Painting the Decks

[scottb34300]

Hi, I have just bought a boat with dirty, stained decks. I think the only option is to paint the decks. I've just been to the boatshow and wish my decks could look as good as those! Any suggestions to how I can get my decks looking like that with that sort of shine? Or any suggestions about painting my decks/suppliers would also be helpful.

Many thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Scott.

 

[Sparrow]

If your decks are unpainted at present, I would try to clean them with a marine grade T cut or rubbing compound with plenty of elbow grease! If that works OK, use a good polish to help them stay clean. If the T cutting does not work, then deck paint it is.

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[Robin]

Do you have a moulded non-slip finish? Starbrite do a non-slip deck cleaner that works very well for us which seems to lift the dirt out of the non-slip, you spray it on, spread it uniformly, leave a while then hose off whilst scrubbing hard as you go. If that doesn't work then painting is an option, Blakes do a nice non-slip paint (the one used on Westerlies) as do International.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Scott,

I would try a high pressure water blaster first, this should remove the bulk of the gunk, and, this will make polishing or prep' for painting much easier.

Hope this helps...



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[maxi]

Shiny decks and accidents go hand in hand, it might be better to think about the non-slip properties.

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[dickh]

As oldsaltoz says, try a pressure washer first - it's amazing how clean they can get with one of these. I notice my local Safeway store had them at £29.99 last weekend!! Can't be bad at that price even if it only lasts long enough to do your decks! Be careful with it on wood though - they can rip wood to shreds very quickly.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[paulrossall]

It is vital that your decks are not slippy when wet. Unless you have some old fashioned wooden deck I would paint the decks in Internation Paints Interdeck. This is really good, sticks well, dries quickly, is very heard-wearing and gives a very good grip. I have used it on numerous boats and dinghies. Put 2 or 3 coats on. Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[Althorne]

Like Sparrow and Robin I would advise against painting any grp unless absolutely nessacery. The suggested Starbrite products will do the job very well even if you have to do the work several times over a period of a few weeks to get the final result. They also do one for stain removal which I use regularly and it seems to act like a bleach, cleaning and whitening more each time. They are not cheap but well worth the effort. I had the same problem as you but my boat now gleams and has no paint anywhere.
Good Luck

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