Best Deck Paint

[Trident]

The old girl is coming out next year for a paint job as 40 years of polishing have left the gelcoat rather see through in places.

I know where I am going with the hull but the deck is a worry. It too has some worn patches and unsightly repairs from moved fittings etc over time. I don't want to add weight by covering it with anything (tread master , fake teak etc) so it will need to be painted. The problem is every paint I have ever used on decks in the past or seen end up "staining" with dirt whilst my old GRP still washes clean mostly.

The deck is moulded with anti slip sections.

So does anyone have a tip on a deck paint that will last and won't end up looking dirty all the time no matter how much I clean it ( oh and it has to be white for the tropics or burned feet happen) . Work involved and cost are not really important if I can get a good finish . TIA

 

[Minerva]

In true PBO fashion I had very impressive results with Sandtex masonry paint on a previous boat. Nice and grippy, but not destroy your waterproofs level of roughness.

 

[West Coast]

Kiwi Grip worked well for me, easy to apply Not cheap but I believe there are other similar products around now

 

[rogerthebodger]

I am looking for some deck paint to replace the treadmaster I have removed from my deck and looking for the best available and like you must be on off white to prevent burned feet but not so white to cause deck glare

 

[Boathook]

In true PBO fashion I had very impressive results with Sandtex masonry paint on a previous boat. Nice and grippy, but not destroy your waterproofs level of roughness.

I prefer Dulux textured masonry paint as I feel it lasts better. With both you can walk barefooted as well with no problem.

 

[Boathook]

I am looking for some deck paint to replace the treadmaster I have removed from my deck and looking for the best available and like you must be on off white to prevent burned feet but not so white to cause deck glare

Look at masonry paint. In the UK it can be mixed to what ever colour you want.

 

[Trident]

I have tried the masonry paints before but they definitely stain with dirt after time which just really bugs me

 

[Boathook]

I have tried the masonry paints before but they definitely stain with dirt after time which just really bugs me

They do a bit but the OP is saying that he has had problem with deck paint staining. I find that the masonry paint lasts about 5 years and mine needs to be redone next year. The deck is already looking grubby this winter and the cockpit (I have not painted) is no better.
All the masonry paint I have used is acrylic and the one advantage, it dries in 4 hours or less in the summer.
I have looked at deck paint but I couldn't get the colour I wanted, being a very light grey. The grey deck paints available are / were all to dark.

 

[Trident]

They do a bit but the OP is saying that he has had problem with deck paint staining. I find that the masonry paint lasts about 5 years and mine needs to be redone next year. The deck is already looking grubby this winter and the cockpit (I have not painted) is no better.
All the masonry paint I have used is acrylic and the one advantage, it dries in 4 hours or less in the summer.
I have looked at deck paint but I couldn't get the colour I wanted, being a very light grey. The grey deck paints available are / were all to dark.

I am the OP

I used deck paint and masonry paint on previous boats and they looked dirty very quickly on white - after a while the dirt gets "ground in" and I found the only way to make it clean was pressure washing which severely reduced lifespan

 

[Boathook]

I am the OP

I used deck paint and masonry paint on previous boats and they looked dirty very quickly on white - after a while the dirt gets "ground in" and I found the only way to make it clean was pressure washing which severely reduced lifespan

Oops!

I jet wash mine each spring and then the odd scrub during the season. Seems to last ok. Its this year, the 4th that it has started to look scruffy so a repaint next year.
The marine paints might be better but the colour range is very limited which is a shame
Many years ago I got to know some staff at a decorators centre and they would add tint to marine paint for me but never got round to doing it with deck paint at the time. Going by your comments I will stick to masonry paint that I can get to the shade I want.

The other option is flowcoat; but that will require a lot of prep, etc and for me isn't worth the work involved on a nearly 50 year old boat. I would rather use the boat !

 

[Trident]

Oops!

I jet wash mine each spring and then the odd scrub during the season. Seems to last ok. Its this year, the 4th that it has started to look scruffy so a repaint next year.
The marine paints might be better but the colour range is very limited which is a shame
Many years ago I got to know some staff at a decorators centre and they would add tint to marine paint for me but never got round to doing it with deck paint at the time. Going by your comments I will stick to masonry paint that I can get to the shade I want.

The other option is flowcoat; but that will require a lot of prep, etc and for me isn't worth the work involved on a nearly 50 year old boat. I would rather use the boat !

Yes I do GRP work professionally and I won’t even re do the smooth hull in flowcoat let alone try and do new anti slip print in the deck! The idea of all that longboard work makes me ache just thinking about it

 

[veshengro]

I've used Masonry Paint before, but I wonder if one of the non slip Industrial or Garage floor paints might work? Perhaps they clean easier than Masonry Paint?

 

[Trident]

I've used Masonry Paint before, but I wonder if one of the non slip Industrial or Garage floor paints might work? Perhaps they clean easier than Masonry Paint?

Ooh yes , worth some research thanks

 

[vyv_cox]

I have used Sandtex that worked reasonably well on a previous boat. Five years ago I did my Sadler decks in white International Deck Paint. This is in Greece where the air is surprisingly dusty and often deposits Sahara dust on everything. Despite long layups the decks and coach roof still look pretty good.

 

[Poignard]

I have always been happy with International Interdek until they stopped making the Blue Grey colour I liked, and when I grumbled about it they suggested using their hideously garish Squall Blue.

Eventually, I settled on Grey, and that looks fine.

 

[oldbloke]

When making non slip varnish for floorboards I do the last coat in gloss to make it easy to clean. Would a coat of gloss adhere to the suggested deck /masonry paints?

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I used 2 pack international paint and she looked stunning. Not for the faint hearted though! It was quite an adventure.

My write up is here, good luck, hard work but one of the most rewarding boat jobs I’ve completed.

Paint your deck outside in winter - Triola - Albin Ballad #50

 

[Sea Change]

A few years back PBO did a test of various deck paints. From memory they used masonry paint, Interdeck, Kiwigrip, and a standard marine enamel with sand added. There may have been others but it was a few years ago. They tested for grip and ease of cleaning.

My takeaway was that Kiwigrip was the best performer, and Interdeck was the easiest to clean. I've used a lot of Interdeck over the years and have always found it pretty good. Not a huge amount of grip, but easy to use and easy to keep clean.