The Perfect Boat Shoe Knot: A Step-By-Step Guide

Boat shoes are notoriously difficult to tie, especially if they have leather laces. Leather laces can come loose from normal knots very easily, so you'll need to learn some more complicated knots. If you're used to sailing knots, this should be a breeze. There are several ways to tie boat shoes, including the barrel knot, the chain knot, the tassel knot, the fishtail knot, and the surgeon's knot.

How to tie a barrel knot

Tying a barrel knot, also known as a sailor's knot, is a great way to secure your boat shoes, especially if they have leather laces. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to tie a barrel knot:

Step 1: Fold the Lace

Take the left shoelace in your hand and fold it over itself to create a loop. Ensure you leave a 3-4 inch tail at the end of the loop. This tail will be used later to wrap around the loop.

Step 2: Twist the Loop

Hold the top of the loop between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to hold the tail just below the base of the loop. Now, tightly twist the loop with your non-dominant hand. You can wrap the tail around the loop a few times to keep it secure.

Step 3: Wrap the Tail

Continue to hold the top of the loop with your non-dominant hand. Now, with your dominant hand, wrap the tail of the lace around the base of the loop. You want to do this about 5 times, creating a secure base.

Step 4: Thread and Pull

Grab the end of the lace with your dominant hand and thread it through the loop. As you pull the end tightly through the loop, use your non-dominant hand to push the knot towards the shoe, tightening it.

Step 5: Repeat and Trim

Repeat the above steps for the remaining laces to create a uniform look. If your laces are too long, uneven, or dragging on the floor, you can trim them with sharp scissors.

The barrel knot is a great way to secure your boat shoes, especially if you're tired of your laces coming loose. You can also try other decorative knots like the tassel knot, chain knot, or the surgeon's knot for a unique look.

How to tie a tassel knot

To tie a tassel knot, start by crossing the laces to create an "X", with the left lace on top of the right. Pull the left lace under the right lace and pull them in opposite directions. You should now have the left lace in your left hand and the right lace in your right hand, with the right lace on top.

Now you can start tying a square knot. Bring the right lace under the left lace, then pull it back over. Next, bring the left lace under the right lace and pull it back over the right lace. Pull the laces in opposite directions to tighten the knot.

Now, form a loop with the left lace. To do this, fold the lace over itself at the base of the square knot, creating a loop of about 1 inch in length. Hold the base of the loop between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand.

With your dominant hand, grab the tail of the lace and wrap it tightly around the loop 2 to 3 times. Thread the end of the lace through the loop and pull tightly.

Repeat the process on the right lace to create a matching tassel. Trim the ends if needed.

How to tie a chain knot

To tie a chain knot, start by uncrossing your laces and grabbing the left lace with your non-dominant hand. Make a 1/2-inch loop in the middle of the left lace, holding the base of the loop with your left hand.

Now, create a second loop with your dominant hand and push the base of this loop halfway through the first loop. Pull the lace tight and move the knot towards the eyelet. Insert your thumb into the second loop, grab the tail with your dominant hand, and pull the loop and tail in opposite directions.

Continue this process, creating a third loop and pushing it under and through the second loop. Thread the end of the lace through the third loop and pull tight to create a link in the chain. Even out the links by hand.

Repeat the process with the right lace, trying to make the chains as even as possible. Pull the left chain horizontally to the right, lift the right flap, and tuck the left lace's end into the shoe. Position the right chain above the left one, pull it horizontally to the left, lift the left flap, and tuck in the end of the right lace.

Your chain knot is now complete!

How to tie a surgeon's knot

There are several ways to tie a boat shoe, including the barrel knot, the chain knot, the tassel knot, the fishtail knot, and the surgeon's knot. This is a step-by-step guide on how to tie a surgeon's knot for boat shoes.

To begin, create a left-over-right starting knot. Take the left lace and cross it over the right one. Then, wrap the left lace over and under the right lace. Pull both laces tightly in opposite directions.

Next, make a loop with the left lace. Take the left lace, now on the right side of the shoe, and bend it over itself to form a 1-inch loop. Position the base of this loop next to the starting knot.

Now, take the right lace and circle the loop. Bring the right lace, now on the left side of the shoe, in front of the loop and complete the circle by bringing it around the base of the loop.

At this point, you will have a standard shoelace knot. To continue with the surgeon's knot, insert the right lace into the circle you've created and pull it through loosely.

Wrap the right loop around the left loop again and insert it through the circle once more.

Finally, pull the loops tightly in opposite directions, and your surgeon's knot is complete! Repeat the process on the other shoe.

How to tie a fishtail knot

To tie a fishtail knot, thread the laces through the eyelets in parallel lines. Insert the left lace into and through the bottom left eyelet, then string it through the top left eyelet. Repeat this process with the right lace and the bottom and top right eyelets. The laces between the two eyelets should be visible on the outside of the shoe.

Cross the laces and pull them down towards the tip of the shoe. Lay the left lace over the right lace and lay them flat with the ends towards the tip of the shoe. Loop the left lace over the right parallel line and pull it tight. Repeat this process with the right lace, looping it over the left parallel line and pulling it tight.

Loop each lace up and over the opposite parallel line three times. Pull the left lace (now on the right side) up and over the left parallel line. Then, pull the right lace (now on the left side) up and over the right parallel line. Repeat this process, so that the left lace (now on the left side) is pulled up and over the right parallel line, and then the right lace (now on the right side) is pulled up and over the left parallel line.

Tuck the ends into the shoe. Insert the left lace into the shoe and then tuck the right lace into the shoe. Repeat the process on the other shoe.

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