Sailboat Owners Forums

  • Forums New posts Unanswered threads Register Top Posts Email
  • What's new New posts New Posts (legacy) Latest activity New media
  • Media New media New comments
  • Boat Info Downloads Weekly Quiz Topic FAQ 10000boatnames.com
  • Classifieds Sell Your Boat Used Gear for Sale
  • Parts General Marine Parts Hunter Beneteau Catalina MacGregor Oday
  • Help Terms of Use Monday Mail Subscribe Monday Mail Unsubscribe

Painting over molded non-skid deck

  • Thread starter PeteTheri
  • Start date Apr 21, 2021
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Ask All Sailors

PeteTheri

I am refurbishing a Cal-21 that has molded non-skid decking in diamond pattern. I’d like to paint over it with Total Boat Total Tread non-skid paint. Can I do that? And if so what prep-work should I do? I heard some people have sanded the molded non skid right down. Thanks  

sail sfbay

Total Boat Total Tread non-skid paint recommennds prime using TotalBoat Topside Primer TotalBoat Wet Edge Polyurethane Topside Paint For Boats . Seems that washing, chemical cleaning, sanding, priming prior to paining makes sense. Planning this similar process on a 37 year old motorboat.  

william24424

william24424

No need to sand out nonskid diamond pattern. I cleaned nonskid, wiped surface with acetone, then laid 2 coats of Total boat nonskid. Here is result. The diamond pattern won't be as pronounced when painted, however, will have more nonskid properties inherent to the paint. Good luck.  

Attachments

IMG_3640.jpg

william24424 said: No need to sand out nonskid diamond pattern. I cleaned nonskid, wiped surface with acetone, then laid 2 coats of Total boat nonskid. Here is result. The diamond pattern won't be as pronounced when painted, however, will have more nonskid properties inherent to the paint. Good luck. Click to expand

Easy job..although a bit time consuming. I mixed Total Boat nonskid 2 parts white, 1 part sand/beige. Post painting, Woody Wax worked great to prevent nonskid getting dirt ground in, actually good product for any nonskid. Have fun.  

I was considering just using the white but I see plenty of people use the off white or beige and I’m just afraid I won’t like the 2-tone effect on the deck  

Total Boat Total Tread non-skid paint preparation from the manufacturer: 1. Remove all surface contaminants including water, dust, wax, grease, and surface blush. 2. Wipe the surface with a clean, lint-free rag wetted with TotalBoat Dewaxer & Surface Prep. 3. Abrade the surface lightly with a Scotch-Brite™ pad, and wipe the surface clean with TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100. https://doc.jamestowndistributors.c...lBoat/TotalBoat _TotalTread_TDS_9.25.2018.pdf  

1636496913658.png

  • This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…
  • New Sailboats
  • Sailboats 21-30ft
  • Sailboats 31-35ft
  • Sailboats 36-40ft
  • Sailboats Over 40ft
  • Sailboats Under 21feet
  • used_sailboats
  • Apps and Computer Programs
  • Communications
  • Fishfinders
  • Handheld Electronics
  • Plotters MFDS Rradar
  • Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
  • Anchoring Mooring
  • Running Rigging
  • Sails Canvas
  • Standing Rigging
  • Diesel Engines
  • Off Grid Energy
  • Cleaning Waxing
  • DIY Projects
  • Repair, Tools & Materials
  • Spare Parts
  • Tools & Gadgets
  • Cabin Comfort
  • Ventilation
  • Footwear Apparel
  • Foul Weather Gear
  • Mailport & PS Advisor
  • Inside Practical Sailor Blog
  • Activate My Web Access
  • Reset Password
  • Customer Service

painting a sailboat deck

  • Free Newsletter

painting a sailboat deck

Beneteau First 375 Used Boat Review

painting a sailboat deck

Beneteau Oceanis 41 Used Boat Review

Photo courtesy of SailboatCruising.com

Hans Christian 34/36

2002 Catalina 320. Photo courtesy of Yacht World.

Catalina 320 Used Boat Review

Vesper Marine WatchMate 850 is an class "B" AIS transponder system that lets boats know your location and, at the same time, lets you know which boats are around you. Photo courtesy of Vesper Marine.

