Non skid topside help

[HarpAggie2001]

I've got a day charter operation, and my boats get abused like a (insert inappropriate joke here). All of the topside traction has worn down to be smooth as glass. Although I highly enjoy seeing drunk tourists bust their asses, the thought of a lawsuit has overcome my joy. Any recommendations on a non-skid surface paint? I did some searches on here but wasn't able to find much. I found a few poking around online, they were water based, which seems like it'd have a short life.

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, standing by.

[Cheechako]

Kiwi Grip is popular and easy. It's a bit of a rubbery feel, so is "non skid" in that manner. The texture is minimal help. It's a bit like Latex paint to install.
Others can comment on it's durability.

[SecondBase]

If you want them to add nonskid to their annual religious observances you can go with TreadMaster. It'll be there 30 years later but their epidermal layer might not be. Better is to go with Cheechako's advice.

Yup we lost him overboard but you can still clearly see where his feet were when the wave hit.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by HarpAggie2001

I've got a day charter operation, and my boats get abused like a (insert inappropriate joke here). All of the topside traction has worn down to be smooth as glass. Although I highly enjoy seeing drunk tourists bust their asses, the thought of a lawsuit has overcome my joy. Any recommendations on a non-skid surface paint? I did some searches on here but wasn't able to find much. I found a few poking around online, they were water based, which seems like it'd have a short life.

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, standing by.

Do a Google search for non-slip coatings for swimming pools and gymnasiums.

It is that sort of stuff we have on our decks, it is the most aggressive anti-skid I have ever used.

Ann

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by HarpAggie2001

...... Any recommendations on a non-skid surface paint? I did some searches on here but wasn't able to find much. I found a few poking around online, they were water based, which seems like it'd have a short life.

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, standing by.

Water based is good - very good if you get the right one. Tredgrip is one but may not be available in your area.

Many swimming pools, commercial external walkways etc use water based non-skid paints.

[Cormorant]

Or buy a container or two of Skid-Tex and add it to your paint of choice. I did my decks that way a decade ago and it's still grippy.

Skid-Tex is really just a fine white silica sand. You could probably use anything similar.

[UNCIVILIZED]

There are a couple of dozen types of treadmaster, other brands of synthetic nonskid in sheets, cork pads, LPU with silica sand, LPU & polymer beads, glue down faux teak in panels, boards, or sheets. Premixed nonskid paint for industrial uses, typically epoxy based.

[Tornadosailing]

Interlux intergrip is similar, but it's fine plastic beads. It stays in suspension while painting and won't discolor like some silica sand products can

[Benz]

My favorite, and the one all the headboats I've worked on uses, is Awlgrip with Griptex additive. There's various grits, and the deck will last for five years or so of heavy traffic between applications.

[Thumbs Up]

Day charter boats get a lot of abuse. Most day charter guys that I know are redoing Their nonskid constantly. For you it depends on "the look" you want and how much you want to spend. Kiwi grip is expensive! You can buy a two component deck coating at home depot for cheap. You get "the look" with 2 component polyurethanes and polymer beads like griptex. Photos of your boat would be nice. You have a charter operation, let's see your website. As long as you do a nice masking job with radiused corners and fair lines, then whatever you decide to use will look great, at least for awhile...

[Thumbs Up]

Its an Athena 38 catamaran. I wouldn't use deck coating from home depot on it. It would look good in Awlgrip and griptex, or kiwigrip. Are you going to do it yourself? If you are just trying to buy some time you can put sharkgrip or sand in some housepaint and it will be way better than what you have. Just pick a nice shade of white.

[alansmith]

if you enjoy seeing paying customers "bust their arses" you might also be the type who enjoys seeing your customer's feet bleeding when barefoot. If that is your preference use crushed walnut shells and mix in with latex paint. It is incredibly effective at shredding bare feet. Smile

[Colin A]

I know a few commercial boats that use Durabak and like it. Not pretty but seems to work.

[George DuBose]

Skylark had 35 year old Treadmaster that was so ugly I couldn't even determine the original color. I painted it with the outrageously expensive TreadMaster paint and then the next spring I powerwashed it away!!!

I switched to International's InterDeck and although I had to mix my own color to get an ivory color, it has lasted.

The final death was that the epoxy used to bond it to the old deck was failing, so I have chosen Tek-Dek® in the faded teak look and that is the trick. Cleans with a pressure washer, looks like faded teak and feels like wood. Not cheap, but if you can make your own templates and install it yourself, it is quite reasonable and really makes the boat look great.

I could send photos to anyone interested.

George DuBose

[KP44]

We did a lot of research.
We put Skid-No-More from West Marine onto our new deck about 2 years ago. It's easy enough to paint on and seems to be holding up.