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* * Non-Slip Flooring * *

C

cooter

Well-known member
Just had a new Diamond Plated Aluminum Floor put in my airboat. What is the best/easiest/cheapest :roll: way to get a non-slip surface put on the floor. I am trying to keep from busting my @$$ during Duck Season this year. cooter
 
K-mac is a good one to ask. He steared me the right way when I had to paint some

galvanized metal. I think he works in industrial maint. with durable type finishes(rock

crushers,etc.).
 
Put down paint with a roller and while it is still wet throw play sand across it. Wait for it to dry and repaint over top. It is a trick some of the boat mfg use!
 
I did a review on duplicolors non skid. Its probably the cheapest 1 gallon kit on the market at around 55 bucks found at discount auto/wal mart etc. Its an easy one step application process but its only found in black and it gets ridiculously hot. Adhesion is good but its not the best.
From there your choices abound west marine sells some non skid paint as well as a few other stores. Some people stick with the bed liner materials of which there are a few other kits like herculiner or you can have it professionally applied line-x or rhino lining.
As the other post says about sand there are several aggregates you can buy and add to just about any paint. Figure out what you want to be walking on and go from there.
Duplicolors kit is one of the few that doesn't use an aggregate it uses a special roller to give the plastic like material texture. Which sounds great for bare feet but it gets so hot so fast its a mute point. Wet shoe traction is adequate but probably the least of all non-skid kits that use an aggregate.
Herculiner's kit has been slammed in a few forums for its quality. I believe its a rubber aggregate kit if so it should be softer on your feet. I believe this one can be painted on but most at home kits(except duplicolor's) need to be shot with a hopper gun adding to the overall cost. (check bass pro shops and west marine's web site for their non-skid options. My second choice would have been for the Bass Pro's kit because it like a few others have vibration reducing properties or sound deadening but since I couldn't find a review on it I didn't use it)
Rhino liner is almost too aggresive. Heard several complaints of it kind of grabbing your shoe and not wanting to let go. Its also expensive since it has to be applied by a dealer.
I want to say line-x if I remembering correctly is my favorite dealer applied coating. It has a vibration noise deadening quality while having a just right tread aggresiveness. But its very expensive.
 
WET PAINT ! SILICA SAND ! BLOW OF LIGHTLY ! REPAINT WHEN IT DRYS ! GOING ON THREE YEARS NOT A SCRATCH !LIKE DK SAID !
 
Hey Guys,

I've been running Durabak on my deck for three years now. I had the non-skid from the factory (sand and paint) but it was hell on dive gear and knees. The Durabak is a rubberized product that you can get either smooth or with finely ground up rubber in it for a textured finish. I even have it on my wood floor (in the airboat) and the wood is 5 1/2 years old.. For up North, that's old for a wood floor..) I'm sold on it!! It's not the cheapest, but it's VERY effective.. http://www.durabakcompany.com

Brian.
 
well i always use rustoleum enamel and play sand or silica its last for a good while and itll only cost about 30 bucks for everything. thats what you want good and cheap. most non skid paints and rubberized coatings are pretty pricy and sometimes a pain in the rear to apply.
 
Like someone else said, they sell nonskid for your airboat. You just mix some in some paint and it works great.
 
Anyone ever try Hydro Turf? Very light. Cut to fit. Apply with 3M spray adhesive. Doesnt get hot. Easy on your feet and easy to put on and take off. Doesnt stain just spray off to clean. Kind of expensive if you buy camo and designer colors but they do sell irregualr/imperfect grey and some other colors pretty cheap.

Regards,
Tony
 
redfin hydroturf was originally designed for jet skis and is incredible stuff. The amount of ski enthusiats that take home their brand new skis and immediatly rip off that plastic non skid to replace it with hydroturf is incredible.
Never thought of using it on an airboat but I see guys out there putting carpet down so I'd imagine it'd work allthough it would be an expensive alternative. The big thing about hydroturf is its really easy on the knees because it cushions. But if your just looking something to keep you from slipping and wanted to go that route bass boat our outdoor berber carpet would probably be better suited and much much much cheaper.
 
We spray our on you mix it with what ever color automotive paint you want and mix in the non skid in the paint gun then just spray it on the aluminum and it is so fine that you can just see it but grips awsome and you can get the non skid sand that you spray at west marine
 
Boblee,

Ice by itself, causes no wear to the poly. Now with that said, the poly does get minor cuts and gouges from the broken ice. Ice is concrete! :shock: Under the right conditions, broken ice can also slice right through unprotected aluminum. (That's one of the reasons why poly is put up about 10" up the sides of our northern airboats.)
Another instalment of Winter Airboating 101, brought to you by Bigkavr.... :D :D

Brian.
 
This floor board has the non skid sprayed on and then webbing over it you can't even see the non skid but it is sure there
09-07_063.jpg
 
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