Solutions for Creating Non-Skid Deck

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wasabiloco

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Joined
Dec 10, 2006
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24525
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I am redoing my cockpit deck. I don't want to use the sand/silica solultion unless I have to. Newer boats come with a waffle pattern non skid which I assum is molded in with the gelcoat. Is there any kind of veneer that can do the same effect. I would like to update the deck to this kind of waffle type non-skid if possible.

Any ideas? Thanks.
 
Most of the common paint manufacturers make a "non-skid" additive. Interlux, Sterling etc. I've followed some builders who have had pretty good success with a product called "Ultra Tuff" (UT-100F). I don't think you'll get the waffle affect though. That's usually created in the mold when the boat was laid up. Extremely hard to repliclate outside of a mold.

I have heard of those who have tried to make the waffle pattern though. They used the plexi inserts for ceiling light fixtures. You'll find them at Lowes for a couple of bucks. They spray them with PVA which is like a liquid teflon and used that on top of their epoxy putty. They'll press it in or use a vacuum clamp until the epoxy kicks. They leave a sharp pointed diamond pattern. The hardest part is getting the air out of the pattern. You sand the tops off of the little pyramids and you've got a diamond non-skid finish. I'm actually thinking of giving it a try this winter. I want to make some deck hatches for our trawler project.
 
Most of those products are just variations of the sand theme. I am looking for that "new boat" look. Instead of ceiling light fixtures, you can actually buy Gibco Flexmold and match patterns from various yacht manufacturers. What I am looking for is an actual veneer that could be applied/epoxied to an existing deck. I've been told there is such a product but haven't found it yet.
 
quote:
Originally posted by wasabiloco

Most of those products are just variations of the sand theme. I am looking for that "new boat" look. Instead of ceiling light fixtures, you can actually buy Gibco Flexmold and match patterns from various yacht manufacturers. What I am looking for is an actual veneer that could be applied/epoxied to an existing deck. I've been told there is such a product but haven't found it yet.

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Gotcha now! I would have said Treadmaster had I understood. I'm into trying to make my own. Looked at the Gibco-flexmold. Little pricey. I'll give my method a try. You'll like the Treadmaster. Nice stuff. If you power wash it work from the center outwards or you'll peel it off.
 
Thanks, Rick , Robbins29. That Treadmaster looks like good stuff from what I could find out. Has anybody on this site actually used it? Doe the edges "stay down" after epoxy/contact cement? Anybody used it in a fishing cockpit? Blood issues?

Like I say, stuff looks pretty good ! WOuld like to talk to someone with actual experience with it
 
Visited a bunch of sailing sites and I think after further review, these glue down solutions probably aren't so great Guess it's back to the sand/silica solution
 
There are marine grade and multi colors available of Polyurethane based "Truck Bed Liner" type of coatings available. Don't know of specific manufacturer(s) off hand.
 
Go do a search on the "Ultra Tuff" Wasa! Absolutely everything I've read is positive. It's not sand or silica that makes it non-skid. They have two sizes of integrated rubber particals. One's very agressive and one isn't. It's used in a lot of processing plants and can take light vehicle traffic. My second choice would be the Rhino Liner option maybe. Pricey too!
 
Wasa, when you say you are redoing your cockpit deck, are you re-gelcoating it? painting it? etc? If you are re-gelcoating, I would try the gibco flex mold as that technique will last forever and never peel, etc. Another way you can do the gibco flexmold is to lay it out on a large piece of glass (glass is extremely flat and smooth), brush the flexmold with gelcoat and let cure, lay up 1 ply of fiberglass mat and polyesther resin on top of the gelcoat and let cure. sand the fiberglass well to prep for bonding and then remove the flexmold from the laminate. Lay the laminate on your deck or make a pattern with thick paper and cut the laminate to the proper dimensions. Then epoxy the entire premolded nonskid laminate to your deck, which you will also have to sand well to prep for bonding. Yes, quite a bit of work, but you will get that diamond shaped non-skid and you can power wash, scrub, etc. and it will never peel.
 
Wow. That sounds like a really good solution. Problem is, it also sounds way above my pay grade !

It would sure look good if done right, though.

Thanks for all the good ideas.
 
I noticed an advertisement in the August issue of Pacific Yachting for a product called Kiwigrip. It is a one part acrylic polymer paint on coating which cures to a non slip coating. Looks great and I suspect superior to the 2 part/rubber grit I used a few years ago. The west coast distributor is www.pachena.com. They are located in Seattle.
Worth a look!
 
I am in St. Augustine. Does anyone know of someone between me and Miami that would be capable of redoing a cockpit deck with the Gibco product?
 
If you really want that molded in "waffle" pattern, you're gonna have to mold it in and it will be a more expensive way to make the nonskid. If you want an inexpensive nonskid, then I would go with the grit type. Another method I heard of, but never tried personally, is to roll on gelcoat and while it is still tacky, apply some kosher salt to the surface and lightly roll it. Let the gelcoat cure, then wash out the salt with water. Apply another light coat of gelcoat over the first layer or wet sand any sharp edges. Sounds like an interesting idea. Also, if you do the molded waffle method and do all the work yourself it shouldn't be that expensive. Most of the cost is labor. Don't buy resin, gelcoat and fiberglass from a marine store as they charge too much. Look for a commercial distributor in your area or search online...much cheaper.
 
That Flexi-Teak looks good. $50.00 a square foot is a bit high. Thanks for the good ideas, guys.
 
There used to be plastic sheets that you lay on precured gelcoat. It was a reverse mold type process. Haven't heard any of you guys mention it so I guess it wasn't very successful.

I couldn't find the heavy grit polymer granules anymore and the fine granules weren't 'gritty' enuff for a fishing boat so I went with the fine sand. It's just impossible to keep clean.[:O]
 
That "plastic sheet" you mention sounds interesting. Anybody know anything else about it?
 
I've come across a product that looks like a viable solution. It is Seaboard Grip X. It is a specially textured starboard. It is supposedly non-skid and could be screwed down as opposed to glued. Anybody seen this stuff or have any experience with it?
 
quote:
Originally posted by jtybt15

There used to be plastic sheets that you lay on precured gelcoat. It was a reverse mold type process. Haven't heard any of you guys mention it so I guess it wasn't very successful.

I couldn't find the heavy grit polymer granules anymore and the fine granules weren't 'gritty' enuff for a fishing boat so I went with the fine sand. It's just impossible to keep clean.[:O]

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Just did my cockpit floor w/2 part interlux and non slip granules. Very good as far as non slip but Ill bet it will be hard to clean. cant let the fish blood/guts get dry. Will let you know.
 
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