Non-slip deck coating
 

Over the years my boat deck hasn't had the sturdiest footing, especially when there is fish slime. There have been times the deck is ice like, and the last thing I need is me or someone else getting seriously hurt. So I began reviewing different non-slip deck paints, didn't realize how many there where.
I'm looking for one that is user friendly, comes in different colors(gray). I also would like to avoid priming the deck if possible and I'm not crazy about painting then having to sprinkle sand over the paint. I know there is some prepping involved and so on. I don't want a very aggressive surface but one that is a difference maker.

Leaning toward Kiwigrip

Does anyone have any experience with deck paints? Pros - Cons opinions, anything?

Thanks and Good luck to you in advance!

I rolled out gelcoat with no additive. Works pretty good if you ask me
You won't need to prime if its going over original gelcoat. Just scuff sand and that can be done with a cheap palm sander and 80 grit. Gelcoat is thick if you use those little foam rollers with the blue stripe it will come out sorta lumpy,perfect for nonslip.
It can be tinted to any color. I tint mine with ppg basecoat tints to match the off white.
Get the un-waxed gelcoat it won't cure hard fir the first coat. First coat no wax- second coat you add the wax so it will cure hard
If you really want non slip you add silica sand to it but that's very aggressive hurt your bare feet aggressive.
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Last spring I put a new deck in a 17' aluminum boat we have, I used a rubberized paint called Tuff Coat (TUFF Coat Marine Ultra Tuff and Tuff Coat Marine Non Skid Coatings) and was very happy with the results. The non-skid is rubber pellets and has held up well so far. You can get this at Bass Pro

Goose,

I have been thining of using kiwigrip in my cockpit also. My deck is just fiberglassed plywood and the back halk has no gelcoat top since when i replaced the deck I used West System and glass and didn't put in any color tint in the West so the paint scrapes off kind of easy when sliding the livewell around.

So was going to sand it up and get a few quarts of Gray Kiwi. I was going to ask anyone if they ever used it but you beat me too it. It gets good reviews, looks easy to apply and you can vary your strokes for degree of finish.

I used Duraback on my boat and it was great! Not the cheapest but comes in colors and no need to prime, it lasted great even after the beating I gave it! The only thing is cleaning the floor is not the easiest if you don't stay on top of it, but some bleach and a good deck brush it cleans up well.

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You can also buy it like a carpet, vinyl based IIRC with a pattern to drain water and it is is pretty non-skid. Some boat Mfgs use it. Just cut it to shape and glue it down with resin.

pettit makes a paint called easy-deck, has grit in it. just roll it on. easy to work with and holds up well too. available in plenty of colors

Kiwigrip is RAD.

I love it to death.
Even fish slime doesn't make it slick.

Some tips:
Experiment in a non critical area to get laying it down and rolling out down.
Slop it on, believe me, its not paint, its nonskid and needs to be textured.
Get both wide and narrow loopy rollers, having both will make corners/edges super easy to do.
Do it section by section, it dries pretty quick, and as you do each section, get the tape up. Fast.
Prep is pretty much sand 60 grit and wash down and let dry. Thats about it.


The gray is pretty light, not blinding light, but "just right".

I'll be applying the kiwigrip in gray.

Did you do or consider doing an embedded logo on your deck? As shown here... KiwiGrip Embedded Logo Tutorial.mov - YouTube

I'm going to attempt it on my casting deck front hatch. I think the temperature needs to be 70, so I'm removing the hatch and doing it at home.

Do you think the gray is dark enough to make white letters come through

Give it a whirl, if its not dark enough, you can have pretty much any "good" paint shop tint it darker. (IIRC someone had theirs tinted by Home Depot with no issue)

Its water based. :hihi:

How to Apply KiwiGrip :: KiwiGrip Non-Skid Deck Systems by Pachena, LLCKiwiGrip Non-Skid Deck Systems by Pachena, LLC

No kidding. :) Thanks Lik and S-B peeps

I would love to see some of pics of your project. I always wanted to try this stuff.

I started my project by doing the front hatch at home in the living room, a temperature controlled environment. I did the prep work as shown in the video.

Because the hatch is also my front casting deck, I wanted a little more aggressive texture so I spread with 1/4 tooth spreader. Imo, using a tooth spreader is not necessary because applying by dabbing a brush is plenty for a good grip, just a little more time consuming. The rest of the deck will be done with a brush on a warm day.

If you notice the amount of product I used around the lettering is less then the rest of the hatch, that's because around the lettering I applied by dabbing the product with a brush.

I also learned a few tricks with the decal if anyone is interested.
All in all its like Likwid said...its a user friendly product. I highly recommend apply some on a piece of wood to see how aggressive you want your deck to be.

I have another project that is spin-off to the 'Bite Me' letter font.. I'll post pics when its done.

That looks pissa Goose. So you used the special roller for that texture? and prespread it with a tiling notch trowel?

That looks nice and thick, not too agressive as far as not having really high peaks. When cured how hard is it? Can you did your nails into. Like Liinex or Rhinocoat?

beamie: its pretty damn hard once dried. i gouged it off.... using a transmission :D
but dropping stuff on it isn't an issue. not horrible to kneel on.

the ONLY grump i have with it is having to stay after it to keep it clean.
i use simple green and that seems to keep it relatively clean.

I doubt my wife would like the idea of me doing this in the living room...but the deck looks great!

Nice work Tony.

Excellent work! Looks great.

Had fun with it this winter, now its game on.