Exposed fiberglass on deck repair?

[PirateLisa]

New to us boat had a zodiac sitting above the companionway for who knows how long. When we removed it, it has these little fiberglass fibers glittering in the wind.

This is our first boat (1982 Catalina 30 -hooray!) so we're a little unfamiliar with the terminology to search the forums properly for what we need. This is the part of our deck aft of the mast and forward the companion way cover that is textured and painted another color.

Three questions:
1) What is that textured part of our deck called?!?
2) Is that a different type of paint/coating on those parts?
3) I've got exposed fiberglass fibers, but I've also got a few nicks in it. How do I repair this?

I'm sure I missed a perfectly nice thread on this somewhere, so thank you in advance for putting up with my newb-ness. I'll be a good pirate someday.

 

[kloudie1]

WELCOME ! Lots of great info here..
Textured deck is "anti-skid" Lots of folks painted it themselves using regular deck paint or a textured non-skid paint .. using something like this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...gclid=CM3G7_P38LkCFUhk7AodWW8Apw#.UkhJLoashLc
Ya don't have to buy it from West Marine, there is similar stuff available through places like Home Depot..
That small chip can be filled with a good epoxy putty ..
For some good advice on fiberglass repair, the West Systems folks (Not affiliated with West Marine) have nice to read guides.. Check out this site and click on product use guides.. The repair will involve grinding out and tapering the old edges and filling with epoxy putty.. The crack next to it is a gel coat crack and it can be carefully ground and filled with new gel coat or a colored epoxy putty. again Welcome aboard..

 

[PirateLisa]

Thanks kloude1! We're very excited but are so cautious about doing maintenance the wrong way. (Maybe that's more me than my hubby - he's ready to just tear into it!)

So should we clean the whole surface area with the exposed fiberglass fibers and then sand it down? Won't that sand down the deck's diamond-shaped non-skid pattern that's under the paint? Or is there a special trick to that?

I also found "gel coat scratch patch" in a little tube from West Marine - is that for filling in these nicks, or for smaller spider-web type cracks?

 

[kloudie1]

Ya Welcome .. Check out MaineSail's Compass Marine website for some great posts and guides on the normal boat maintenance things that are good to know : http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects
The scratch patch is for little spider/hairline cracks like the crack travelling to the right of the chip in the picture..
Edit: To duplicate the anti-skid texture in the patch, you can lightly rub vegetable oil a piece of the anti skid edge a few inches away from the patch and put a very thick (1/8") coat of silicone caulking on the oiled place. Let it dry then peel it up and the pattern will be duplicated on the underside of the peeled silicone. Now when you put the putty into the chipped place, put the silicone on top and press it into the putty to make the patch look like the rest of the area..

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It seems unlikely to me that you really have exposed fiberglass through the gelcoat. Gelcoat is relatively thick and seeing the fibers coming would be very unusual, I think. It's more likely that you have normal oxidation that can be removed by compounding the topsides and smooth areas of the deck.

Your non-skid is the molded-in variety. Many boats have non-skid that is more like paint with sand in it to provide the grip. The purpose is to provide traction on deck where you are going to be walking across it. I would generally just avoid repairs on a molded non-skid for minor dings. But, I'm not a perfectionist, so I tend to leave good enough alone and just go sailing most of the time. If you are a perfectionist or the damages are pretty obvious, then I guess you are going to repair them.

Maybe I didn't look carefully enough but I didn't see anything in your photo that I would even think twice about. That tiny little chip and hairline crack is pretty cosmetic. If it were me, I would possibly try one of those tubes of liquid gel coat with just some minor cleaning and preparation of the area. I wouldn't go overboard on something as minor as that.

I would avoid sanding your non skid area. Cleaning with a good brush or something mildly abrasive like magic eraser will probably do wonders for the non-skid areas, and eliminate those glints that look like fiberglass. Then you will want to wax the deck with a non-skid wax. Since I never do that, I don't have any advise for a product to use on the non-skid, but there are products developed specifically for the non-skid decks.

 

[PirateLisa]

It seems unlikely to me that you really have exposed fiberglass through the gelcoat.

Cleaning with a good brush or something mildly abrasive like magic eraser will probably do wonders for the non-skid areas, and eliminate those glints that look like fiberglass.

I will definitely give your option a shot first as I really don't want to mess with the built-in molding.The reason we thought it was actual fiberglass is we laid on it sailing one day and we felt like we had fiberglass all in our backs when we sat up. It was horrible! It was only then that we noticed it was glinting and were were slapping ourselves on the forehead for laying on bare fiberglass, duh.

By the way - what IS that glinting stuff?

 

[centerline]

Im in agreement with Scott, although, it could actually be fiberglass dust, but that doesnt mean it came from your boat....
fiberglass can build up a small static cling and any fiberglass dust from another source could have settled on it.... from someone working on a boat nearby such as in a boatyard. (the anti-skid area is a great place for all types of dust to settle in and cause black stains that are difficult but not impossible to remove)
at some point in the past, it could have been worked under the dinghy by the wind or rain, or some other method and has remained stuck to the deck in that spot by static or after it dried.

the anti-skid surface is relatively thick and without glass fibers in it for almost an 1/8 of an inch, so the wear would have to be severe to expose the fibers, but even then they are embedded in resin and not usually free to cause you skin irritation...

so I think a good washing with an aggressive cleaner like 409 and an aggressive brush will remove them, but make sure you wash them completely off the boat of you may just chase them into the cockpit or on to another anti-skid area....

as for the ding in the edge of the anti-skid area, thats a normal surface blem problem but not a severe one. when they are laying up a deck piece, it goes fast and small air bubbles in this area is common can be easily missed... that ding is the result.
a small dribble of gelcoat will take care of it..... you can carefully mask it off, then work the gelcoating it in to, and up under the edges of the chipped area good with a toothpick so it has the best adhesion and to remove any air that may be trapped, after it cures, you can gently work it to match the surrounding area....

but it can also be disguised a bit by painting the ding the same color as the surrounding area without all the repair work involved..... and get onto something more importent

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Just sent you a PM about this.

 

[captaincoconut]

From the looks of it, it may be that a previous repair was made on this area, and the gelcoat is starting to wear thin. Rather than a non skid pattern, it would appear that the weave of a very well laid piece of woven roving is showing. As previously mentioned, sanding would not be recomended. A good cleaning is in order, followed by re-coating the area with gelcoat. As this might be a little out of your comfort zone, ask around your marina for a recommendation for a good fiberglass and gelcoat repair man. It shouldn't be a big deal, or too expensive a repair. If your budget won't allow for it, then do the suggested reserch, get the supplys, and try your hand on a small out of the way spot first. It's not really that hard once you get the hang of it, and have done your homework.
BTW, Congratulations! on your new to you boat, and...there's no such thing as a "Good Pirate"!

 

[25yearslater]

Yarg, bonny lass. Not to be blowin' me own horn or nothin' but here was my project. http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=123244 that involved recreatin' the original nonskid deck in gelcoat. Avast I had no prior experience and pulled it off without a great deal of sound and fury. Forgot which page the nonskid is on but you can browse. Many pictures. Welcome aboard.