Equipment: A second life for expensive sailing shoes - how to repair sailing shoes

Sailing shoes and sea boots face opposing problems. Sailing shoes are used intensively on deck, when mooring and during manoeuvres. The sole rubs against non-slip deck surfaces, sand and concrete on pontoons. After a few seasons, the tread is worn down, the sole becomes thin and loses its grip. This is mechanical wear and tear and shows that the shoes have done their job.

Sea boots, on the other hand, are rarely used. They are worn when the weather is really bad, in the cold and rain. Maybe two or three times a year, often only in spring or autumn. The rest of the time they sit in the wardrobe. And that's exactly where they break down. The plastic of the sole ages, plasticisers volatilise, the material hardens. The sole becomes rigid, loses its elasticity and becomes brittle. On the outside, the boots still look good, the shaft is intact, no cracks, no holes. But the sole no longer works. The problem is insidious: the boots look good, but the grip on deck is lacking. Acute danger of slipping!

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There is a lack of grip, the sole slips on a wet deck. This can be dangerous in critical situations. We tested how much the grip actually deteriorates. We tried out two old board shoes and a pair of sea boots on an inclined surface with different deck coverings. The result was shocking: the porous soles lost their grip at an incline of just twelve to 14 degrees. And not gradually, but suddenly: bang, they slipped. Twelve degrees of inclination is really not much. For comparison: when testing new shoes, we use the same deck surfaces and most of the results are between 30 and 40 degrees of inclination. The biggest difference, however, is that a good sole does not suddenly lose its grip, but slowly starts to slip. The test shows that the hardened soles do not provide a secure grip on deck and there is also a risk of slipping suddenly.

This is how we tested

What are the benefits of a DIY repair?

Before we went to the shoemaker, we tried a repair with our own tools: rough sanding of the slippery soles. The brittle surface was treated with a random orbital sander and 80 grit. The difference was clearly visible: the slightly yellowed soles were restored to their original colour. On the sloping deck surfaces of our test stand, there was indeed an improvement. While the shoes on the structured GRP deck had not managed a 13 degree incline, the incline was now 25 degrees. Nevertheless, expectations of the sanding of the sole should not be too high, even a 25 degree incline is far from a good value. The improvement is at least measurable. However, sanding is at best an emergency solution for one-off use until a replacement has been procured. It is not suitable as a permanent solution. The exciting question remains as to whether a professional repair can achieve better results.

A trip to the cobbler

The cobbler shows that not every shoe can be repaired. Some models cannot be repaired. The decisive factor is the construction of the sole. Shoes with so-called shell soles are problematic. In this construction, the sole is pulled upwards at the edges and sewn or glued to the upper material. The sole therefore partially encloses the shoe. This makes a repair difficult because you would practically need a perfectly fitting replacement part in exactly the right shape and shoe size. When we enquired at Henri Lloyd whether this sole was available as a replacement for our example boots, the answer was that it was not available. No repair possible. Simply sanding down and gluing on a new sole was not an option in this case, as the adhesive would not hold on the brittle surface and the boot would probably no longer be waterproof.

Similar diagnosis for the Sebago shoe: The shell sole can only be repaired with a suitable replacement. As the shoe is still available, the sole might even be obtainable. However, we had not yet received an answer by the editorial deadline. In contrast, a new sole could be glued to the Henri Lloyd deck shoe. Under the brittle old sole is a foam that is still elastic and stable enough. The repair took two hours and cost 60 euros. Afterwards, the new old sailing shoe was put on the deck: The result is convincing with a 35 degree inclination. What's more, you don't simply slip away. The deck shoes are therefore on a par with new shoes.

When is a repair worthwhile?

If the shoes are still in good condition, apart from the sole, or if they are special favourites, the repair is definitely worthwhile. In terms of sustainability and reducing waste anyway. It becomes more expensive if the shoemaker also has to rework a seam, in which case the repair can cost up to 120 euros. However, it is also clear that shoes with straight soles are easy to repair. Classic deck shoes such as docksides have an advantage here in terms of durability.

However, if the sole no longer offers good grip, you can always ask the cobbler, as the professional's assessment is free of charge.