Deck Maintenance

[grinfax]

The deck on my boat is pretty worn out. It is an 1982 30 foot Tartan and I don't think the deck was ever restored. It is worn out and even has some fiberglass showing in one spot where the jib sheet used to pass. My main concern is that when we are wet and lay on the deck we come out all white. I am not sure what type of maintenance I am supposed to do on the deck.

Someone told me I have to seal it? What products should I use to seal the fiberglass? Is this the best approach?

If I were to redo the Gelcoat of the entire deck to restore it as new, can someone provide a guesstimate of how much it would cost? What is the best approach to do this?

Thank you Kim

[mangomadness]

Paint it.

view blog and links at bottom of blog page.

you can do a good job relatively cheap.
Mango Madness J30 #185 rebuild

[poopdeckpappy]

Not only can you do a good job cheap, you could do NEAR professional work if attention to prep is paid.

And DIY'n it has a therapeutic value

[sailingdog]

Have you tried rubbing compound to remove the oxidized gelcoat and waxing it. If not, that might be a better step that jumping straight to paint. Once you start with paint, you're basically stuck with painting it over and over. You'd be surprised at how much even badly faded and oxidized gelcoat will come back. You need to fill and fair where the jib sheet has rubbed the fiberglass raw.

[grinfax]

I am going to try to compound and wax first. It seems the easiest. If that does not work.. then paint. Thank you all for your help.

Best, Kim

[teddier1]

Originally Posted by grinfax

The deck on my boat is pretty worn out. It is an 1982 30 foot Tartan and I don't think the deck was ever restored. It is worn out and even has some fiberglass showing in one spot where the jib sheet used to pass. My main concern is that when we are wet and lay on the deck we come out all white. I am not sure what type of maintenance I am supposed to do on the deck.

Someone told me I have to seal it? What products should I use to seal the fiberglass? Is this the best approach?

If I were to redo the Gelcoat of the entire deck to restore it as new, can someone provide a guesstimate of how much it would cost? What is the best approach to do this?

Thank you Kim

I had a 1980 Morgan 32 with a similar problem. I used Magurie's 3 step process which includes a rubbing compound, polish and wax and it did the job. I would try that before painting.
Ed

[teddier1]

I had a 1980 Morgan 32 with a similar problem and used Magurie's 3 step process which includes a rubbing compound, polish and wax and it did the job. I would recommend this before painting.

[arf145]

When you say "decK' are you talking about non-skid? If so, as a first shot, I would scrub real well with a brush and maybe a extra fine 3M sythetic pad to get some of that white oxidation off. Woody Wax can protect and improve the look without making it slick. Got any good pictures?

[hellosailor]

Kim, fwiw use a "deck wax" or non-skid wax, not a general purpose wax. "Slippery when wet" is no fun on your deck.

[sailingdog]

Woody Wax is a good wax to use on a deck... not slippery, unlike most others.