Treadmaster Questions: -

BobnLesley

BobnLesley

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We're currently negotiating to buy a boat whose major fault is some crappy treadmaster on the deck; we never owned a boat with this stuff before, so would enquire:

What's the best/easiest way to shift the old stuff?

What's the best glue to stick the replacement down with?

Is 'Treadmaster' yacht specific, or is it just a fancy/premium priced name applied to the diamond-pattern non-slip vinyl sheeting that I've seen used extensively on construction sites?
 
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BobnLesley said:
What's the best/easiest way to shift the old stuff?
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I don't know, but I would try an electric scraper like the one for the Fein Multmaster or else the Bosche one that's often mentioned on these forums.

BobnLesley said:
What's the best glue to stick the replacement down with?
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Treadmaster sell their own brand of epoxy which is supposed to be the best stuff to use.

BobnLesley said:
Is 'Treadmaster' yacht specific, or is it just a fancy/premium priced name applied to the diamond-pattern non-slip vinyl sheeting that I've seen used extensively on construction sites?
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Email TM and they will send you free samples so you can compare directly for yourself.

Hth,

Boo2
 
I replaced some Treadmaster last year.

I don't know how yours was stuck down, but mine was an absolute pig to get off two lengths about 4 foot long and between 4 and 10 inches wide must have taken 2-3 days to get off using a bosch scraper.

I used the treadmaster two part epoxy to stick the new back down with - that was no problem, just make sure you mask the area well and weight the edges and corners down well whilst it sets.

Cheers
 
I think PBO ran an article and the best way to remove old treadmaster was a belt sander.

I stuck new treadmaster down with their own adhesive but like all sticking jobs you need to make sure you get the edges stuck properly.

Maybe you don't need to replace all of it. If it just looks **** and dirty in some places, use the treadmaster paint to bring it back to life.
 
I used a big broad wood chisel for stability to avoid cutting into the gel coat but just used its edge to only take a 1/4 inch strip of treadmaster off at each stroke. Slow and hard work.
It was in the cockpit and I replaced it with the smooth version which does not lacerate your bum. ;)
 
Bee there..

We removed all the tread master from our decks, it was thirty years old, had been repaired a few times and was generally, worn, faded, tatty and uncomfortable to walk on in bare feet.

We a lucky, we have a ferro boat and although there was 50' by 15' of it we were able to get it off with a hot air gun to soften it and a 1" chisel. On the less robust surfaces a belt sander is very effective.

At this point we decided to paint the newly revealed deck!

Never did like the stuf.

In answer to your last question, Treadnaster is a trade name for the marine product. Alternatives are available.
 
SAMYL said:
I used a big broad wood chisel for stability to avoid cutting into the gel coat but just used its edge to only take a 1/4 inch strip of treadmaster off at each stroke. Slow and hard work.
It was in the cockpit and I replaced it with the smooth version which does not lacerate your bum. ;)
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Ditto, plus a fair bit of sanding/filling before refitting.
Treadmaster, by the way, is a cork composite not vinyl.
The glue is almost as expensive as the actual sheets of composite.
 
MaranaF said:
We removed all the tread master from our decks, it was thirty years old, had been repaired a few times and was generally, worn, faded, tatty and uncomfortable to walk on in bare feet.

We a lucky, we have a ferro boat and although there was 50' by 15' of it we were able to get it off with a hot air gun to soften it and a 1" chisel. On the less robust surfaces a belt sander is very effective.

At this point we decided to paint the newly revealed deck!

Never did like the stuf.

In answer to your last question, Treadnaster is a trade name for the marine product. Alternatives are available.
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+1.

We used an electric hot air gun -aka a blowlamp :eek: - on my IOR 3/4 Tonner's cockpit sole. This really softens/destroys it enough to use a 3" paintscraper (push rather than pull) to get it all off quite quickly.

As boo2 says, Treadmaster have their own epoxy which is excellent.

Treadmaster does give great grip (what we wanted on a racer), but isn't kind to bare feet for cruising.

There are alternatives, notably 'TBS' which is laid in panels on Dehlers.
 
Don't know how you get it off but I wouldn't replace it, I'd go with epoxy paint and non-skid additive. The reason I say that is we went on a long distance boat and the wear on the Treadmaster made walking with bare feet on it like walking on needles. If you are weekend and holiday sailing, or wear shoes all the time, please ignore what I said.
 
KellysEye said:
Don't know how you get it off but I wouldn't replace it, I'd go with epoxy paint and non-skid additive. The reason I say that is we went on a long distance boat and the wear on the Treadmaster made walking with bare feet on it like walking on needles. If you are weekend and holiday sailing, or wear shoes all the time, please ignore what I said.
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Very well put and reminded me of another issue... The colours are all dark and the finish is matt. Result? Even if it was comfortable to walk on bare foot you couldn't, it will be to hot.
 
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