Sugar Deck

Anyone tried doing a 'Sugar Deck" with epoxy resin? Results?

For those not familiar a sugar deck is a non slip created by putting sugar over the last coat of resin then dissolving it out leaving a grippy resin surface. I have never done one, just been told, I believe its a technique pioneered by custom surfboard makers and used later by custom sailboard makers.

 

I used to do this when making sailboards and recently used it when repairing the cockpit on my boat. I like it because, as you point out, it dissolves away leaving a nice, non-lethal surface. I used sand on the decks of my old wooden boat but the paint always wore out over the grains which allowed water under the paint and it would flake off. It was also hard on the knees of my levi's.

Mike

 

Hey Mike...

So it works with epoxy, no nasty arcane reasons or reactions not to do it?

Cheers
MBz

 

Hey Meanz, it makes a "sweet" non skid, sorry couldn't help it! All the best from Jeff.

 

I lick it! errrrrr like it.

 

Sounds feasable

i will give it a try when i get to some painting etc. in about a months time

keep you posted

 

Meanz,

I never used sugar with epoxy but I'll bet it works. Better try some on your neighbor's boat first just in case.

Mike

 

hahhahha "sweet non-skid" hahha ,,,,,,,so how do you dissolve the sugar,,, or does the heat from the resin do it,,,,,,
be freakin funny wake up in the mornin and see ya deck full of every bird and sea animal within 50 miles, licking the paint off,,,hahaha

 

Hot water works...

 

Yeah that's my take... I will do a test patch first!

 

hahahahahaha!

 

I use sifted ground rubber in paint.

If by 'resin' you mean epoxy, epoxy is supposed to be covered with something like paint to protect it from UV, so I fail to see how the paint will avoid getting into the holes left by the dissolved sugar ... ?

 

Ants love sugar so we call this slip resistant coating "ANTI-SLIP"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the method used to be common in varnish on sailing dinghy floors/soles. All the best from Jeff.

 

A sugar deck is done as a final coat, its not painted over, the sugar is laid on top of, not mixed into the resin... the surface wears down and needs to be redone generally before the resin gives up. So if epoxy lasts as well as polyester unprotected it should be OK... it could be done with pigmented resin but I know nothing about what pigments work with epoxy... I might just stick to using polyester, maybe try a sugar deck with flow coat.

Anyway its tried and true by the surf and sailboard crowd... leaves a very nice deck, not to lumpy but grippy enough.

 

LOL.... humour, must be beer o'clock!

Yeah... so I believe, varnish is not right for my job but I suppose there is nothing to stop you doing it with a number of coatings.