Jeeesh.

Anal retentive, OCD if you ask me. And, you did.

 

[RobGallagher]

I prefer to have shoes off below decks when we are not underway. Underway the boat shoes are fine as I feel it's safer and most people just duck down to use the head or grab something and come back up.

I also prefer that people spending time (as in a weekend or more) on my boat have a dedicated set of boat shoes and land shoes. The place just stays so much cleaner.

 

[Bene505]

We dinghy off a sandy beach. Everyone rinses the sand and sand off their feet with the transom shower, while standing on the sugar-scoop stern. Sand gets everywhere if you don't purposely keep it out. We have an inverter and shop vac, but who wants to vacuum in paradise? (Once you have a 120v shop vac on board, you can drink out of real glass!)

Shoes are ok. But we all prefer barefoot. When winter sailing, anything's fine. I can get scuff marks out, if any appear, and boots keep feet warm.

Our cabin soles are made out of formica that looks like teak and holly.

Regards,
Brad

 

[tdw]

I prefer not to wear shoes on board though I do wear something when sailing cos I got sick and tired of the stubbed toes. At anchor nothing. In winter NZ Possum socks. Perfection.

As for guests, they usually stay in the cockpit so not an issue but down below I'll leave it up to them though when they see us leaving our shoes on the side deck they usually do the same.

 

[Erindipity]

Oh, how silly.
I rarely wear shoes onboard; I have rather talented and sometimes useful toes.
But I would _never_ dictate what shoes guests choose to wear or not wear.
(Oh my goodness- he has bare feet! Engage Fungicide!)

It's only wood and fiberglass below toe; both surfaces are easily cleaned.
I have never had a Guest or Crew drag their feet through road tar and then gravel before climbing aboard...
And neither have any of you.

¬Erindipity

 

[SimonV]

We have a no shoe policy unless extenuating circumstances exist. Even boat shoes worn to the boat would have tramped though the car park, and every car park has oil, the heat in Oz also melts tar and I have had tar on the non skid, look at the bottom of your own foot wear and you will find stones grit gum and who knows what else did your guests visit the public test room before coming aboard. Barefoot is best or boat shoes that don't leave the boat.