Keep Your Boat Shoes Secure: No-Slip Knots

Boat shoes are a must-have for anyone spending time on a boat, but they have a reputation for being difficult to tie. This is especially true for boat shoes with leather laces, which can easily come undone with regular knots. To avoid the danger of falling overboard due to untied laces, it's important to learn how to tie your boat shoes properly. In this article, we will explore different methods and types of knots to help keep your boat shoes securely in place.

The Surgeon's Knot

• Begin with a regular left-over-right starting knot. Cross the left lace over the right lace and wrap it over and under the right lace. Pull both laces tightly in opposite directions.
• 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 the loop next to the starting knot.
• Circle the loop with the right lace. Grab the right lace (now on the left side of the shoe) and bring it in front of the loop. Complete the circle by bringing the right lace back to the front, going around the base of the loop.
• Insert the right lace into the circle and pull. Make a small loop with the right lace and insert the top of the loop through the circle. Pull the loop loosely through the circle. At this point, you will have a standard shoelace knot.
• Wrap the right loop around the left loop again. Bring the right loop over and around the left loop for the second time. Insert the right loop through the circle once again.
• Pull the loops tight. Grab the right loop with your right hand and the left loop with your left hand. Pull the loops tightly in opposite directions.
• Repeat the process for the other shoe.

The Barrel Knot

• Fold the lace over itself, creating a loop. Take the left shoelace of either shoe and fold it over, leaving a 3-4 inch tail at the end.
• Twist the loop. Place the top of the loop between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand. With your dominant hand, hold the tail just below the base and tightly twist the loop.
• Wrap the tail around the loop. Continue to hold the top of the loop with your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to wrap the tail tightly around the base of the loop 5 times.
• Thread the end of the lace through the loop. As you pull the end of the lace tightly through the loop, push the knot towards the shoe to tighten it.
• Repeat the process. Do the same with the remaining three laces.
• Trim the laces. If the laces are too long or uneven, use a pair of sharp scissors to cut off the excess.

The Reef Knot

Step 1: Hold the Ends

Begin by holding one end of the lace in each hand. Let's refer to them as the right end and the left end for simplicity.

Step 2: Cross Over

Cross the right end over the left end, creating an "X" shape. This is similar to the first step in tying a simple shoe knot.

Step 3: Wrap Under

Take the right end (now on your left side) and wrap it under the left end. Pull it up through the loop you've created, forming a basic overhand knot.

Step 4: Cross Over Again

Now, take the end that's on your right (originally the left end) and cross it over the other end.

Step 5: Wrap and Pull

Just like before, wrap this end under and pull it through the loop. Ensure you pull both ends tight.

Step 6: Tighten

Gently pull on both ends in opposite directions. The knot should form a neat, square shape. If it looks twisted or uneven, you may have tied a granny knot by mistake.

And there you have it—the Classic Reef Knot! This knot is simple, effective, and holds well under tension. It is perfect for boat shoes as it provides a secure way to fasten your laces, ensuring they don't come undone.

The Chain Knot

• Start by holding the lace with your non-dominant hand and create a loop.
• While still holding the first loop, use your dominant hand to create another loop.
• You should now have two loops. Insert the smaller loop into the larger one.
• Entwine the base of the curve until it is inside the other loop.
• Tighten the lace by pulling it out of the loop.
• Make another loop similar to the second loop and insert the end of the curve into it. Tighten it.
• Repeat the previous step two more times or until you have looped most of the lace. Be sure to leave a bit of lace at the end.
• Tuck the end of the lace into the end of the loop and pull until it is tight.
• Adjust the links evenly to ensure the spacing looks good.

The Tassel Knot

To tie the Tassel Knot, start by creating an X pattern. Do this by putting the right lace under the left lace. Then, tighten. Put the left lace over the right and create a square knot. Hold the end of the lace and create a loop. Wrap the end of the lace on the loop that you have created, pull, and tighten. Repeat on the other side and tighten to adjust the fit depending on what you are most comfortable with.

Frequently asked questions