Bare feet on board

[wholybee]

I think there is a big difference between living on a boat and not wearing shoes, and not wearing shoes on a weekend trip.

I could never wear shoes all day long, every single day, in my home. And being on board full time, I don't hit my toe anymore.

[gonesail]

It's always boat shoes on deck for me. Too much blood and smashed toes otherwise. I even wear socks with my shoes.

[Kettlewell]

I could never wear shoes all day long, every single day, in my home. And being on board full time, I don't hit my toe anymore.

I just love the feel of not wearing shoes onboard or walking on the beach--it's one of the joys of being on the boat. We used to spend summers on our boat anchored at an island and when my kids were little the problem was finding their shoes at the end of the summer. But, obviously opinions vary on this question. There is no right or wrong answer!

[Benz]

It's not bragging to say there's never been a smashed toe for one respondent or another: it's a data point, like all the respondents who have stubbed toes. These data points add breadth to the picture.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by wholybee

I think there is a big difference between living on a boat and not wearing shoes, and not wearing shoes on a weekend trip.

I could never wear shoes all day long, every single day, in my home. And being on board full time, I don't hit my toe anymore.

Which pretty much is the same thing as doing weekend trips on boats from age 6 to near 70.

If it's warm, I usually don't wear shoes unless my feet start to hurt from standing for hours on end.

[gonesail]

i will also add that i believe "flip flops" are the most dangerous shoe known to man

[Tin Tin]

Depends on how many toe stoppers are on the boat. A modern charter cat for example has very little, with very clean decks, recessed hatches etc etc - considering they would like to minimize injury claims this is not surprising. We ventured on to a friends old style cat a while back, trip hazards everywhere and plenty of places to break a toe. I was once racing a sailing dinghy in bare feet, capsized, slipped over the top gunnel down toward the center board to right the boat, little toe caught the open self bailer on the underside and was left dangling to be re-attached in hospital, worn shoes/boots ever since when racing any sailboat.

[team karst]

Originally Posted by Jammer

My daughter broke two metatarsals while wearing steel toed boots a couple of years ago. Footwear is not a guarantee.

What would have happened without those shoes on?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

Depends on how many toe stoppers are on the boat. A modern charter cat for example has very little, with very clean decks, recessed hatches etc etc - considering they would like to minimize injury claims this is not surprising. We ventured on to a friends old style cat a while back, trip hazards everywhere and plenty of places to break a toe. I was once racing a sailing dinghy in bare feet, capsized, slipped over the top gunnel down toward the center board to right the boat, little toe caught the open self bailer on the underside and was left dangling to be re-attached in hospital, worn shoes/boots ever since when racing any sailboat.

Good god that’s an awful injury

I was taking some people diving on a mega yacht I was working on. I dropped a full size dive tank from the gunwale of tender to a mega yacht (so a 21ft Parker powerboat) right onto my big toe. No shoes, unfortunately. Smashed the toenail right off. Somehow got out of that without a fracture, but the toe basically “popped.” Also not good

[PJHoffnet]

Street shoes come off and boat shoes (sneakers) go on as soon as we get on the sun deck.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by team karst

What would have happened without those shoes on?

Several less toes.



Yup, it was kind of a straw man argument.

[OldManMirage]

The older I get - the more my feet appreciate shoes.

Doesn't mean there aren't times when you don't need them.

[NYSail]

Shoes come off before we step aboard. Unless you have a dedicated pair that hasn’t been walking around boatyards / street, I done want the mess. Shoes are discussing and we keep our boat very clean. Have I hit my toe…… yes. And typically it’s only the wife and I that are running on deck for something. Cockpit, transom and down below are pretty safe for company with limited obstacles.. no worse than my house

[Kettlewell]

Cockpit, transom and down below are pretty safe for company with limited obstacles.. no worse than my house

Shoes come off inside the door of my home ashore too! Half the year we walk around home barefoot, though in the winter I do use house slippers. My personal opinion is that a lot of foot problems are created by the shoes we wear.

[Be Free]

Originally Posted by Shanachie

I've lived in South and West Florida for 45 years. Not only do I not wear shoes on the boat, I do not wear them at home. In South Florida, this is common.

Check my location. This is the farthest north I've ever lived.
Also, one pair of sneakers, one pair of dress shoes, one pair of hiking boots.