Let's talk flooring

[Nancy]

Our cockpit sole doesn't have as much texture as it probably did at one time. It's kind of slippery. We're starting to think about how to fix this problem and would love to hear what other people have done.

We see several possible approaches:

Re-coat the floor somehow (paint? gelcoat?) to provide traction

Carpet - indoor/outdoor? Something nicer/better where the backing doesn't deteriorate? Might be a good temporary solution at relatively low cost.

Synthetic material - possibilities:

• Seadek
• Permateek
• Flexiteak
• Plasdeck

Here are some photos of the area and the boat. The area is 9'7" wide x 8'1" long.

cockpit floor-1-07.28.22-2040.jpg

cockpit floor-2-07.28.22-2040.jpg

IMG_4608-1600.jpg

[jashmen]

I've been looking at this. Sounds like Rhinocoat for boats.

https://www.pettitpaint.com/products/to ... tuff-coat/

[Nancy]

Thanks, Jashmen. Unlikely we'd tackle this ourselves. Might discuss with our fiberglass guy.

[Norseman]

We have Seadek: Very comfortable for bare feet and non-skid.
It is also vulnerable, sliding a heavy cooler on the deck may cause damage, so will my dog's claws if she gets too enthusiastic.
Would I do Seadek again?
Yes, but I would be more careful with it.

[Tree]

Flexiteek for me - cleans up really easily after a season of abuse

[Nancy]

Thanks, Dag and Tree.

I hear you, Dag, re: fragility. I want anything on deck to be sturdy. I think about repairs, emergencies, things that happen in rough weather and more. I don't want to be worried about wrecking the floor.

[MadMoney]

I went with Permateek and have been happy, I'm on season 2 now with it. Great traction, cleans up easily. It will get hot on the bare feet if it the sun is strong. No regrets at this time.

Anthony Warren
1999 28' Albin Mad Money

[Nancy]

Thanks, Anthony!

[Nancy]

Circling back around on this. For now, we're using an inexpensive woven 5'x7' polypropylene rug. It's lightweight and easy to quickly move out of the way. And it provides good footing mostly without sliding around. A decision on a more permanent solution has been moved to the back burner.

[DCatSea]

I have the same problem on Mazboot (the dog is "slipping n sliding" and doesn't appreciate it, neither does El Commodora), so I'm seriously looking at Lewmar Treadmaster. Its not cheap, but I have small footsteps on the entrance, and they've up really well and look very serious.
It also cleans up well and is easy to install.
Thinking of installing on the wheelhouse sole and also the port and starboard locker tops. Big bucks but what's another grand.

I'm also considering applying Kiwi Grip topsides, so if anyone has used this product, I would be grateful for feedback.

[Nancy]

Doug, I was discussing this with Kevin/Pitou yesterday, and he said the previous owner of his boat painted the cockpit sole and the side decks with some version of nonskid Awlgrip. I don't know if Kevin has the details. Maybe he'll swing by here and fill us in. Anyway, I've been aboard his boat, and while I didn't focus on the sole, there was nothing about it that struck me as anything other than perfect and maybe even original, so I have to think that the skill level of the person applying the coating, whatever it is, is key.

[Tree]

Just a heads up on the treadmaster. It’s not actually made by Lewmar but by Tiflex here in Cornwall. I’ve been buying it commercially recently for installs in sewage plants. Buying it direct is considerably cheaper and I believe they will also ship internationally.

[DCatSea]

Thanks Tree for the info. If I get more, I'll try them out.
Already got it nicely discounted from Defender

Being a Windsor Lad I was up early watching the funeral and all that went with it. Have to say that no-one does this quite as well. Nice to see Matelots pulling the carriage.

[Pitou]

Doug, I was discussing this with Kevin/Pitou yesterday, and he said the previous owner of his boat painted the cockpit sole and the side decks with some version of nonskid Awlgrip. I don't know if Kevin has the details. Maybe he'll swing by here and fill us in. Anyway, I've been aboard his boat, and while I didn't focus on the sole, there was nothing about it that struck me as anything other than perfect and maybe even original, so I have to think that the skill level of the person applying the coating, whatever it is, is key.

The original owner of my 31TE told me that he had the non-skid areas done with Awlgrip. Between our conversation on Saturday and this thread popping up, I did some research on Awlgrip's GripTex non-skid "GripTex" and the KiWi Grip non-skid.

What I have found is that the GripTex non-skid finish is an entirely different process than Kiwi Grip with an application of Awlgrip or Awlcraft going down first and when wet shaking or spraying the GripTex non-skid particles, which are available in fine, coarse or extra coarse which can be mixed to vary the non-skid texture. After applying the non-skid one vacuums up anything that is loose and then applies another coat or two of Awlgrip or Awlcraft. This gives more of a sandpaper finish in an 80 grit finish. I no longer believe that I was given the correct information on what my non-skid application as my finish is not a true consistent sandpaper finish, but that of something that appears rolled and inconsistent .

I did watch this video of Kiwi Grip being applied and I believe that my finish is more in keeping with Kiwi' sandpaper finish at the 7:45 mark of the video. In our conversation on Saturday there was no way that I thought that I had Kiwi Grip as a boater in my storage yard had applied it one spring and his finish was super course and rough. From the video I can now see that Kiwi can be finished to achieve different textures.

At this point, I'm now thinking that Kiwi maybe what I have as my non-skid finish and if so, I would not hesitate in applying it. I will say that I would certainly practice a few test panels to achieve the skill level necessary to achieve what I would call a professional sandpaper non-skid finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJY7xNio0Q

[GSSeattle]

I did KiwiGrip in a previous 40 year old 'project' boat in the cockpit. It was pretty easy to apply but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. It goes on a lot coarser than other finishes and traps dirt pretty easy. That could have been my level of skill with the roller though. It looked better than the extremely worn surface that was there before, looked professional from a distance (due to me masking it off well and leaving some smooth spots around the hatches and edges for water drainage). Up close you could definitely tell it was a DIY project.

There were also some spots that wore pretty quickly, within a few seasons. It is a pretty soft, rubbery finish. That said, the worn spots were pretty easy to over coat with minimal prep. Would I do KiwiGrip on my Ablin? Likely not...