stubbing the toes

[Ron M.]

looks to be pressure treated long leaf yellow pine to me.
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Granny Webcams

[Maine Sail]

I'll let you guys know when I "lose a toe". Been sailing either barefoot or in flip flops for the better part of 25-30+ years. I even race in flip fops, two nights per week through the fall, and have never had any incident more than a toe bump.

If you wear flips or bare feet often you are much more in-tune to the surroundings I suppose. Many shoes today have non-marking soles despite the color of the rubber so that is no longer a good way to gauge marking or non-marking. My gripe is that many soles pick up small rocks and sand in the tread pattern then make a mess of a deck as they essentially become sand paper.

Any shoes, flips or not, usually only last about a season before it looses it's grip. The soft gum rubber used gets hard and less grippy with time. I do don the flips when the decks get wet otherwise I am usually in bare feet.

[Oswego John]

looks to be pressure treated long leaf yellow pine to me.

That's just what it is. It is treated SYP, Southern yellow pine. We had several indepth discussions about using this type of wood for decking. Sure, it would be nice to use teak, even great to use white oak. We are just some dreamers with a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook. Someone came up with an offer for SYP that we couldn't refuse. We jumped on the offer.

We have no misgivings or second thoughts about using pine wood on our boat. Our masts are of Sitka Spruce. I have set treated SYP pilings in 1974 in salt water that are still in use. I wish that I had a nickel for every treated SYP that is in use as utility poles around the nation. I'll be dead and buried long before our pressure treated SYP starts to break down. The only worry we have is how the bonding mastic will stand up through the years.

The pictures I submitted represent only about 20% of the total deck to be done. We are about done with the port foredeck and almost finished with the stb'd foredeck. There is a large stern deck yet to be done.

There are some surprising plusses that we have noticed since laying the wood deck. Of course, in the blazing sun, the wooden deck is a lot cooler to stand on that it was on the bare, steel deck. The wood seems to act like an insulator. It is much cooler down below now than before. One of the best assets is when working down below, you don't have to wear ear plugs. Before, when someone hammered, chipped slag off welds, was grinding steel or dropped something on the deck, it was like you were inside a bass drum. Things are a lot quieter, now.

And now for the paradox of the year. This thread was partly something to do about slipping on the deck. To help prevent slipping as well as helping to preserve the wood, we will be applying *OIL* to the surface. Well, it's not motor oil or diesel oil, etc. It is a penetrant oil similar to that applied to log cabins or other timber homes.

Stay tuned, it should get interesting.

O J

[rtbates]

I first read this post last week and thought to myself, "I've been barefoot aboard for years and have never stubbed my toe!" That changed this weekend. Went to turn slightly and move my right foot about 3". The starboard rear stay deck fitting was 2" away. My right, next to small toe, is now black and blue and hurts like heck.

Have I learned my leason...sort of!

I realized that with others aboard, my staying fit is of importance to THEIR safety. IF I had been running forward when this happened I would have been a cripple for some time...

Single handed, I might risk the stub, With crew or guests, NO...

I really enjoy being barefoot. BUT this will make me re-think whether it's worth the cost...

[drysuit2]

I guess I have tenderfeet. I can, go barefoot in the cockpit, or at the mooring, but always wear shoes when going forward. I slipped and kicked a cleat once; broke my foot and sprained my ankle at once.

My wife however: can do just about anything barefoot.

In the winter I have a nice pair of insulated "wolverine" work boots. They have non-skid soles designed for oily environments; but work well in water.

Maybe I should see if they make them with a steel toe?