To help you to be easier in tying boat shoes, this article serves as a short guidance on this work. Let’s dive into it to see different ways to tie boat shoes smoothly.
How To Tie Boat Shoes
Boat shoes are necessary for going on a boat as they help you avoid falling overboard and thus, contribute to safety on a boat. However, if you are not familiar with boat shoes, it’s very hard to tie their laces tightly and securely. Those shoes are known to be extremely difficult to tie. If you use a normal shoelace knot, it seems to be not tight enough for the leather shoelaces of boat shoes. In this article, you will find up to five ways to tie such shoelaces, which will be useful for you in using boat shoes in different cases. These five ways include Barrel Knot, Tassel Knot, Chain Knot, Surgeon’s Knot, and Fishtail. To get started, you will need boat shoes, leather laces, and a lot of patience.
For a secure and knot-free tie, try the Overhand Knot method when tying your boat shoes. This style ensures a tight knot that won’t loosen easily while providing a neat, clean look to your laces.
Four Methods To Tie Boat Shoes
How To Tie A Barrel Knot
To tie in this method, you should follow the steps below:
Step 1: Create a loop by folding one lace of the shoes over itself. Please remember to leave around a 3 to 4 inch on the remaining tail.
Step 2: Use one hand to keep the loop by placing it between the thumb and index finger of such a hand, then use the other hand to twist the loop tightly several times.
Step 3: Continue to keep the loop with one hand and use the other hand to wrap the remaining tail around the loop five times. Wrap from the bottom to the top.
Step 4: Put the end of the lace into the loop. Pull the lace tightly while pushing the knot towards the shoe to secure it in place.
Step 5: Repeat the above mentioned procedure with the other lace.
Step 6: Trim any extra leather laces by using a pair of sharp scissors to make them clean.
How To Tie A Tassel Knot
Tying a Tassel Knot will be performed as follows:
Step 1: Take your laces and place the left one over the right one to form an “X”, and then put the left one under the right one and over the cross and then tighten.
Step 2: Perform as step 1, but with the right lace over the left lace and tighten by pulling the laces, then you will create a square knot.
Step 3: Create a loop of around 1-inch length by folding the left lace over itself. Then, keep the base of the loop between the thumb and index finger of one hand.
Step 4: Use the other hand to wrap the remaining part of the lace tightly around the loop 3 times.
Step 5: Put the end of the lace into the loop and pull tightly.
Step 6: Repeat the same procedure to make a tassel on the right lace.
Step 7: Trim the excess laces if necessary.
How To Tie A Chain Knot
Tying a Chain Knot requires you to do the following:
Step 1: Use one hand to take the left lace and the other hand to create a ½ inch loop in the middle of the lace, then hold it by the left hand.
Step 2: On the same lace, make a second ½ inch loop and insert it into the first loop. Then, tighten the second loop by pulling.
Step 3: Continue to make another loop and insert it into the second loop. You can repeat other times depending on the lace’s length.
Step 4: Keep the final loop in one hand and use the other hand to put the end of the lace through the final loop and tighten.
Step 5: Do the same with the right lace to tie a chain knot.
Step 6: Pull the left chain to the right and tuck the end of the left lace into the shoe. Then do the same with the right chain. The right chain’s position should be above the left chain.
To secure your boat shoes, try using the chain knot method. This knot provides enough tension to keep your shoes from slipping off while also allowing for easy adjustment. Check out our article on elegant updos for medium-length hair for a stylish look while out on the water.
How To Tie A Surgeon’s Knot
You should take the following steps to tie a Surgeon’s Knot:
Step 1: Make a cross with the left lace over the right lace and pull both the laces.
Step 2: Fold the left lace (which is on the right side of the shoes now) over itself to create a 1-inch loop. The base of the loop should be put next to the starting knot.
Step 3: Use the right lace (which is on the left side now) to make a circle around the base of the loop.
Step 4: Continue to use the remaining part of the right lace to make a loop and put the top of the loop into the circle you created and then pull.