Vesper Marine WatchMate 850 and Icom M91D: Where Credit is Due

painting a sailboat deck

How to Create a Bullet-Proof VHF/SSB Backup

AquaMaps with Bob’s blue tracks and my green tracks at the start of the ICW with bridge arrival times. (Image/ Alex Jasper)

Tips From A First “Sail” on the ICW

Make sure someone is always keeping a lookout on the horizon while the tillerpilot is engaged. If there are a few crew onboard, it helps to rotate who is on watch so everyone else can relax.

Tillerpilot Tips and Safety Cautions

painting a sailboat deck

Lashing for Strength

painting a sailboat deck

Are Wrinkles Killing Your Sail Shape?

painting a sailboat deck

Superlight Anchors: Not Just for Racers

painting a sailboat deck

Refining Furling Line Fairleads

painting a sailboat deck

Impact of Modern, Triangular-Design on Boat Performance

Beneteau First 44. A modern wide stern boat with a deep narrow fin and bulb plus twin rudders. Note the very shallow hulls as well. This design epitomizes the modern fast "cruiser" and draws heavily from racing designs. (Photo courtesy of Boats.com)

Keel and Rudder Design Basics

Parallel hybrid setup. Image courtesy of Ortomarine.

Diesel-Electric Hybrids Vs. Electric: Sailing’s Auxiliary Power Future

painting a sailboat deck

Sailing Triteia: Budget Bluewater Cruising

painting a sailboat deck

The Best Gloves for the Boatyard

With Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner and a red Scotch-Brite pad, the author restored yellowed gelcoat in the cockpit to a near-new white shine. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Gelcoat Cleaning and Restoring Hack

Examples of glass filler (microspheres) and glass material (cut fibers and two fabrics) for plastics reinforcement: glass microspheres (or glass beads); diameter: about 300 µm, specific gravity: 2.5. Mineral filler mainly used to increase the stiffness of a thermoset resin and to make road safety markings; 5 mm length chopped strands of fiberglass used to reinforce thermoset resins; fibrous reinforcements for thermoset resins: two glass fabrics with different area density; fiber orientation: 0 and 90° (most common): weave pattern: taffeta (down left, area density: 550 g/m2), and 2x2 twill (down right, area density: 280 g/m2). Credit: WikiCommons/CC BY-SA 3.0

A Brief Modern History of Fiberglass

painting a sailboat deck

Another Look at ‘Dustless’ Sanding

painting a sailboat deck

PS Advisor: Acid Cleaning Potable Water Systems

Affordable products that you can find beyond the chandlery help make boat life more comfortable. Velcro strips, Bounce dryer sheets, LED pool lights and anti-skid material are all small fixes that have a big impact. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Product Hacks: Velcro, Bounce, Anti-Skid Mats and Pool Lights

Odorlos Holding Tank Treament Packets

Stopping Holding-tank Odors

painting a sailboat deck

Giving Bugs the Big Goodbye

You don't need to keep a full-size SCUBA tank onboard for underwater emergencies. Mini SCUBA tanks like this Spare Air don't take up much storage space, and offer sailors the ability to dive on an anchor or work on the prop longer than you'd be able to with snorkel alone.

Compact Scuba Kits for Sailors

painting a sailboat deck

Cold Weather Clothes to Extend the Sailing Season

The Gill Pro Long Finger ($50) is Practical Sailor's top pick for sailing gloves.

Five Best Gloves: Sailing and DIYing in All Weather

painting a sailboat deck

Sailing Gear for Kids

Ellen and Birger live full-time on their Fontaine Pajot Lavezzi and are paid to clean up remote natural reserves in Norway. (Photo/ Birger Haftor Nilsen and Ellen Gjertsen)

Full-Time Ocean Trash Cleanup in the Arctic Circle

New Zealand Emirates race in the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta on 25 August 2024. (Photo/ Ian Roman/ America's Cup)

Boats That Fly? How High Tech Rocked the America’s Cup

The R. Tucker Thompson is a tall ship based in the Bay of Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand. It operates as a not-for-profit, and takes Northland’s young people on 7-day voyages. (Photo courtesy of R. Tucker Thompson)

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship Youth Voyage

painting a sailboat deck

On Watch: This 60-Year-Old Hinckley Pilot 35 is Also a Working…

America's Cup sailboats have progressed from deep-keel monohull J-class Yachts, to regal Twelve Meters, to rambunctious wing-sailed catamarans. The rule now restricts boats to a single hull, but allows retractable, hydraulically actuated foils. Top speeds of 40 knots are common. (Photo/Shutterstock)

On Watch: America’s Cup

  • Boat Maintenance

Painting Your Own Deck

Is this diy job biting off more than you can chew.

painting a sailboat deck

My wife and I have owned our boat since 1985. We now keep it in the British Virgin Islands, where the Caribbean sun is tough on finished wood and fiberglass.

