Non-Skid is not

potis

potis

Active Member
Oct 15, 2006
143
San Ramon, CA
Boat Info
1998 400 DA Sundancer
"Soggy Dollar"
Engines
8.1L V-Drives
Moving from our 340DA to a 1998 400 DA. Non skid on platform and bow deck is practically non existent and anything but “non-skid.” Looking for suggestions to improve. I can try seadek or similar product on platform but not sure what to do on the bow. Anyone ever have boat “regelcoated” with nonskid. Looking for suggestions. TIA
 
I used a non-skid paint when I repaired the cockpit floor in my Grady. It sits out on a mooring for 6 months a year and this was about 5 years ago. So far, it's holding up great. If it starts to wear, it's an easy/quick job to touch up. There are some very expensive stuff out there - I went with Pettit EZDecks. Not "cheap", but not outrageously expensive, either. Certainly was less money than any decking material. They only have a few colors, but given that you'd only be painting the non-skid area, it can look very nice if the non-skid is a different color. Actually, some manufacturer's do that from the factory.
 
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I would not paint the deck in a different colour. Or the cockpit. It will be different from 99.9% of cruisers and not in a good way. My 97 also has light grit style non skid. It’s not great but I don’t wax it and that helps. I have not found it to be that bad.
 
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Spend your money on a good pair of deck shoes. Sperry's with the razor cut soles do a pretty good job. Next time you buy a boat pay attention to your list of "must have" features.
 
"Spend your money on a good pair of deck shoes...."

Who walks around their boat with their shoes on...or expects their guest to. Sorry, don't mean to nitpick but that answer was way out there.
 
insfnds said:
"Spend your money on a good pair of deck shoes...."

Who walks around their boat with their shoes on...or expects their guest to. Sorry, don't mean to nitpick but that answer was way out there.
Click to expand...
As a former sailor who stubbed his toes dozens - maybe hundreds of times on deck hardware it's deck shoes for me. Barefoot occasionally on my Sea Ray but never when the deck is wet. Just socks - never!
 
Creekwood said:
I would not paint the deck in a different colour. Or the cockpit. It will be different from 99.9% of cruisers and not in a good way. My 97 also has light grit style non skid. It’s not great but I don’t wax it and that helps. I have not found it to be that bad.
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Bit of an exaggeration with the 99.9% - in relation to Sea Ray's and other recreational boats like it, sure. But in relation to all cruisers and all boats? Definitely not. However, the color thing IS 100% a personal preference. On the flip side, there is a safety reason to have it a different color... it helps to define the safe walking area. It kinda makes it a "no brainer" as to where to step. It's also possible to use paint that matches the gelcoat - whether it's a specific 'non-skid' paint or by using a matching paint and adding a special non-skid additive. If you REALLY want something non-skid, google "kiwigrip"!
 
Yes, the "sand grit" non-skid doesn't have impressive holding power for sure, and by now many boats of that vintage have been wheeled so much that it's even worse.

However, if I could snap my fingers and have it become the diamond plate pattern, I wouldn't do it! Those always seem to hold dirt and stains.

The 400DA has nice wide side decks and sturdy, tall rails, and a convenient handle at the arch. In 20 years I have never lost my footing up there.

The swim platforms are different story, but that's where an infinite amount of solutions are not only available, but desired for aesthetic reasons as well.
 
Creekwood said:
I would not paint the deck in a different colour. Or the cockpit. It will be different from 99.9% of cruisers and not in a good way. My 97 also has light grit style non skid. It’s not great but I don’t wax it and that helps. I have not found it to be that bad.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can repaint with topside paint that has some non skid material mixed in? My in-laws 98 270 DA has the pebbled non skid and it does get very slick.

My boat has a different color gelcoat for all the non skid areas. Instead of white it’s a color called “grey stone”. I like that it shows where the non skid is and isn’t.

My only beef is that it’s the grey color in the cockpit too, and it gets a little hot in the sun. If I had a choice it would be white in the cockpit.

1DDEDF07-DF18-4EE9-85E7-FC933AF7C788.jpeg
 
insfnds said:
"Spend your money on a good pair of deck shoes...."

Who walks around their boat with their shoes on...or expects their guest to. Sorry, don't mean to nitpick but that answer was way out there.
Click to expand...

I usually take my shoes off when I get in the cockpit, but I’ve learned to try to remember to put them back on when I’m going up to the bow.
Sperry’s in the summer and sneakers in the shoulder and off seasons.
I keep an old pair of Sperry’s in the back of my car for wash days. They get soaked, but once the job is done I switch to the dry ones.
My wife is a little thick headed but she has learned too that barefoot on the bow isn’t a good idea.
My grown kids aren’t believers yet, I get lots of eye rolls when I warn them, but they’ll learn one day.
 
IMG_4230.JPG
insfnds said:
"Spend your money on a good pair of deck shoes...."

Who walks around their boat with their shoes on...or expects their guest to. Sorry, don't mean to nitpick but that answer was way out there.
Click to expand...
Maybe you will change your mind after you fall or break a toe on deck hardware. Folks learn at different rates.
 
b_arrington said:
Maybe you can repaint with topside paint that has some non skid material mixed in? My in-laws 98 270 DA has the pebbled non skid and it does get very slick.

My boat has a different color gelcoat for all the non skid areas. Instead of white it’s a color called “grey stone”. I like that it shows where the non skid is and isn’t.

My only beef is that it’s the grey color in the cockpit too, and it gets a little hot in the sun. If I had a choice it would be white in the cockpit.

View attachment 74609
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Those Back Cove's are pretty boats, Brad. We vacation on the coast of Maine, in Friendship - just a hop and a skip from Rockland where they are made. Beautiful boats.

Now, again, this is personal preference, but that muted two-tone color looks really nice. I did the cockpit floor in gray on my Grady, when I rebuilt it... been thinking about doing the walkaround area, as well... it's on my "to do list", although that list is pretty long...
 
Lazy Daze said:
Those Back Cove's are pretty boats, Brad. We vacation on the coast of Maine, in Friendship - just a hop and a skip from Rockland where they are made. Beautiful boats.

Now, again, this is personal preference, but that muted two-tone color looks really nice. I did the cockpit floor in gray on my Grady, when I rebuilt it... been thinking about doing the walkaround area, as well... it's on my "to do list", although that list is pretty long...
Click to expand...
Thanks Dennis. I would love to get up to see the factory in Rockland. I potentially had an opportunity to stop by while in Maine this weekend but plans changed.

Maine is really beautiful; it's too bad that to visit by boat means dealing with a gazillion lobster traps. I know someone that just did a several week long trip from west LI sound to Maine and back; he had multiple prop entanglements on his Sabre. The worst is that fishermen have taken to connecting the buoys of 2 distant traps. They are using heavy line, electrical cabling, and pvc conduit. The effect is that it's a booby trap for boaters. Even when you think you're clear of the buoys, you run over the connection and it fouls all your running gear. Pure evil f**kery .
 
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