Cockpit Deck | Non Slip Finish

This post comes with an up front warning - it's a long one!

It's either that or two or three posts covering the same ground, which would I think be even more tedious.

There is a lot to cover, and I don't want to miss anything out that might be of interest or importance on this topic.

Plus I will forget how I did all this in a few weeks time, and I need an accurate record for the photo diary.

So... let's get on with it, shall we?!

First came the port side of the cockpit deck, alongside the footwell.

Here I am using the laser level to mark up the non slip panel.

I am using the laser to make sure the inside edge of the panel is parallel to the footwell.

And in this pic I am again using the laser to mark up the rear edge of the panel, athwartships, to make sure it is parallel to the hatch lid.

3M 244 masking tape has been laid in place along the laser beam.

The curved outside edge required a different tactic. I used a thin, flexible wooden lath to strike a fair line along the seatback, held in place with three lumps of BlueTack. Like this. 

This is how the Blue Tack worked.

When I was satisfied that the lath was describing a fair curve, I marked it up with blue tape. like this.

I then removed the lath and taped in the outside edge of the panel with the 3M tape, as here.

I the then removed the blue tape, leaving the outside edge in place for the panel.

Here is the port non slip panel all taped up, including the corners.

This is the corner of the port panel, next to the mainsheet block.

Next I taped up the starboard panel in exactly the same way.

Here it is, all taped and ready to go.

Now it was time to prepare the panels for the non slip finish.

The first step was to wet sand them both with a P400 grit, like this.

A coat of white gloss followed, immediately covered by the Griptex non slip compound using the same broadcast technique as the cabin roof.

This is what they looked like.

I'm not sure if I have described the roller sleeve I used for the cabin roof, so here it is. It comes from Redtree and is lint free and low knap. I cut this one in half to get a 3 1/2" sleeve.

Here it is fitted to the birdcage roller frame.

This type of sleeve lays down a really thin and even layer of paint which I think is good for this application.

When dry the excess non slip compound was removed with the vacuum cleaner, and two sealing coats of paint were applied.

Here are both panels after the second coat, with masking tape pulled.

I think you can just make out the matt finish on both panels.

Finally came the forward panel, between the footwell and the rear cabin wall.

In this pic I am using the laser level to mark up and tape the forward edge of the panel, in parallel with the cabin wall.

That worked well, with the laser level fastened to the garage door overhead gantry, as in this pic.

The curved outer edges were marked up and taped using the wooden lath, BlueTack and blue tape. Like this.

And here the 3M tape has been added to make the outer edge.

At last the forward panel was all taped up, including the corners. Here it is.

Next came wet sanding with the P400 grit, in preparation for paint. See below.

And here we are applying paint with the Redtree birdcage roller.

The Griptex non slip compound was then generously applied to the wet paint. Like this.

Here is a corner, showing how I made sure the corners were well covered.

The roller sleeve now makes another appearance, to describe its lint free surface which is so well suited to this sort of use.

This is the forward panel after its second sealing coat of gloss, still taped.

And here is the mainsheet block after the masking tape has been pulled, showing its neat edging.

Lastly, here is the whole cockpit deck with non slip panels completed.

Looking good, and another task ticked off the list!