Repair & repaint your antiskid deck or cockpit surface

This is an update note (June 2024): After 2 seasons, the cockpit still looks amazing and this year I repaired and repainted the non-skid surfaces on the cabin top sections, using the same method and products as seen on this video! This is an easy job anyone can do and make your boat look amazing!
Original note (2022)
The gelcoat on my cockpit floor was starting to show wear and tear with several pinholes. So I decided to share with everyone how I repaired and repainted it, and more importantly, how easy it was. I got excellent results and I am sure you will! I do hope you like and find this video useful.

[@andrewtrush5047]

Well done!!! 👌

[@kylequinn7760]

Really nice job on the deck refinish. Thanks for sharing all your prep and products used. I got a deck repair job to do and this will help me get it right.

[@aquaholic3]

Thanks and glad you liked. It worked so well, this spring, I’ll be doing the same on my cabin top that has the same original anti skid texture.

[@mykhailsuvorov8107]

Thank you for your experience ! Very good video ! Very good work ! Handyman !

[@mykhailsuvorov8107]

Will do the same work on my sailboat after my journey across Atlantic Ocean. Thank you

[@ronbuchanan5761]

Great video! I had huge concerns about painting the nonskid pattern and losing the grip capability. Looks like a good to me!

[@ronbuchanan5761]

I assume you did a lot of research on the paints. Interdeck was your best find?

[@aquaholic3]

Hi Ron, yes I did do a lot of research and test on old boats laying around the Yacht Club.. and my non skid in the very busy cockpit, still looks and performs perfectly. This year I might do the cabin top non skid surface.

[@turk0886]

Just used your technique, thank you.

[@aquaholic3]

Thanks for your comment. I hope it worked out and looks great!

[@turk0886]

@@aquaholic3 looks great, I did both cockpit and deck.

[@aquaholic3]

Nice! I'll be doing my cabin top in a few weeks.

[@aldobenavides4244]

Thank you for being very helpful. I have the same model and year, Catalina, and I am painting the deck and cockpit.

[@aquaholic3]

Good for you. Just remember preparation is 90% of the work…!

[@matthewsilva8225]

Great work. Nice and clean

[@aquaholic3]

Thanks Matthew

[@ronwright4684]

I want to paint my non skid deck but have hesitated because I could not figure out how I would sand the non skid to create teeth for the paint. Your video tells me that a thorough cleaning is all that is needed and decontamination with acetone.

[@aquaholic3]

Thanks for your comment. I wanted to absolutely maintain the original non skid pattern. After filling some pit holes with gelcoat and a small paint brush, I took my time cleaning the surface with a brush (and a toothbrush for some areas) with a water/bleach solution. Then I cleaned the surface again with Dawn dishwashing soap. Once rinsed really well and dried, I cleaned the entire area with acetone. I then used a foam roller to make sure the coating got into all the non skid pattern. Let dry for about 4 hours and then recoated once more. A few days later, I waxed the area, by hand, with a non skid wax. This spring, I will be doing the cabin top area. I’ll write an article about that as well as do another video.

[@cspray5386]

It will last 6 months to a few years. - Even with a super thorough coarse scotch brite. Definitely don't go near it with a gherni/water blaster. For guaranteed adhesion, - machine the whole lot down. 80g - apply an epoxy primer - toppy with beads of your choice and a linear toppy. Good luck guys

[@MrBluoct]

@@aquaholic3 Note: A pre -mixed water / bleach solution - off the shelf product? If not, what was the mix rate 50/50 standard bleach and tap water or ?

[@aquaholic3]

​@MrBluoct i get my bleach mix off the shelf at the dollar store. In a spray bottle.

[@MrBluoct]

Hi Thanks! Is this process deemed satisfactory long term say as of 2024? Any applicable follow up or further clarification or suggestions?

[@aquaholic3]

100% still looks great and no retouching at all.

[@MrBluoct]

@@aquaholic3 Thanks I will push forward with my plans

[@dr.kenharrison727]

Thank you for this. Very useful for our projects. You mention later adding a coat of wax. Does this not make it more slippery, therefore undermining nonskid? Please comment. What wax product did you use. Thanks again.

[@aquaholic3]

There is marine wax, especially designed for non-skid surfaces. Ask your local chandlery.

[@rmd1629]

Nice work. I have the same grey on my Catalina. Did you research other paint products as to pros and cons? Would you ever consider doing the entire deck of the boat in sections that were manageable to do at a time?

[@aquaholic3]

Hello. Thanks for your message. Now I know the job I did on the cockpit floor hss been resistant, (still looks like new), I will be repainteling the grey sections on the top of the cabin next spring. I will using the exact same process.

[@oumenelabrise2155]

Hi, your paint is still new, but how did it performed? How does it resist abrasion, especially since it is applied over the the pyramid textured gelcoat? Does the non-skid is still as good? Thanks for sharing.

[@aquaholic3]

I am super happy with the results and the performance. The prep was important of course as was cleaning the surfaces with acetone prior to painting. Used a thin foam roller to allow paint to get in all the non-skid texture. Plus the paint itself is non skid once dry. Lastly, not rushing the between coats times for the second and third coats is important. I am so happy, I plan to do the cabin top next spring.

[@oumenelabrise2155]

@@aquaholic3 That's great since the 'standard way' to deal with this issue is to sand down all non skid, and paint grippy paint on the flat surface. A lot more work. Do you plan to make a short follow-up video on the Lexan panel replacement?

[@aquaholic3]

@@oumenelabrise2155 Hi, yes the International Interdeck paint has non-skid properties, so no sanding really needed and able to keep the original non-skid pattern on the deck. Will be doing the cabin top either in the fall or spring. I will try and do a short update video of the Lexan panels.

[@aquaholic3]

Hi, if you look at my videos on KZbin, you will find the video I did when I changed my windows on the top deck. Not Lexan. I used Polycarbonate instead.

[@joannawade3104]

𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚖 💖

[@susanc.8009]

Don’t wax! You’ll have to paint again in a few years. Big mistake to wax a boat.

[@aquaholic3]

Hi Susan. I don't agree. I've always waxed my boat decks, using non-skid wax. When repairs are needed, I simply clean the surfaces with acetone.

[@susanc.8009]

@@aquaholic3 sorry, after some research, I’d have to agree. However, to count on getting the wax out of all the crevices of non skid would be difficult. I just know that when I tried to get the wax off my hull to paint, I wasn’t able to entirely get it off and the paint didn’t stick as well as it should have.

[@aquaholic3]

@@susanc.8009 Never be sorry for sharing your thoughts and experience. Get wax off surfaces can be trickle for sure, but I found with acetone, it all goes away. Hard to get at areas, I use a toothbrush.