Tame slippery laces with push-button ease
Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013
They say necessity is the mother of invention. If that’s so, then Spinnaker, my cocker spaniel puppy, is the father. I’d been getting annoyed that the laces on my deck shoes were constantly coming loose. The laces just don’t hold the knot and the distance to my feet seems somehow farther than it did when I was younger. Add to that the problem that Spinnaker saw these shoelaces as his toys . . .
Out of necessity, I had to find a way to keep the laces on my deck shoes tight. It came to me as I was rummaging through my sewing toolbox: “I should try using one of those little barrel lock cord closures used on sailbag cords.”
I did and, boy, it works great! These little closures are available in a couple of sizes from Sailrite and other online sources as well as in many sewing stores. They are called such names as cord stops for drawstrings, cord locks, barrel locks, and toggles.
For cloth laces that still have their ends in good condition, I use a 3⁄16-inch size and pass the laces through in opposite directions. I then put the shoe on and pull the laces tight. I tie a half hitch about an inch from the barrel lock on both laces and cut the laces 1⁄4 inch beyond the knots. For leather laces, I use the 1⁄4-inch size and perform a similar installation without the knots. It produces a compact little fastening that holds better than a knot, is easily adjustable, and looks salty.
To tighten the laces, I pull on both laces at the same time while keeping the barrel lock in the center with the index finger of each hand. To loosen them, I push the button on the barrel lock and pull it upward.
I am very pleased with my system, though I can’t say the same for Spinnaker.
Stephen Thompson is a professional mechanical engineer.He sailed on inland lakes as a boy and, at 50, successfully built a small sailing vessel from scratch and caught the bug once again. He recently completed the restoration of a 1970 Hallberg Mistral 33 in Houston, Texas, and now gets to sail her.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
