Cockpit Grates - Good or Not ?

[Billy Higgins]

GordMay - Depends on the cockpit material. I have used 3" by 0.5" wooden teak slats running fore and aft on a plywood sole, and was happy with that. On a wooden ketch I put some considerable miles on, the center cockpit was teak on plywood, and very comfortable. BTW, this boat had a teak grate in the head for hand showers, and while it had to be cleaned often, it was comfortable and kept the floor relatively dry. [A head is a fine place for a teak grating.]

On a metal cockpit (which I am planning) it would be a pour of roofing plastic goop. There are a number of makes - both one and two-pot solutions. The advantage to this stuff is it protects the metal from dings, is a noise-suppressor, and is just soft enough to take prolonged standing without introducing leg pain. I do not have personal experience with this stuff, but brands I am investigating are KiwiGrip and Dex-0-Tex.

BTW, I enjoyed your recent post on the Colin Archers.

I am not intending to use Treadmaster pads epoxied to the cockpit sole, but will use them elsewhere on deck.

[FloridaWriter]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

A pretty grate on the cockpit floor seems appealing but I wonder if it is just something to collect grit, grime and small pieces of dropped stuff...like martini olives and small stainless hardware. Do you have a grate?

If the teak grate is left bare it can provide good traction, yet it can get really foul under from food scraps, dirt, sand, etc.

[Kettlewell]

We have a grated section of cockpit flooring right in front of our companionway and it is very good at not allowing too much land grit, etc., to get down below. Plus, even though varnished in our case, it is very non-skid due to the waffle weave pattern. If our grate ever floats we will probably be going down, so I have not worried about that--might be something handy to grab as the boat sinks.

[Hudson Force]

Certainly, the dirt and grit that comes aboard is not reduced or increased by the presence of the grate. What does happen, having the grate, is that much of the debris is left beneath the cockpit covering instead of being transported below. This can be periodically cleaned and flushed without the grit grinding into the cockpit sole. Over the past forty years we have had no cockpit grate, a teak grating and the plastic "dri-dek". I've never had concerns about comfort with my feet or knees on these surfaces. I prefer the covering on the cockpit sole and plastic is the easiest for care.

[thinwater]

My wife finds Dri-dek agonizing on the feet and even worse on the knees. I don't like it either. We pitched it and went to teak slats. I like them on this boat.

My last boat was a performance boat with a FRP sole, and that was right for that boat. Anything else would have been annoying and ridiculous.

I think the only thing that is clear, is that nothing is clear!

[sabray]

I think grates have a place. They are good at dumping dirt so it doesn't track below. I sail barefoot.my boats cockpit layout makes getting them up a pain. So I have a cockpit sole of teak dealing and a gutter . My feat sttill get sore. Different boats different people. Some are just more grating

[Sandero]

Shiva has one I built years ago. I need to repair one outside piece. I like it and can't see a reason not to have it.

[GordMay]

Which one is Shiva's?

[James S]

I think both pictures are of Shiva Gord.

[zeehag]

i find grates do NOT come up in a sea that pops the boat--lol--- inmy boat the seas might come over the waist-- but there are no grates there. i find most folks who dislike teak just do not know how to properly care for the wood and dont want it as a result.
as for dirt-- is cleanable.. no problem. just clean when ye clean house and is done. dirt gets everywhere--even in yur hair-- so ye gonna shave yer head to spite your lifestyle???? best known nonskid is natural teak. unfinished, as gods made it to be, add finish and fall on yer ass. sorry is truth.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by James S

I think both pictures are of Shiva Gord.

Upon fourth examination, I realize that you are right.

[Sandero]

Taken at different times and different angles and one before the seating teak was replaced... but it's the same grate I built back in about 1989 or so...and that's 22 years of service!

[rhr1956]

[SkiprJohn]

rhr1956,
My grates run fore and aft so when the boat heels my feet don't slide across the cockpit sole. I think originally grates were designed to help keep your footing and your feet dry in an area that was generally slick, wet and uneven. Nowadays on modern boats they might have outlived their usefulness on a cockpit sole that is already flat and just needs a bit of non-skid paint. I still think they are attractive although always need to be brought up to clean the cockpit sole.
kind regards,

[mrohr]

Had teak, looks nice ,expensive.Had dri dek ,hurts feet and knees. Got Home depot work mat, looks good, feels good ,no problems ,cost me nine dollars.