Nonskid

[Jimm]

'89 Hunter 33.5 --- want to refresh and paint to offset from white deck --- looking for suggestions on process and materials.

 

[sail sfbay]

Tape off all the edges of the non-skid the mix Awlgrip topcoat base, T0031 reducer, H3002 converter and 1010 flattener (if you want to avoid a glossy surface) then roll (small roller) and tip, if required. Apply 2 coats. Roll & Tip Awlgrip : Applying Non Skid over wet paint - Bing video. Awlgrip Application Guide (bottompaintstore.com). I painted 600 sqft non-skid on a 37 year old boat last year without flattener since I wanted a glossy finish that was still walkable without slipping.

 

[PaulK]

We found that with nonskid it was not necessary to tip after rolling. We also found that a fine felt short-nap roller worked very well and did not disintegrate after a batch or two the way foam rollers do.

 

[jnorten]

Look into KiwiGrip!

 

[Joe]

ditto KiwiGrip

 

[sail sfbay]

If you are considering Kiwigrip suggest apllying some on a piece of fiberglass off the boat to see how you like the finish, surface roughness and cleanability before applying it on your boat so you have an expectation of the result. Kiwigrip has to he tinted to match boat gelcoat color since it is white.

Do the same with Awlgrip paint. Awlgrip can be color matched without tinting.

Then decide which paint system to apply.

 

[PaulK]

Some people find that Kiwigrip tires out faster than they hoped it would.

 

[kendyoozed]

I like the look that Andy at Boatworkstoday, on youtube has shown.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It is my experience, if you use Awlgrip, you should put a flattening agent in the mix as even with griptex, the glossy surface can be slippery when wet and it also cuts down on the glare. Awlcat #3 is the converter for brushing or rolling. If starting from scratch on old fiberglass, then the epoxy primer 545 (with converter) is also recommended before the finish coats.

 

[Capt Robbie]

used Pettit topside ez epoxy on molded non skid deck with recommended solvent cleaner before applying. Did not add non skid grit to paint as recommended because that stuff is really hard to keep clean and if you have ever slipped on a non skid painted deck with that grit added to the paint it will scrape your skin off like a cheese grader.
My molded none skid was really slick afterwards and I later lightly went over the areas with Ajax to dull the finish a little and it’s been great