How to reproduce a nonskid pattern

[jbassion]

I have just finished repairing a deck to hull fracture on a 38' sailboat. Now a 4' area of the deck is smooth where I had to 'glass over the nonslip pattern. Is there a creative way to duplicate, or at least come close to the org. pattern? My only thought is to find a woven fabric and apply it to the deck with epoxy then Awlgrip. Has anyone else had any success with this type of repair?

[Toot]

What kind of pattern are you trying to duplicate? You could take a mold off another part of the deck... either with rubber if the part is curved, or resin if its flat. Then put a mold release on it, coat it in resin, and slap it down over the repaired area of the structure.

[Eagle Boats]

There is a company called Gibco (817) 236-5021 that sells flexible sheets of non-skid patterns. They have a wide variety of patterns that should match what you have in your boat. Give them a call and they will send you samples as well as an instruction sheet on how to apply it. I have used their product to make molds.

[fiberglass jack]

try the way toot said, take a mold off the opasite side of the deck and wax the mould , what u will want to do is with tape mask off the repair area so no new resin gets stuck on the old deck, with some gelcoat which should be thick add some cabosil to it, paint the new mould a area the size of the repair, make sure the repair area is a little concaved and drop this down and wieght it down, release the mould and clean the repair remove the tape and if u have a horse shoe up ur arse see should look alright might have to go again these are the bitch of cosmetic repairs

[DGreenwood]

Check it out....

http://www.westsystem.com/ewmag/22/nonskid.html

[fiberglass jack]

nice one dgreenwood

[jbassion]

The west system link was perfect. It also steers you to Gibco. I would be reluctant to try to make my own mold because the pattern is very shallow and I doubt if I could pull a pattern off. If the boat was newer with the heavy patterns that Hunter and the like are using it would work, but this is an '86 Beneteau --and you know how stingy the French are..........

[Buckle]

If you were to take a splash off a good section of your non-slip, and form a basic mould from that, you can then lay up a single skin of non slip section.

On you damaged non slip section, using a router or similar, remove the non-slip including the skincoat laminate below the gelcoat, then you can taylor you newly moulded section to fit inside the damaged cut out.

Adhere new non-slip section into damaged cutout. Finish edged by rubbing a flat line. Then rub a flat line to simulate simmetry on the opposide side of your deck.

A good boat designer, will design breaks in non-slip to cater for repairs later in life.

[jbassion]

I just recived about 50 sample molds from Gibco. It looks as if one might be a match. I'll know Saturday. They didn't supply a price list - so if the patterns don't match or the price is too expensive I will have to pull my own mold.

Jerry

[Herman]

I know for sure Gibco has a pattern specially for repair purposes for a Beneteau. I believe it is pattern no 404. Ask them specifically for that, the do not give that pattern out in their sample pack. (I am Gibco dealer in Europe).

Good luck repatterning.

[jbassion]

Thanks for the "heads-up". Since you are a dealer maybe you can answer my questions. I did recive the brochure and sample pac, but no prices or how the mats are sold. My repair is to a 6 foot by 1 foot area at the toe rail. The mast came down and folded in the rail and cracked the 'glass. I have done the fiberglass work and replaced the rail. I still have to do the final fairing. I am guessing I will have to re-pattern 2 full sections of about 2' x 4' . What size matt is avalible? and is it sold by the sq. ft. ? The directions talk about gelcoat, but can I use resin? I am going to Awl Grip the whole boat next month. Thanks for your time.

[Herman]

Please see my PM for details.

Technically:

You could use resin, but please do use some pigment in it. When the awlgrip damages, you won't get dark spots on top of the pattern.

However, you could get away with patterning just the damaged area, and "key" the mat in the old pattern.

[Buckle]

I think theres a lesson to be learned with all no slip surfaces. Prevention to durt, grit and grim, in addition to prevention to damage.

There are some excellent liquid waxes out on the market (3M etc). These will still ensure the surface is still reasonabiliy grippy however they all prevent dirt from being worn into the surface (especially if its pinholed as well).

As I matter of fact, I am about to embark on a series of trials at work reference the above. Within the next couple of weeks, I shall have some good feedback on recommended products. Shall keep you all updated.