kiwi grip

[Don Crowther]

Hello

I have a question about Kiwi grip. Is it necessary to grind off the old non-slip before applying? Or will the pattern of the roller show though? I would like to do the non-slip portions more for a contrast. There's nothing wrong with the non-slip
I would just like to add some colour. Any other paint I think would fill in the pattern.
Thanks

 

[Joe]

There are videos on youtube showing kiwi grip applications. There's a slide show on the kiwigrip site. http://www.kiwigrip.com/ It is a gel like substance... final texture is determined by the special roller. "...By varying the application technique, the texture can be adjusted from “fine” to “aggressive.”

If you go to the page above and scroll down you'll see this:

Rolls on nicely over other worn non-skid
surfaces with only a scrub and scuff-up —
no need to grind or sand smooth first

So I'd say ... NO .. you don't have to grind down the old non-skid... but if you want to simply change it's color.. I'd use a non-skid specialty paint or paint additive instead of the gel-like kiwigrip.

 

[Steve Dion]

Don:

We have two boats in our marina that have used this stuff and it looks very good.

One of the boats had the gel-coat stippled look that was very worn. The other had a smooth deck from the teak that had been removed.

If you have a diamond pattern I "think" it will cover up. If you have the stippled non-skid I am sure it will cover it up without any issue.

Be sure to follow their instructions exactly. I think you will want the most aggressive finish because those "peaks" will wear off and it will be a very usable deck (even if you think it is too aggressive when you first apply it.

 

[ChuckThomas]

Kiwi Grip is the ACTION

I was only able to redo my cockpit floor this weekend but man did it turn out great. I spread it with a plastic trowel somewhat thin then used the roller that came with it. I was so surprised with the results. It is a great product. Only time will tell how long it will last. One thing to note is remove your edge tape a soon as you are finished rolling or you may pull up the edge of the non-skid.
Again I highly recommend.

 

[arf145]

Chuck, what kind of surface did you apply the Kiwigrip over?

 

[ChuckThomas]

I applied it over old painted non-skid. I used a wire brush to ruff up then cleaned with soap and water.

 

[Ed H]

How many quarts did it take? Ed H

 

[Ted]

Chuck, any chance you can post some before and after photos. Some close up shots would be great too.

 

[ChuckThomas]

It will be a couple of weeks before I get back to boat. I plan on doing full pictorial of before and after shots. We only did the small area that is our cockpit floor. One of the best things was that it cleans up with water. We accidently got some on the emergency tiller cover and it wiped right off. Rollers and trowel were clean just by running under water hose.

 

[Don Crowther]

Chuck
Did it cover up the old non-slip or is it still visiable though the kiwi grip?

 

[ChuckThomas]

covered it up completely. my non-skid was very worn and filled in from previous paint jobs though.

 

[jconnor3]

I am in the process of putting kiwigrip down and it is simply amazing stuff. I love it but I am concerned about the cleaning of it as it seems rather porous. Here in Florida any crevice will get moldy. I will post once I go thru a season.

 

[Bob J.]

There's an article in this months good old boat on this very subject. It appears that kiwigrip fills in the diamond non skid pattern thats on most boats.

 

[arknoah]

I was only able to redo my cockpit floor this weekend but man did it turn out great. I spread it with a plastic trowel somewhat thin then used the roller that came with it. I was so surprised with the results. It is a great product. Only time will tell how long it will last. One thing to note is remove your edge tape a soon as you are finished rolling or you may pull up the edge of the non-skid.
Again I highly recommend.

I remember seeing that same admonition in Good Old Boat magazine. This may be one of my projects next year.

 

[Steve Dion]

Once the initial coat of Kiwi Grip is applied and the masking is removed you can easliy recoat it. You would just need to be careful and not go too close to the clean edge.

As far as cleaning it, I think either the non-skid deck cleaner or a power wash should remove most anything.

 

[Dave Groshong]

I like KiwiGrip so much I'd put it on a brand new boat. It definitely covers the old pattern. Available here of course:

http://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?2510

 

[Lost Parent]

I am redoeing my decks right now and have a question . Pevious owner put glue down non skid everywhere and when i am pealing it up with an oscilating scraper or by hand some of the gelcoat comes off and you can see the mat in the fiberglass, not so much the glass fibres are loose but they are still embedded in the resin , question is would KIWI grip fill the places were the gelcoat is missing and leave a reasonably flat surface , these places are not real deep

 

[Steve Dion]

I would think that using some resin on the spots would be a good idea and then apply Kiwi Grip.

Before you order the Kiwi Grip, I would ask someone that has use it to determine how much you will need. The two sailors that have used it in our harbor did not use very much.

 

[woodster]

I am redoeing my decks right now and have a question . Pevious owner put glue down non skid everywhere and when i am pealing it up with an oscilating scraper or by hand some of the gelcoat comes off and you can see the mat in the fiberglass, not so much the glass fibres are loose but they are still embedded in the resin , question is would KIWI grip fill the places were the gelcoat is missing and leave a reasonably flat surface , these places are not real deep

rule of thumb......Never trust paint as a filler...most paints only cover what is there .....so if you have undelations in the surface you will also have them in the finish...ocourse this all dependant on your requirement for a good finish.........


regards

woody