The reason I am writing you is to get your true feeling about novices handpainting our decks. We want to keep the nonskid and the white border design we currently

Endeavour 37

have. The decks were Awlgripped by the factory in 1992, but this has turned chalky and shows tremendous wear.

Is it feasible to try such a project? Or should I just pony up the money to have it done? We have time and plenty of elbow grease and a willingness to try.

Paul Jablonski 1979 Alden 44 (No. 9) British Virgin Islands

Amateur do-it-yourself nonskid painting is a very feasible project to undertake, however, the smooth, glossy waterways, vertical cabin sides, cockpit-well sides, and other transition areas are another story.

Its been our experience that an amateur can sand, clean, tape, and roll on a one- or two-part polyurethane nonskid paint and achieve very respectable results. In our last evaluation of nonskid paints (

With glossy vertical surfaces, the DIY challenge rises significantly. Those looking for a finish like that achieved by the pros had best be very proficient at the craft. Spray application is the preferred painting method, and only the most serious DIYer is ready to tackle the health, safety, and technical challenges associated with this job. (See page 30-31.) Deft handling of a sprayed coating is a precarious balance between too little flow resulting in orange peel, and too much flow resulting in sags. Between the two resides a slick, highly reflective surface that gains the awe of every onlooker.

If a less-dazzling finish is acceptable, then theres hope for the brush-and-roller wielding DIYer. First, carefully prepare the surface, and when applying an LPU paint by roller and brush, remember “less is best.”

A slower reducer allows the paint to flow and makes brush and roller marks disappear. Multiple light coats with scuff sanding in between works best.

Your Alden has a certain market value based upon a specific level of fit and finish, a less than first-rate finish wont hurt the vessels seaworthiness, but it could impact its resale value. Add to this the significant investment in time and effort a DIY approach requires, and the myth “all it cost was the price of materials” tends to disappear. We are advocates of the hands-on approach but also recognize the implications of biting off more than you can chew.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

43 Foot Cruising Sailboats - The Elan Impression 43 video from Practical Sailor

43 Foot Cruising Sailboats – The Elan Impression 43

Production Boat Keel Matrix Inspection video from Practical Sailor

Production Boat Keel Matrix Inspection

Fast Cruising Sailboat J 45 video from Practical Sailor

Fast Cruising Sailboat J 45

Choosing Anodes for Your Sailboat video from Practical Sailor

Choosing Anodes for Your Sailboat

Latest sailboat review.

painting a sailboat deck

  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Online Account Activation
  • Privacy Manager

IMAGES

  1. How to paint a sailboat deck ~ Lapstrake boat diy

    painting a sailboat deck

  2. How to paint a sailboat deck ~ Lapstrake boat diy

    painting a sailboat deck

  3. How to paint a sailboat deck ~ Melisa

    painting a sailboat deck

  4. How to paint a sailboat deck ~ Melisa

    painting a sailboat deck

  5. Sail Life

    painting a sailboat deck

  6. How to Paint Sailboat Decks

    painting a sailboat deck

VIDEO

  1. Painting a sailing boat in the ocean using acrylics 🎨 #shorts #acrylicpainting #paintingtutorial

  2. SailBoat Super speed and easy painting / Acrylic Painting for Beginners

  3. Mesmerizing Sailboat Sunset Acrylic Painting! 😍🌅 #shorts

  4. Watercolor painting sailboat art, original watercolor, reflection painting #watercolor #painting

  5. Painting a Sailboat in Watercolor. 😊 #art #artist #watercolor #sailboat #sketchbook

  6. How to Paint a Sailboat at Sunset on The Beach / Acrylic Painting for Beginners