Princess 41

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Princess1980

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Decks:

The decks on our 1980 Princess 41 are the original fibre glass decks.

The decks are generally in good order. However the black lines are becoming faded and are in need of re-doing.

We have contacted the local fibre glass restorers and they are struggling to find a solution as to how to restore the decks.

Has anyone had any experience of replacing the black lines on the decks?
 
I'm not sure I would try and restore them and instead overcoat them with something suitable. MapisM of this parish refurbished the decks of his DP and they look great but I'm not sure what he used - it's worth searching through the old threads
 
Princess1980 said:
I have tried to find something but failed hence my post. Im not sure of what was used to make the lines sadly.
Click to expand...

To clarify, Princess had fake black caulk lines in their early boats. I cannot see a way to restore them, so paint over the whole lot with textured grp to restore the deck. This has been done by MapisM who removed his teak decks. If you seach the posts on this forum you should find the thread where you can see pictures and learn the product used.

BTW, i wouldn't consider for 1 second routing the grp decks!
 
If you know of a good time served glazier...I’d bet they could make a fine job of it with black sealant.
 
markc said:
To clarify, Princess had fake black caulk lines in their early boats. I cannot see a way to restore them, so paint over the whole lot with textured grp to restore the deck. This has been done by MapisM who removed his teak decks. If you seach the posts on this forum you should find the thread where you can see pictures and learn the product used.

BTW, i wouldn't consider for 1 second routing the grp decks!
Click to expand...

:D
 
markc said:
To clarify, Princess had fake black caulk lines in their early boats. I cannot see a way to restore them, so paint over the whole lot with textured grp to restore the deck. This has been done by MapisM who removed his teak decks. If you seach the posts on this forum you should find the thread where you can see pictures and learn the product used.
Click to expand...
This is the thread related to my deck job, and KiwiGrip is the product I used.

But the situation of my boat was very different, because any GRP deck covered with teak, after its removal, remains with no antiskid, and with a surface finishing nowhere near good enough to be left without re-applying something on top - either new teak, or anything else.
The deck in the OP boat doesn't seem bad at all to me, and regardless of whether the fake caulking could be re-applied or not, I don't think I would want it.
Isn't it much easier to remove and clean the last rubber bits left, and be done with that?
 
IIRC it's not caulking, but some sort of colour applied to the top surface during layup, but admittedly it's been many years since I've looked at one in the flesh, but I would think impossible to remove without sanding the whole deck. (of course, I could have remembered it all wrong!)
 
BruceK said:
the article I posted implied it was some material placed under clear gelcoat
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true,

and with slowly fading gelcoat, these black strips also fail. My friend's P45 has the same problem.
NOWAY you can recreate that using even the best of caulking! it's flush, no space to add them..
 
vas said:
true,

and with slowly fading gelcoat, these black strips also fail. My friend's P45 has the same problem.
NOWAY you can recreate that using even the best of caulking! it's flush, no space to add them..
Click to expand...

Thats my problem i think. So do you think im best off just leaving them? I'd really like to do something about them as its the only thing letting the boat down really.
 
I'd think taking down the clear gelcoat, the printed material and starting all over if you can source the material would be more effort, risk and expense than just laying down teak or synthetic teak which imo would probably make it look a bit more contemporary.
 
Princess1980 said:
Thats my problem i think. So do you think im best off just leaving them? I'd really like to do something about them as its the only thing letting the boat down really.
Click to expand...

technically, I think you really cannot do anything that's going to last, unless you do something and no one ever steps on the side decks and bow, not even barefoot...

BruceK said:
I'd think taking down the clear gelcoat, the printed material and starting all over if you can source the material would be more effort, risk and expense than just laying down teak or synthetic teak which imo would probably make it look a bit more contemporary.
Click to expand...
yes, taking down the gelcoat is looking for trouble, OP has a (hopefully) dry boat, no leaks on the cabin ceilings. Working on any such solution (other than simply laying something on top of the existing deck) can potentially introduce paths for the water to enter.

V.
 
markc said:
I still think my original suggestion of over-coating with KwikGrip as per the link in MapisM's post #12 could be a cost effective solution
Click to expand...

Marc the setup is reasonably antislip (at least my mate's P45 is!) it's just an aesthetic issue.
I'm afraid if OP goes for kwikgrip he'll have to sand the lot a bit to create a key for the new material else it'll flake soon...

V.
 
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