protecting deck and nonslip

[Banooma]

I'm new to a 2005 Hunter 36. I've owned sailboats for years, and previously was content to clean and wax the white and gray deck and nonslip with light application of the same cleaner/wax I've used on hulls. Not sure if it's marketing hype, but the more I look, I've become more aware of recommendations to specifically use special cleaners for painted surfaces, and realize I don't know enough about Hunters or sailboat manufacturing in general to know what the gray surface is. First question - is the gray nonslip on this vintage Hunter the gelcoat, or would they have used paint? If paint, what is the recommended treatment/sealer for the gray nonskid surface on Hunters? What do you use?

 

[Davidasailor26]

It’s probably gelcoat with the nonskid pattern molded in. I’d recommend Woody Wax as a good way of protecting the gelcoat without leaving it slippery.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Once toured the Hunter factory in Alachua. The nonskid deck areas were all painted gray. If you feel the need to wax the painted nonskid, use something like that recommended above or just keep it as clean as practicable by scrubbing with boat soap to preserve the friction area.

 

[BigEasy]

As DavidSailor mentioned, it is gel coat with nonskid pattern & grey color molded in. It is not painted. Keep it clean with a deck brush & your favorite cleaner / detergeant. You can apply Woody's wax to the clean surface; note that Woody's is really not a wax, but a sealer. It does not cause the nonskid to be slippery, even when wet. It lasts for approximately six weeks before reapplication is necessary. DO NOT wax the deck with wax that is used on topsides of hull. Too slippery and dangerous.

 

[PJL]

Some good information already stated. In your area you are not likely to notice this, but during summer in a warm climate that gray becomes impossible to walk on with bare feet. Also heats the inside.

The other, and very important, aspect is that the molded in texture does not provide much slip resistance when things are wet and the sea is rough. Fortunately I had the life line stanchions raised and the top replaced with stainless all the way around. Is now an excellent handhold. Just had my deck coated with a texture that resembles sand. VERY much a True nonskid. Also went to a much lighter color and can now walk on it barefoot at any time of a summer day, even well South into Mexico.

 

[Dalliance]

Manufacturer specs indicate the 2005 H36 has a molded non-skid deck, in which case a product like WoodyWax is appropriate. My Cherubini era 1982 H30, has factory painted on non-skid that has been repainted a couple times. I don’t know exactly when Hunter switched from painted to molded and they might have gone back and forth. I use StarBrite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner with PTEF on my sand texture painted non-skid.

Some older boats with molded non-skid that became worn down and less effective have been painted over with textured paint products like Kiwi Grip. That seems unlikely on a 2005 boat, but it’s possible. Molded non-skid usually has a raised diamond or dot pattern. A close up photo of the deck in question would help.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

molded and paintend are not mutually exclusive. Hunter did paint the non-skid deck areas.
if I can find the pictures we took while touring the factory years ago showing the painting work, I’ll amend this post.

 

[Dalliance]

Some good information already stated. In your area you are not likely to notice this, but during summer in a warm climate that gray becomes impossible to walk on with bare feet. Also heats the inside.

I agree. Even in Chicago, my gray painted deck gets too hot for bare feet on a sunny summer day. It has faded some since I last repainted it in 2007, so I think it’s a little better now. It has held up well, but it’s nearing time to repaint.
When I tackle that project in the next year or two, I’ll be going with a much lighter shade of gray. Either custom tint from a white base or mixing stock gray and white. How I get the desired color depends on whether I stick with a sanded enamel (I used West Marine’s brand In 2007.) or switch to something like Kiwi Grip. I think I’m leaning toward sticking with what has worked.