Gel Coat Great Ketch Deck KiwiGrip

The previous post displayed pictures of the finished cabin top and deck after new gel coat was applied and after new KiwiGrip was applied as the non skid sections of the deck.

In this post I wanted to share more information about the non skid prep work and the choice I made to use KiwiGrip.

The previous KiwiGrip on GreatKetch was the blue color and I had already made the decision to go with a white color. I wanted white to give the appearance of a more clean uniform look to the boat, and because a boat with a white deck is much more easily seen than one with that matches the color of water, (I am thinking of safety on this point.)


-- Note that the work area is under a white tarp, which provides sunlight through the tarp and also some radiant heat. The deck has some material removed already and a shop vac is a must to keep the dust down.

I also used a chisel to remove the material from the edge near the old gel coat before so that when using a machine sander I am not going to go into the gel coat area.

I removed the old non skid so I could better inspect the surface underneath for voids as well as have a smooth even surface for the new KiwiGrip. Removing the KiwiGrip was pure effort, muscle and machinery. I used a rotary pad with 40 grit sandpaper to remove the largest portion of the material from the deck, then moved to 60 grit paper, and then an orbital sander with 80 grit. In some cases I was able to use a chisel to get underneath the KiwiGrip and chip the material off. The effort took several days and was slow going, I performed this task during the winter when there is not much to do with a boat during this time in Central New York with a boat.

-- The picture to the left show more of the KiwiGrip material has been removed completely, which required work using the rotary disk sander. Areas close to the hardware required a 40 grit sandpaper and different size blocks.

The pictures displayed in this post show how ugly the deck looked after the KiwiGrip was removed and new KiwiGrip was applied. In some cases one can note the difference in areas at different stages.

Before

and

After








KiwiGrip applied on the port side of the foredeck and the starboard side is next. Very crucial to ensure the surface is clean and void of contaminants.

Comparing the first picture in this post to the last picture here demonstrates a huge improvement to the deck of the boat. The time and effort has paid off. The new Gel Coat and new KiwiGrip was worth it. Can't wait for the sailing season. Nothing like sailing on a boat that looks clean and new.

Gel Coat Great Ketch Cabin Deck Part II

It has been some time since my last post. I have been very busy working on other boats. The last post displayed the work I was performing on the cabin top and deck. There were voids, dings, scratches, and stress cracks all about; moreover, some areas had very thin gel coat.

In order to match the deck final look to the cockpit, which I had completed worked and gel coated the previous season, I knew I would need to perform the same task of cleaning, sanding, and fairing/filling work. Using the same products and color scheme as before, I faired and prepped the deck for new gel coat.

One item to note: the port lights were the old style of Lewmar, and I was fortunate to find used but new new style port lights by Lewmar at a consignment place online. The old port lights had the typical aluminum look that was very worn and faded. The new style had powder coated black frames, which look much more stunning against the new gel coat.


 For those with a keen eye, you may have noticed that I changed to a new color for the non skid. The previous color was blue: the new color is white. Why the color change? I think the blue deck blended too much with blue water if and when when spotted from afar from a plane it may more difficult to see --- think possible rescue. The blue color also broke up the deck into sections and made the deck look blocky, and white would be cooler under the foot.


Oh, the non skid is Kiwigrip. I have read mixed reviews online about Kiwigrip by some who complained that it flakes off. I had no such experience with the old blue Kiwigrip that I applied ten years ago. I had to grind and sand for many hours to get that off. It was really bonded hard to the substructure. With the correct prep work of the surface I have learned by empirical observation that the product is tenacious in its holding ability. I suspect others may have not had a good clean surface for the product to bond.

Please enjoy the new look and the final work of the gel coat, new non skid, and new port windows.