slippery cockpit locker tops

[mistril]

My thoughts have at last turned to actually using the boat - as opposed to scraping and renewing the antifoul. My LM 27 is a 1985/86 Scanyachts example. The cockpit locker tops are varnished plywood - does anybody know if this was standard? The varnish is very pretty but lethal if there is any water about! If the varnish was standard, I'm thinking of a non-slip additive as I revarnish, but I've also considered covering them in Treadmaster or the like - very workmanlike but not necessarily attractive. Any thoughts either way, or alternatives that haven't occurred to me?


Thanks, all.

[oceandancer]

Hi Mistril,

One solution which I have on my boat and looks quite acceptable is to use several strips of clear self adhesive "safe tread" tape 2" wide. This is sold by the meter at several local Chandlers.

Mick

[Sula]

Other solutions I have heard tell of, but have no direct experience of -

1) Buy the non-slip additive (like a fine sand) sold for deck paint (by e.g. International), and add to a later layer of varnish.  It can be mixed into the varnish before application (keeps it stirred to even it out) or sprinkle on afterwards.  Some say add to the last coat of varnish, others say add another coat or two after the one with the non-slip.

2) Sprinkle sugar on the last layer of varnish while it's still soft.  Once the varnish has dried, wash away the sugar, and little indentations will be left in the varnish which allow grip when it's wet.

If sprinkling additive or sugar, the challenge is to get it even spread.  I'm told a sugar shaker helps. 

Let us know what you end up doing, and how you find the results.  I face the same challenge!
  

[Charles]

We had exactly the same problem. Our first solution was the same as Mick's, i.e. to apply those clear safe-tread strips at the points on the locker tops - not varnished in our case but still lethal when wet - where you stepped round the cockpit cover, both when folded away and extended. They are still there after 7 years, effective but barely visible.

Then when I took the cockpit floorboards (I expect there is a proper seamanlike word for them, but I think of them as floorboards) home in the winter to rub down and varnish, I treated them too. (Word of warning: don't rub them down too enthusiastically or you may wear right through the top layer of the ply.) I applied 4 coats of varnish and over the third, while it was still wet, I sprinkled a dusting of very fine sand; this lot came from our grandchildren's sandpit. Getting a light and even distribution is not easy, but some experienced person advised me to put a handful of the sand into a bunched-up J-cloth and wave that over the surface: it worked perfectly and took all the judgement out of it. By adding one more coat of varnish over the sanded one we avoided the abrasiveness of the sand on bare skin and clothing while retaining full effectiveness. That was about 4 years ago and it is still fine.
So there's my two-pennyworth. Hope it helps.

Charles

[Sula]

Thanks for reporting your technique and results, Charles. I remember reading that some sands are more suited to the job than others, but can't remember which (hence I referred only to the proprietary non-slip additives one can buy). I do recall it being said that if you use sand from a beach, it must be very throughly washed to remove the salt before use for this purpose.

I believe that the 'proper seamanlike' word for floorboards on a boat is 'sole' - as in cockpit sole, cabin sole, etc. I find that the great advantage of finding out the 'proper seamanlike' terms for things is that, rather than ignorantly using landlubberly terms like 'parking' the boat, one can knowingly and ironically use landlubberly terms like parking the boat! So, floorboards it is!

[mistril]

Well done, chaps! (sorry, once a teacher, etc) some good thoughts - I think I'll maintain the varnished finish and go with the sand/International additive (I think there may be some hanging about).

[nauticalnick]

Sorry for coming in late on this. The previous owner had applied numerous coats of satin finish varnish and my initial thoughts that this will be lethal when wet. How wrong one can be the adhesion properties when wet wearing yachtie type deck shoes is pretty good, so l would try one of the many satin finish marine varnishes that are available. If you are still not happy with the finish then some fine sand can always be added. One tip l picked many years ago is to put the sand in a warm oven ( turned off and cooling down ) on a baking tray for an hour or so, this removes any moisture. As to whether or not this is discussed beforehand with the main user of the oven will be at your discretion !!

Nick.

[charles hill]

I've now completed the re-varnishing of the locker tops. I opened my container of International non-slip granules to find that I'd run out at some point in the past and substituted some sand! Still it seems to have done the trick, and produced a good non-slip surface. Just how durable it is, time will tell. At least it's easy to renew. I got carried away and did some of the other woodwork like the step down into the galley well. Launch booked for 19th April so all systems go!