non-skid redo

[In2Deep]

Well after lots of searching and reading of posts I find myself still confused. My non-skid is oficially "skid". Ive called a few local shops and gotten quotes for sprayed awlgrip($2500!!) and line-x ($1700!). I am a do it yourselfer and dont want to spend that kind of money. I want a good looking OEM looking non-skid. I also called a local Parker dealelr and they will sell me the gelcoat for $130 qt. But warned me that it takes a long time to dry. Not sure exactly what that means? anyway,I have no problem removing my console and doing the prep work myself ,cleaning,sanding,cleaning,tapeing,rolling 1st coat of gelcoat ,sprinkle non-skid roll2nd coat. Is that it? Any experience working with the Parker gel-coat? Mabel I should get a different gel-coat? Thanks

 

[DaleH]

Gelcoat isn't made by Parker and a lot of it is made by PPG, who makes it for boats, RVs, and anything else frp (fiberrglass reinforced plastic). A friend re-did his deck using a gallon of gelcoat from an RV supplier, that was $65/gallon and tinted to match the Parker gelcoat for free!

Yes, as with any paint or gelcoat project - the keyo to a good result is in the preparation!

I wouldn't remove your console, I'd do the 1st coat right up to it, then when cured, would tape off leaving a 1-1/2" to 2" border around everything on the deck and apply the non-skid inside that border.

Did you see my tutorial? See: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6718 There's info and pictures in there for taping off things.

Less that I wouldn't use the System3 LPU paint again, the prep work is similar and probably easier for gelcoat, as you can just prep the existing surface that is there (LPU paints needed a base coat of an epoxy primer).

 

[In2Deep]

Thanks Dale! Your one reason I love this site.

 

[DaleH]

Thanks Dale! Your one reason I love this site.

Ahw shucks , but I still have 4,300 and something more posts to post to catch up with Megabyte!

 

[In2Deep]

ok heres a shot at another post!
I want to do the gelcoat,I understand they are not made by Parker, mabey PPG etc, but I am always confused when I read you have to ad this and that?? (cabosil,wax,hardener,etc..) So please direct me to a user friendly gelcoat. Ill put in the time on the prep and be happy to roll on 2 or 3 coats.
thanks

 

[In2Deep]

I have no idea how that pic got in there?? Its from another post.

 

[In2Deep]

again?? why is this happening?

 

[In2Deep]

Ok,I ordered a gallon of wax and a gallon of non-wax white gelcoat from Mertons. Also some yellow tint, cabosil, hardeners,rollers,mixing cups and some hull and deck putty. I am replacing the pedestals from my capt'n chairs with a leaning post. Initially I repaired the screw holes with some epoxy resin. The guy at Mertons said the gelcoat wont cure over the resin/holes. He suggested drilling them out and using the hull and deck putty. I thought I could just rough up the exposed epoxy and it would work? Any experiance /help would be appreciated.
Also the feet on the new leaning post lie outside the stringer, so no access to put any type of backing plate(unless I cut two access holes), is it actually 8) needed with the post having 4 legs and 4 scews per leg?
thanks,
Jerry

 

[DaleH]

Fill core w/ epoxy, rough up, fill to top w/ Formula 27 ... I do it all the time!

Buy some SS Togglers from MSC Fasteners which are a marine-rated toggle bolt for blind holes where you can't access the backside.

 

[In2Deep]

thanks