The Top Hat seriously needed a cabin top paint and to fix a soft deck.
It had been partially sanded and could see grey/white/cream and the glass/board underneath. Decent full paint cracks and old screw holes leaked.
Now plan is to redo top layer grip with white or grey Kiwigrip.
I've sanded down to glass/hard paint and West System epoxied a thick glass layer over with a plastic wrap for smooth finish.
Now to fix some blemishes and undercoat with Norglass Shipshape epoxy primer.
Question is that topcoat do I use between the Norglass and Kiwigrip?
Any Kiwigrip tips?
no need to topcoat where you are painting the kiwi grip.
Just follow the instructions on the can for the kiwi grip, for more texture leave it for as long as possible before running the finishing roller.
So Norglass Primer is compatible with Kiwigrip?
What about the old diamond textured grip gelcoat, do I need to sand or acid wash and/or prime this if going to Kiwigrip over?
Is this a good plan or what's better idea?
Kiwigrip has a good youtube video, i used a 4 litre can for my 25 foot boat, if you dont like the colors just get white and have it tinted to your preference only cost me $4, i thought that it was well worth the $4. Also make it very aggressive. Mine looked grippy but when its wet its a little bit slippery still, as soon as you do one section peel the tape off and try to finish it before lunch time as the due stuffed part of mine over nite and i had to redo it
Select to expand quotesunycoastguy said..
Kiwigrip has a good youtube video, i used a 4 litre can for my 25 foot boat, if you dont like the colors just get white and have it tinted to your preference only cost me $4, i thought that it was well worth the $4. Also make it very aggressive. Mine looked grippy but when its wet its a little bit slippery still, as soon as you do one section peel the tape off and try to finish it before lunch time as the due stuffed part of mine over nite and i had to redo it
This is a job I'm up for as well.
Did you do the whole deck or pieces? I have the patchwork style of nonskid.
And most importantly how aggressive do you mean? From the promo and what I've seen reveiewed I thought it would be like Velcro. I'll need to do the cockpit seats etc and want them to be grippy but not painful.
The KiwiGrip sticks like sh1t to a blanket and will stick well to existing gelcoat, just make sure you use a good wax and grease remover to clean prior to application.
So mask up, clean well and apply liberally. It will go on straight over the old moulded deck grip, thou the more of it you can get off the better just to ease application and to blend in the different finish height. A run over with a good random orbital and 80 grit will get rid of the moulded grip in very quick time.
Good info Brett on the gelcoat/moulded grip fix.
As Kiwigrip is porous will prob need to reseal the sanded gelcoat with epoxy/ primer first I guess
Thanks Sunnycoast, that volume and non-dew tips handy
Just to choose/get technique right so have right finish for cockpit seat/cabin top/deck now
Hi Slammin i had patch work aswell, start at the bow and do a couple of sections then test it the next day
By the time you get to cockpit you should have it worked out