Step 5: Make the right loop wrap around the left loop and insert it into the circle again.
Step 6: Pull both the loops tightly.
How To Tie A Fishtail
To tie a Fishtail, you will need to do as follows:
Step 1: Thread the left lace through the left eyelets vertically and do the same for the right lace. The result will be the parallel position of the left lace and the right lace, and both the laces are visible between the two eyelets.
Step 2: Put the left lace over the right lace to make a cross and the ends of the laces towards the tip of the shoe.
Step 3: Thread the left lace into the right parallel line and pull tightly.
Step 4: Thread the right lace into the left parallel line and pull tightly.
Step 5: Pull both the laces up and insert them into the opposite parallel lines three times each.
Step 6: Tuck the ends of both the laces into the shoes.
To complete a beautiful fishtail braid, secure it with a clear rubber band or a hair tie in a matching color.Butterfly braid hairstyles can complement this style as well, making it a great option for special occasions.
Why Choosing Boat Shoes?
Boat shoes are designed for use when you are on boats; thus, they have distinctive characteristics to make you stable and safe when walking on a boat’s surface.
The materials of boat shoes are usually leather or canvas, which provide boat shoes with the capability of water resistance. So, boat shoes are suitable for people who work on boats. Furthermore, socks are not usually used when wearing them.
Boat shoes are equipped with rubber soles that are designed with special patterns to bring good traction. Therefore, they help you to move safely, even on slippery surfaces. Besides, boat shoes also have a tight fit, which mostly comes from their laces running through the eyelets on both sides. This will make wearers more stable, even on a wet deck.
So, if you are going on a trip to the sea, you should consider choosing a suitable pair of boat shoes for yourselves. Also, do not forget to follow the right ways of tying boat shoes.
The Difficulty Of Boat Shoes
Due to their distinctive design for specific purposes, boat shoes are difficult in several aspects. The easiest to watch characteristic is their material that is leather. As being made from such a material, they are usually difficult to wear. They need a little time to break-in, and you may also face some issues like breathability and comfortability.
The shoelaces of boat shoes are also from leather that cannot be tied in normal ways as other types of shoes’ laces. That’s why boat shoes are known to be difficult to tie. However, it’s just the problem of the early times of wearing boat shoes. Follow the guidance to tie them one or two times; then, you will be familiar with tying boat shoes well.
Discover our latest guide about how to clean white shoelaces?
If you’re struggling to tie your boat shoes properly, check out our step-by-step guide on how to tie boat shoes. This guide will give you a clear understanding of the process, so you can confidently fasten your shoes and hit the deck without any trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several frequently asked questions related to boat shoes mentioned below may be useful if you need to wear boat shoes in your work or your trips.
Should boat shoes be tight or loose?
Traditional boat shoes are designed to fit tightly so that people wearing them will not fall or skid when working on a boat. But if you are using boat shoes in a modern sense, you can wear them a little looser.
Do you wear socks with boat shoes?
Boat shoes are manufactured to be worn without socks. If you wear boat shoes with socks, it may look strange to experienced boaters. In that case, you seem to be an out-of-touch boater. If you really want socks with boat shoes, you can choose no-show or low-ankle types.
How can I make my boat shoes tighter?
You can wear your shoes and tie the shoelaces tightly, then put both your feet with shoes in warm water. Then, continue to wear your shoes and walk around until they are dry. This process will make the shoe material expand and then shrink to mold your feet.
Can you wear boat shoes every day?
Yes, you can. Wearing boat shoes and let them be exposed to saltwater every day can help them to have a seasoned appearance, which looks unique.
Do boat shoes stretch out?
As leather will stretch over time, boat shoes (that are made from leather) will, too. If your shoes are too tight, you can apply stretching tips for leather boat shoes. Also, it takes time for the break-in process for new boat shoes.
Are boat shoes stylish?
Yes, they are. Thanks to several collaborations, boat shoes are becoming more fashionable. In recent reinterpretations of some brands, the look of boat shoes is more modern and appealing.