Anti-skid surface and painting fiberglass

Bob
MEKP is the catalyst for polyester gelcoat or resin ,as in methyl ethyl ketone peroxide ,I only mentioned to add it ,because if I hadn't someone else would have .Will it take paint,? no it won't, you will have to pigment the gel. Done carefully this can be a very attractive and hardwearing finish ,it is used on the small fishing boats locally. Practice first on a bit of scrap ,your first attempt won't be good.

 

Thanks Anthony. Would you say this is a choice for small fishing boats in your locale because it's: a) economical; b) superior results; c) easy to do; d) traditional or local knowledge exchange network?

Just curious. Thanks.

bob

 

Morning Bob
Used locally for all the reasons you suggest, but not traditional .Since you have acknowledged my posts I took the trouble to photograph the engine cover of a local boat ,this finish was applied 7 to 8 years ago and although this vessel has not been used commercially it has never been covered or protected from the elements. This was applied by fluffy roller ,not by me I'm not that clever ,but a stippling action with a brush is much easier for the amateur, with a roller the consistency of the mix is critical and borders on the artistic. A courser mix is used for floors ,giving more grip. The surface preparation was just flatting of the masked area and a wipe with acetone ,although the gel coat may have still been a bit green at the time. As you can see the lines are still intact all these years later. I should maybe add that a combination of early morning dew and a low sun make this image look more shiny than it actually is.

 

Hey, alright, thanks Anthony for posting the anti-skid pic. Worth a thousand words. If the mix and application border on the artistic, as you say, so does the impressive visual result! The effect, I'd say, is rendered even more intensely with the use of a dark, contrasting color.

If I had any doubt, I might wonder if this surface could tend to trap dirt and grime and be hard to clean?

 

All non slip surfaces tend to do this by their very nature ,this one no more than any other, the finer the pattern the less it will happen.

 

Not to get off track, but..

I never get spontaneous nookie.....well, actually if there is a full moon and planetary alignment and blood alcohol levels are just right, just maybe...

I've marked my calender on December 21, 2012. There are people who say the world will end on that day. Others talk about "pole shifting". But as the planets line up I'll be laying in a stock of champagne. This should be a good day for me.

She does take out the garbage though. And, she cuts the grass about 1/2 the time. So ya gotta take the good with the bad.



MIA

 

That texture looks effective, though quite aggressive. I'm sure it can be knocked down with sanding.

The granulated texture I mentioned makes a softer look and is much less aggressive, though likely just as effective as an anti skid. The one shown is about a year old and a little dirty, making it look slightly more aggressive then it actually is.

 

Thanks for posting the pic. So is this the result of the coarsely granulated sugar-sprinkle method you first described or the never-stop-churning-by-child technique?

 

This is the sprinkle method, but with purpose defined granules, rather then sugar.

I'm truly sorry to say you've not behaved sufficiently well enough to justify spontaneous nookie (SN) MIA. I suspect this is a character flaw, but one that could be modified with practice and alcohol of course.

The real trick to SN is to constantly keep them on their toes. Trimming the hedge along the driveway without her asking, is good for a few points. The a fore mentioned trash taking out thing is a 2 point deal, unless she tells you, then only 1/2 a point. Bringing home flowers for no apparent reason and not having done something wrong in the last few days to warrant them, is usually a 15 pointer at least. Of course, the amount of points is just an estimation, as you and the one that must be obeyed, have to work out their actual value. Equally true is the amount of points you must accrue to attain SN, which unfortunately for you seems a bit higher then your general points accumulation abilities. Naturally, the points amounts and totals accumulation have a "must use before " date on them so don't waste good points my friend. If you see the spoiled date coming up, then the wise mate takes advantage, with a cumulative rush of additional points to get the total over the top, before this expiration date. I call this a forced SN as it's not really a true, spank my butt kind of SN. If you'd like, I can recommend SN coaches in your area that can help with your "problem" . . .

 

Interesting post PAR. First things first. After the boat is finished perhaps the accumulation of more SN "points" should be my next vocation.

MIA

 

SlipDoctors has a cool product which is made for fiberglass. Its a non-slip spray for bathtubs and boats. Check it out on their website. They have some all types of non-slip products. Appears this can be used on many surfaces. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/materials/non-slip-surface-product-ideas-36846.html

 

Hi PAR;

Wouldn´t laying some Gibco Flex Mould over some ( masked around) freshly laid gelcoat offer a more guaranteed result ?? because IMHO it does not require any artistic talents to provide a uniform looking texture without the risk of getting an irregular and homemade look.

I also believe that since most boats come with it when new, if you use some sprinkled or suspended grit your boat might look outdated or old.

I am only asking ...