Non textured anti-slip deck paint.

[Little Dorrit]

The previous owner had stuck Treadmaster anti-slip to the already textured gel coat (a small less than 1mm diamond pattern) which did not adhere well. Having now removed the Treadmaster (nightmare) I have no intention of replacing it. However, these textured gel coat anti-slip surfaces are not always what they claim to be… (which might explain the Treadmaster?!).
As the surface already has a textured finish I want to paint the textured gel coat with a hard-wearing anti-slip paint that has a flat, not textured finish.

Any suggestions for a suitable hard-wearing anti-slip paint?

 

[Concerto]

My advice would be to sand off most of the textured pattern in the gel coat, then prime (possibly 2 coats to fill and dips from the pattern) and use International Interdeck. The finish is almost smooth and the fashionable colour is grey. Interdeck is what Westerly used on their decks, which were smooth.

 

[penfold]

Paint on textured GRP is going to quickly wear off the peaks of the texture and look unpleasant; as concerto suggests sand it down a bit then paint.

 

[Neeves]

We extended our transoms.

I found that when I painted a non slip textured finish the wet paint ran off the top of the peaks and sat in the troughs in between. The paint acted as a filler and reduced the 'height' of the texture. This was really annoying as I had made, molded, textured resin/glass non slip panels. Possibly if you could increase the viscosity of the paint, or thinned it but applied multiple coats this would not happen.

I admitted defeat, and did not use the combined knowledge here, and painted with a gray 2 pack (International - don't recall which) and scattered an abrasive dust. which I think are organic particles, to the wet paint. I have heard of people using coarse salt to provide the 'texture' - but have no idea how effective. It is very difficult to get an even coat of the abrasive powder (though maybe you become an expert if you do a large enough deck).

Jonathan

 

[oldgit]

International Non Slip Additive 20g

it works.

 

[Blueboatman]

Off or not ‘white’ 2 pack Jotun satin finish with proprietary ( international or Hemel) non skid additive bits, others available

 

[Refueler]

That is going to be the biggest problem - the textured nature will have any paint, hard wearing or not, wear off the peaks.

So the choice is ...

1. fill the texture with something like International FineFill ... to level the surface - then paint.
Or
2. grind back the texture to smooth and then paint ..... IMHO - that will be a back breaking big job and if not done well - will always look crap.
Or
3. accept the wearing of of peaks and IMHO use less hard wearing paint which will not only wear off from the peaks but also partly from the troughs .. each season give a new coat and the troughs will fill creating a more level surface. IMHO - I would use Sandtex based paint .. but that's me ... its light weight .. defiitely non-slip without addition ... easy on feet ... and you get large amount for same price as piddly tin of 'marine' stuff. So you have plenty to touch up with when needed.

 

[wallacebob]

I’m about the experiment with this, Clarke 7.5kg Aluminium Oxide Abrasive Powder - 60-80 Grit - Machine Mart - Machine Mart Two grades, and pretty cheap. This is the same product as fancy boats stuff. I may use Johnston floor paint, which comes plain or with added grit, very cheap from Toolstation and Screwfix.

 

[Little Dorrit]

Thanks for the replies. Regarding the wearing down of the peaks (which seems likely). I am considering if a pigmented epoxy flow coat might be better with the sand, or other grit sprinkled over?

 

[jwfrary]

hempathane 2 pack (may colours available) with hempel grip in it, way harder wearing than interdeck it's what we use on commercial vessels.

You could also use epivanes polyurethane 2 pack with additive in which is also availble in lots of different colours.

 

[penfold]

I’m about the experiment with this, Clarke 7.5kg Aluminium Oxide Abrasive Powder - 60-80 Grit - Machine Mart - Machine Mart Two grades, and pretty cheap. This is the same product as fancy boats stuff. I may use Johnston floor paint, which comes plain or with added grit, very cheap from Toolstation and Screwfix.

Not advisable if it's a surface you'll ever sit or kneel on in oilskins, as it will wear them away tout de suite; great non-slip though nontheless.