Someone once told be that I could restore some glass to my decks (non-skid) by scrubbing well to clean them then seal with Future (no-wax floor cleaner that adds a gloss to floors). Has anyone tried this? How'd it turn out?
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Dave
Look at Island Girl Products.
Look at the store here on the website. They sell the products. You can clean the oxidation from your fiberglass and reseal it smooth and non-skid.
Look at the store here on the website. They sell the products. You can clean the oxidation from your fiberglass and reseal it smooth and non-skid.
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Rick
Works for me
I've done this twice over the last 18 months and I am about to do it again. It looks great on the painted non-skid areas but looks terrible on regular fiberglass. So make sure you keep it on the non-skid only. It looks filmy and slightly yellows over time on white fiberglass but on the non-skid it starts out glossy and just fades slowly over the year without ever looking bad. It works good for hosing off bird droppings - just blast it with a hose, no scrubbing needed. Island Girl is good for the fiberglass areas but was not intended for the painted nonskid, although Jim said he was coming out soon with a new product similar to Future to be used on non-skid. Also Island Girl is kind of expensive to be using it where something as cheap as Future works so well. You can use a sponge to apply the Future in a thin layer. First layer makes a remarkable difference, second layer is just a slightly better improvement and there is no advantage to a third coat. The stuff dries in 20 to 30 minutes so that by the time you finish the first coat you can start the second. It's real easy, the hardest part is getting the deck real clean to begin with. Any stains you don't remove first will be sealed in for a long time. You may want to try a little bit in a small area first to see if you like it before doing your entire deck. There are all kinds of "painted non-skid" and I dont think it would be good on all of them. For example sand mixed with paint for non-skid might not have the same results as I am getting with my Catalina 30's grey diamond pattern, factory textured non-skid. Good Luck.
I've done this twice over the last 18 months and I am about to do it again. It looks great on the painted non-skid areas but looks terrible on regular fiberglass. So make sure you keep it on the non-skid only. It looks filmy and slightly yellows over time on white fiberglass but on the non-skid it starts out glossy and just fades slowly over the year without ever looking bad. It works good for hosing off bird droppings - just blast it with a hose, no scrubbing needed. Island Girl is good for the fiberglass areas but was not intended for the painted nonskid, although Jim said he was coming out soon with a new product similar to Future to be used on non-skid. Also Island Girl is kind of expensive to be using it where something as cheap as Future works so well. You can use a sponge to apply the Future in a thin layer. First layer makes a remarkable difference, second layer is just a slightly better improvement and there is no advantage to a third coat. The stuff dries in 20 to 30 minutes so that by the time you finish the first coat you can start the second. It's real easy, the hardest part is getting the deck real clean to begin with. Any stains you don't remove first will be sealed in for a long time. You may want to try a little bit in a small area first to see if you like it before doing your entire deck. There are all kinds of "painted non-skid" and I dont think it would be good on all of them. For example sand mixed with paint for non-skid might not have the same results as I am getting with my Catalina 30's grey diamond pattern, factory textured non-skid. Good Luck.
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Dan Ulrich
No-NO!!
Dave: Future was developed for vinyl floors, NOT gelcoat. It will yellow over time and you won't like removing. Look at something like Poli Glow.
Dave: Future was developed for vinyl floors, NOT gelcoat. It will yellow over time and you won't like removing. Look at something like Poli Glow.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Future is an acrylic floor finish
It's not a whole different from products like New Glass, except that it has no UV inhibitors--so therefore sunlight will yellow it--and it doesn't resist ground in dirt as well. It's also just about as hard as New Glass to remove...the only thing that will take it off is straight ammonia and a LOT of elbow grease. Additional coats without stripping will create a bruild-up nightmare after 2-3 years that will be extremely difficult to strip, and look like hell if you don't. So I wouldn't use it on a boat--and especially not on non-skid.
It's not a whole different from products like New Glass, except that it has no UV inhibitors--so therefore sunlight will yellow it--and it doesn't resist ground in dirt as well. It's also just about as hard as New Glass to remove...the only thing that will take it off is straight ammonia and a LOT of elbow grease. Additional coats without stripping will create a bruild-up nightmare after 2-3 years that will be extremely difficult to strip, and look like hell if you don't. So I wouldn't use it on a boat--and especially not on non-skid.
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Jim Willis
BAck to the future?
I am very disappointed not to be demonstrating our own non-skid sealant at the sail expo but there is a several week back-order on one of the key ingredients. Our non-skid sealant is NOT an acrylic and so cannot crack or peel. If our non-skid sealant is left it will just "slowly fade away" (like an old soldier!). Our non-skid sealant can be removed by OUR cleaners if (for instance) someone steps on it while it still setting and gets grit in it or if there is (say) a spill on it and the layer of sealant + contaminant needs to be removed. I would like to hear from people who have tried Aurora's sealant. Regards Jim Willis
I am very disappointed not to be demonstrating our own non-skid sealant at the sail expo but there is a several week back-order on one of the key ingredients. Our non-skid sealant is NOT an acrylic and so cannot crack or peel. If our non-skid sealant is left it will just "slowly fade away" (like an old soldier!). Our non-skid sealant can be removed by OUR cleaners if (for instance) someone steps on it while it still setting and gets grit in it or if there is (say) a spill on it and the layer of sealant + contaminant needs to be removed. I would like to hear from people who have tried Aurora's sealant. Regards Jim Willis
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Dick Carey
Usead Aurora Non-Skid
Hi Jim & Dave, I have used Aurora Non-Skid "Sure Step' Sealant both last season and this spring. I first washed the whole boat down with boat soap, then washed all of the non-skid (again) with Aurora 'Boat Scrub'. Then I applied the 'Sure-Step' and hand buffed it. I was very satisfied with that approach last spring and used it again this spring. It doesn't 'gain' foot traction, but you don't seem to loose any either. It contains UV block/fltering to help protect the non-skid. It has a soft shine to it. Jim, How does your new non-skid sealant differ from Aurora's 'Sure Step'? What trade name will it have? Dick Carey S/V Puffin 1990 Hunter 33.5
Hi Jim & Dave, I have used Aurora Non-Skid "Sure Step' Sealant both last season and this spring. I first washed the whole boat down with boat soap, then washed all of the non-skid (again) with Aurora 'Boat Scrub'. Then I applied the 'Sure-Step' and hand buffed it. I was very satisfied with that approach last spring and used it again this spring. It doesn't 'gain' foot traction, but you don't seem to loose any either. It contains UV block/fltering to help protect the non-skid. It has a soft shine to it. Jim, How does your new non-skid sealant differ from Aurora's 'Sure Step'? What trade name will it have? Dick Carey S/V Puffin 1990 Hunter 33.5
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Doug
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Dick Carey
Aurora Non-Skid
You can get Aurora Non-Skid at Boater's World. I'm not sure who else carries it. Dick Carey S/V Puffin
You can get Aurora Non-Skid at Boater's World. I'm not sure who else carries it. Dick Carey S/V Puffin
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Doug
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