Non-skid deck (and on cabin sole)

[geary126]

Hey, so the new (to me) Catalina has an epoxy patch job on the foredeck which makes a Sippery Slide ® look tacky by comparison. Surveyor said good luck, given epoxy here, gel coat there. Any suggestions?

Also, inside the catalina doesn't have carpets...and the cabin sole gets pretty slippery, especially where it slopes up, near the forward head.

Thoughts on adding non skid? Carpet? Given that the bilge is so shallow, I'm guessing that it would get wet.

thanks!

[sailingdog]

For inside the cabin, you might want to try work floor mats. I've used the same kind I had for my darkroom, inside the boat, and it affords pretty good grip, but is not bothered by water immersion and drains well. It is a rubber or plastic grid, very similar to the DriDek material found in marine stores.

As for the deck, you can use either something like treadmaster or sand and paint and add a non-skid compound to the paint.

[S/VNirvana]

I have used tred master on the deck of my Pearson 36 and it works out well. You can also use it in the galley, it comes in an off white (gray/white) and would look good inside.

[FrankLanger]

Sailorsolutions recently sent me information on a varnish-like coating that apparently is very non-slip, for the cabin sole. You can probably find them on the internet. I have no connection to them.
Frank.

[gc]

Every thing about a boat seems to be a compromise.

Check the decking material if you ever go barefoot on deck. I have found treadmaster is great if you always have shoes on, but it is tough on bare feet.

I have heard that the "nonskid" varnishes basically just remain tacky (i.e. never dry completely). Improves footing but gets dirty quickly and can't be easily cleaned. Note this is second hand information so weigh it appropriately.

[sailingdog]

There are less agressive non-skid deck materials, aside from TredMaster. I don't like TredMaster for inside the cabin sole, as you have to glue it down, or it can move. The rubber/plastic tiles I am using allow water to pass through to the bilge, are water-proof and give you good footing and help keep your feet dry, provided there isn't standing water inside the cabin.

[sailingfool]

We used this product http://www.ultimatesole.com/index.asp?ID=2 when we installed a new cabin sole and it works like magic. It looks like a gloss varnish but is not slippery. The finish is hard i.e. not tacky...
Amazing stuff.

[sailingdog]

My guess is that Sailingfool and Frank are talking about the same thing.

[geary126]

the sole is all glass / gelcoat. This looks like a varnish / finish.

[geary126]

the sole is all glass / gelcoat. This looks like a varnish / finish.