Non skid repair on an 88 cruiser

[thompmcd]

Hi all,

I'm finally getting around to restoring my 88 cruiser. I'm wondering what can be done with the non skid on the fore deck. There appears to be material missing in the low areas of the diamond pattern so that black or dark blue is showing in the "lines". The rest of the non skid is the light blue.

Any other advice on cleaning the non-skid would be appreciated.

What is the non skid made of?

Thanks,

Thompson

[Papillon]

I would like to see you request a photo album form the admin's Bill or Mike and show us a picture of your boat and the area you are speaking of pretaining to the non skid.

To start with, the non skid is Gelcoat and it is put on in the mold process...and if you are seeing a color difference in the grooves I suspect it may be either simple discoloration due to lack of care or a harsh enviroment. Or it could just be dirt. Any good boat soap and a stiff brush should help you to determine which it might be.

But a picture would be worth a thousand words right about now.

[cemiii]

Likely what Mike said. My 87 had some dark spot areas much like you describe, that I think were just dried in grime of some sort that probably got waxed over many times over the years. The built up wax can be difficult to dissolve. I used regular wax cutting household cleaner and a stiff brushing down the grooves to remove most of it.

It can take a lot of elbow grease but testing a small patch should tell the story.

[hardee]

Like Mike mention, the non-skid is formed in the mold and it is the gel coat. Doesn't seem likely that there would be wear down in the crevices, but more likely that the tops of the little pyramids would be worn off. Still, the color should not change unless it is worn down to beyond smooth.

cemiii is right, good cleaner and elbow grease with a fairly stiff brush, nylon not metal, should do it. I'd go with the small test area first, but is sounds like a work project.

Good luck, and show us your progress,

Harvey
SleepyC

[dotnmarty]

Consider Collinite No 920 fiberglass boat cleaner and/or 3MMarine restorer. Hope it helps.

[Sea Wolf]

In the event you do have to repair the diamond hatch pattern of the non-skid, all is not lost!

I had to do it on my '87 Cruiser once, and my wife helped me out.

While not normally mechanically or artistically inclined at all ( think P.A. or J.B. to the 3rd or 4th power exponentially), I mixed up a batch of MarineTex, tinted it down to an eggshell like color, and got involved in an important incoming long distance phone call just after pasting in on the affected area which involved several 3/8" holes and a 3/4" one on the non-skid.

Cathy took a popsicle stick and drew perfect diamond groves over the holes to match the existing pattern, no problem!

I no longer giver her the razzamataz over her lack of mechanical and manual skills. I just keep my mouth shut and be thankful.

Joe.

[Papillon]

Here is a link should it be needed on repairing non skid. This is for those who don't have the access to Joe's talented wife.

http://www.masepoxies.com//Videos/NON_SKID_REPAIR.html