On Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:31:03 -0500, "MMC" wrote:

So I'm refurbing the decks on my old Morgan sailboat and need to add non
skid as the old is worn and with a few more coats of paint, won't be any
good at all.
Checked out Interlux version and it's $42/qt can and is kind of a powdery
"very fine polymeric spheres". Rustoleum offers a product called "Skidtex"
and 1 pound can goes for about $5. I opened the can and it's SAND. What a
scam!
I really don't see the purpose in using any fine material as I'm going to be
putting down at least 1 coat of epoxy primer and 2 coats of polyurethane,
intending to use the broadcast method for adding the non skid to the wet
primer. I'm thinking something that won't disappear in the paint so maybe
crushed walnut shells as used in sandblasting or resin abrasive as used in
tumbling?
Anyone here have experience in using a other than West Marine type additive?


Have used several products:

Sand - cheap and works well and is available in many grades. The
problem is that it is difficult to spread evenly and if applied too
thick results in a dense cement like covering that offers poor
non-skid qualities.

Ground rubber - often used around swimming pools provides good initial
non-skid properties but as time goes by as the paint wears down the
black rubber is exposed giving a rather unpleasant black speckled
appearance.

Polymeric spheres - offered by most of the better paint manufactures.
My experience is that it can be mixed with the finish coats and
sprayed on and provides a long lasting non-skid surface. The major
disadvantage is the grade or coarseness is difficult to judge and my
last job, using "Medium" grade spheres resulted in a less than
satisfactory non-skid surface. I would recommend using "Coarse" as a
minimum.

Ground nuts - have never tried this.
Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)