Boat floor coatings

Hi, I'm new to boatdesign.net.
Ok, with the plethora of lengthy threads on floor coating, I have been overwhelmed with opinions of others as I am sure others have as well. I am in the midst of a stringer replacement on a 1986 Wellcraft 230 Coastal walkaround. While doing this project I have decided to change the layout of the floor, add storage and put in a custom built-in 35 gallon shad tank. Never the less, I am looking to the web for floor coating ideas. I have seen complicated systems with many steps that are in the $600 range and also seen where people have used porch and floor paint in the $25 range. there is Drurabak, permaflex tuffcoat, drylock, elastrometric roof and deck coatings and the list goes on. I thought it would be nice to have people who have used economical floor coatings to post their knowledge and how they are holding up after so long. Searching all the posts is confusing and there is alot of mixed feelings on products and methods. I looked at many different forums and the people here seam to be the most knowledgeable and experienced group of boaters.

 

Given that you are glassing the floor in .Chose your colour in gelcoat, add wax to make flowcoat, thicken it to the consistency of porridge with aerosil powder and catalyse as gelcoat ,spread and stipple with a brush.When dry knock off the nibs with a course production paper.This will give you an attractive non slip ,hard wearing floor. Practice this first on a scrap piece of timber.

 

Thanks for the input. That sounds like a good surface. I am less skilled when it comes to glass work. I am learning so some of what you said sounds familiar but I don't know what some of that is or how it works. Is this a novice level application?

 

Yes it is ,but then unless you practice a bit first, that is how it will look.The secret is in the thickening ,too thick and the spikes are too high ,too thin and they are too flat ,it's cheap enough to practice on scrap till you get it right .This finish is used on most of the locally produced small fishing vessels and as I have said here before ,one or two people have raised it almost to an art form using rollers ,in the same way that artex ceiling finishes were patterned. Its raining here at the moment, but if it stops I will take some photos, don't hold your breath ,we have a very deep low over us right now.Just one further point ,this works best with neutral colours ,grey/lavender seems to be the favourite.

 

Thanks for the info. can this be done on existing surfaces too like the gunwale etc? what is the thickness of the surface once applied? and one last question, Is a plywood subsurface recommended for the boat floor in your opinion? I have not made it to the point of the floor install yet. I am still building the storage and stringers and tank. Thanks for the great information.

 

I don't understand what you mean by a plywood substrate. I assumed you were going to costruct a plywood floor and then glass over it with a couple of layers of CSM , this is what is normally done. The finish I suggested will work well on this . As for gunwales,why not ,but flat the surface with abrasive first to key it . The picture is of an engine cover, not done by me ,but by somebody much more talented ,using a roller ,this surface has been sat and trodden on for about ten years and was applied on flatted gelcoat. It is non slip the shine is just dampness.

 

I know a lot of guys that have used many different products to finish decks with. Their current favorite is Kiwigrip and after using it think it would be very difficult to have an easier to apply product. You should be able to buy enough kiwigrip to do your boat for appx. $200. It's applied with a roller that is like an open mesh, they call it a loopy goopy roller, works great, looks great.

 

http://www.kiwigrip.com/ sound identical to what I have used on boats in Australia before Emerclad

It is good, but what about when it wears down, as it does after about 2 years of hard use?
Then its the big sanding and toluene treatment to get it off, most unpleasant.

 

Don't think it's the same stuff. There's no way you could apply Kiwigrip with spray equipment. I read a post somewhere where a guy had a worn deck with Kiwigrip on it, he cleaned, taped, and reapplied it, said it looked fine. Of all the products I've used boatbuilding, Kiwigrip is the easiest to use and actually fun to apply. Guys that have used both say it's much superior to gelcoat finishes.

 

Thanks for the photos and input. The reason I asked about the plywood was because someone mentioned doing some kind of heavy cut strand mat floor but it sounded like it would take a lot of resin so I was just checking. The pic looks nice and that look is what I am going for.

 

flexible epoxy paint like CM 15 with walnut anti slip added then latex or enamel for the right color.

 

My brother built a skiff and took it to a place that sprays in truck bed liner. The soft, flexible stuff with a good grip. It's been holding up great.