Questions about Kiwigrip

[IH82BL8]

1) Is it uncomfortable on bare feet?

2) Is it overkill for a family cruiser?

3) How does it look applied over a diamond-pattern, molded-in, non-skid surface?

Thanks.

 

[PaulK]

If your existing surface is gelcoat/fiberglass, try to keep it as long as possible, even if it doesn't look "new"any more. We repaired some spots of crazing & anchor fluke dings on our white foredeck with epoxy filler. UV degradation turned the epoxy dark brown, so it looked terrible and we painted it to cover it. Now it needs painting again. ARGGHH!! $$$! Gelcoat is about 10x thicker than paint, and lasts a LOT longer. Even tired gelcoat looks better than tired paint. We'd have been better off sanding the epoxy off and shooting new gelcoat, despite the expense of that. (Painting ends up costing more because you have to do the whole deck to make it look consistent, AND you have to to it again when the paint wears. ) Kiwigrip may last longer than paint, but it will still end up wearing, chafing, corroding down to the original surface unevenly, and will need re-application. You are right to ask lots of questions before taking any steps in any direction.

 

[Dave Groshong]

Properly applied, it looks better than new. It's non toxic and is really easy to use, I like a thin layer, it really depends on the pressure applied:
http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?3723

 

[njlarry]

One of the problems with kiwi is the use of the special rollers used that require practice on a test surface to get the proper texture. Total Boat Non Skid from Jamestown uses regular rollers and looks easier to apply. It also does not require practice on a separate test surface to get the right textude. It is easily tinted. When I finish my cockpit sole I will post some pics.

 

[svchickadee]

I used Kiwigrip on the non-skid on my Oday 25. It is easy to apply but be sure to roll it on thoroughly to get good adhesion. A crusty offshore sailor once told be that non-skid should take your skin off as you are sliding into the drink. Kiwigrip can be applied to the desired degree of discomfort to make it a good non-skid. It easily covered the non-skid on my Oday. Surface preparation is straight forward, just follow the instructions and mask off surfaces well. One gallon covered my non-skid deck. I don't see that the roller used is a problem but practicing on a sheet of plywood is a good idea. I used a 4 inch paint brush to apply the product before rolling. Kiwigrip is not a 'hard' surface (like epoxy paint) and will stain easily but can be easily touched up.

 

[Bob J.]

I did the cockpit, seats & deck with it last year. Personally I like the look, it grips & it's easy on the eyes (glare). It does get dirty compared to a molded non skid pattern. As others have said you can adjust the texture by how much product you put down & how much you roll it. Don't be shy rolling it because it does settle. I used a notched plastic trowel to spread it.

 

[Sefuller]

Very easy to apply, wears well with normal boat shoe traffic, but is a little harder to clean than the factory non-skid. If you don't sand or fill/fair your diamond non-skid it will definitely telegraph through. In fact anything other than a smooth surface will show through. I had mine tinted to match my factory non-skid since I did a few areas each winter over a couple of years. I don't find it at all uncomfortable in bare feet although I have noticed it can actually be slippery in bare feet if you hit it at the wrong angle. Never had a problem while wearing boat shoes though.