Recommendations: non-skid paint

[allanbranch]

Looking for opinions on non-skid paint that I can roll on. My last sailboat I just bought whatever was at west marine. This time I'm doing more research.

What do you recommend and why?

My boat is 30'

[barnakiel]

I have painted with International twice. Easy to apply and gives decent grip. I would add some (extra) non-skid compound in crucial areas though (e.g. where you hike out or walk on very wet and angled deck). You can buy special sand in small bags. Ask the surfing crowd.

Always think of the other side of the equation too: the shoes, boots and feet.

b.

[s/v Jedi]

Use Griptex or Softsand and sprinkle it on wet paint instead of mixing it through. Google these and don't forget to search for them on Youtube as well, where excellent videos are available.

I would go for Softsand.

[SteveSails]

I also have used Interlux Interdeck with good results, hard to keep clean though. A friend used Kiwigrip with good results, looks better than a sand type non skid but also hard to clean. No surprise that an aggressive non-skid will hold the dirt. If you don't need an aggressive non-skid then a final coat of plain gloss or semi gloss will help in keeping the decks cleaner.

Has anybody tried this? Sprinkle coarse salt on the final coat, lightly sand to expose the salt crystals then give a good wash with water. The salt dissolves leaving paint bumps that provide the non-skid. Might wear pretty quick though depending on the type of paint used.

[JPA Cate]

We're using a product called acrylmeric sportcote. It is rubbery, water based paint, and provides excellent non-skid. It is about 8 yrs. old, now, and it is still excellent. The downside is that is is subject to mudstain, and requires serious scrubbing to clean. Do not apply on a day when the night will be dewy, it will run.

Ann

[wrwakefield]

Kiwigrip is a great choice. Easy to apply, very long lasting, and not abrasive to skin or foul wx gear.




Bear with me: My touch screen device's auto-correct rarely is; but at least the text is tiny...

[Lepke]

As barnakiel said: think of the wear on shoe soles and foot bottoms. I never have liked the result with premixed non skid.
With sand you can find a grit that gives good traction yet doesn't wear out your shoes or knees. Very coarse sand is a bloody mess if you trip. I use whatever deck paint I am currently using. I tape areas that don't need it and about a 3" border. I paint, sprinkle sand, sweep after dry and a 2nd coat. It lasts years. Usually I repaint a couple times before more sand or stripping. I have about 1500 sq ft of non skidded decks and don't find the sand method a chore.

[UNCIVILIZED]

I just used Silica Sand, & some Pettit one part polyurethane, as did the friends who recommended this non-skid method.
Just make sure that you do your cleaning, & prep work, including taped borders, etc. Roll on a coat of paint, tipping where appropriate, & sprinkle on the sand while it's wet. And once things dry, brush off the loose sand, & roll on a couple more coats.

The reason I specifiy Silica Sand (as was passed on to me) is that there's No IRON in it. So that you won't get any rust streaks in your finish later on, as you would using more common types of sand.
And a bag or three of it, at a Builder's supply is dirt cheap, no pun intended.

But it makes for great non-skid. And honestly, you're better off with decks which are a bit "too sticky" than the other way around. So err on the coarse side. I mean, obviosly it's a safety thing.

The trick to preserving the seat in your foulies, is to slip a pair of heavier weight shorts overtop of your pants. And they wind up taking the wear from the decks, in additon to giving you a few easy to access pants pockets.
Just a pair of drawsrring type, that also has elastic in the waist works. And they're cheap. Plus, they have a big range of adjustability, for when you're varying how many layers you have on under your foulies. Unlike ones which zip up, & require a belt.

[Sandibar]

I used Kiwigrip last year. It's very efficient, but as others pointed out, difficult to clean. If you go that route, pay attention to application temperature. I have parts flaking off, probably from using it in too cold weather and condensation. Need to reapply here and there this spring. The actual application is a breeze, so this extra work is not a big problem.

[cruisersfarm]

Kiwi grip again. Best thing out of a can. Their roller makes it stand up too high for my taste. I wanted small, low peaks and I didn't want to spend the $$$ for Kiwi grip.

So, I used a more durable, less expensive paint (2 part linear polyurethane that was used on the rest of the boat) and mixed my own "kiwigrip" by adding enough cabosil.

I then used a foam roller to get tiny, tiny peaks in the paint on application.

Superior to kiwigrip in every way... durability, final product and price.

Would not go with sand, as removing it down the line is a nightmare.

[boatman61]

Got to know a lovely German couple in Agua Dulce over a couple of winters back in the 90's.. he used little bits of gravel.. claimed excellent anti slip and a great incentive for the 1 hand for the boat and the other hand for ones self.. hurt like hell if you fell on it..
He also believed "A Man is not a Man.. without a Knife'

[captjcook]

Silica sand crushes and shatters. Griptex is plastic, comes in three grits, apply with spray gun, a bit lower pressure to get uniform non-skid pattern. With Awlgrip, a small pressure washer and a bit of deck brush with soap keep it clean.


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[UNCIVILIZED]

Originally Posted by captjcook

Silica sand crushes and shatters. Griptex is plastic, comes in three grits, apply with spray gun, a bit lower pressure to get uniform non-skid pattern. With Awlgrip, a small pressure washer and a bit of deck brush with soap keep it clean.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

What are you doing on deck that's crushing silica sand; driving a steam roller?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by captjcook

Silica sand crushes and shatters. Griptex is plastic, comes in three grits, apply with spray gun, a bit lower pressure to get uniform non-skid pattern. With Awlgrip, a small pressure washer and a bit of deck brush with soap keep it clean.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

This.

[boatpoker]

Applied KiwiGrip last year using a tight foam roller as I wanted not too rough a surface. Looked great, tough as nails and terrific anti-skid properties. After two weeks it looks 20 years old. It's filthy and extremely difficult to clean.
I'm going to paint over it soon with something ....... anything else.