Upkeep is essential in order to keep it operating properly and looking good year in and year out, especially older models. I own a 1980 17-foot Boston Whaler that's in pretty good shape, although the weather, lots of use and time have taken their toll. Several years ago, the deck started to crack and peel in several different places. It started to look bad, and it was losing its nonskid component.

    I needed to do something to correct the problem, so I did a little research and found Durabak (www.durabakcompany.com). It's tough, totally flexible and slip resistant, and the waterproof coating with self-contained recycled rubber granules makes an attractive tough-textured finish. In this article, we describe how easy it is to apply this product to just about any boat deck in need of a new surface.

1.Thoroughly wash the deck surface and then let it dry for several hours in direct sunlight. Durabak will bond better to clean areas.   Once dried, it is recommended that you use Xylene on a soft clean rag and coat the entire surface. Once the surface is free of release agents, waxes and other production additives, it then needs to be roughened well (if not already rough) with 40-grit sandpaper to remove any gloss. Once that's complete, tape off any areas that you don't want coated, just as if you were painting a room in your home.

2.Stir thoroughly before applying - preferably with an electric paint mixer attachment. Do not shake to mix. Shaking the can will not distribute the rubber granules evenly. During the application, stir periodically to maintain the rubber granules in suspension. Keep in mind that 1 quart of Durabak covers 15 square feet in two coats. One gallon covers approximately 60 square feet with two coats and a final dry coat thickness of 25-35 mls.
 
3.Apply Durabak using a roller, brush or sprayer. We chose the roller. If you choose to roll it on, you will need a special open-foam stipple roller that is only available through Cote-L Industries or an authorized Durabak dealer. Other rollers will not pick up and spread the mixture evenly. 

    Apply the first coat as a thin coat, and cover the entire surface. Once the first coat is touch-dry (usually within one hour), apply the second coat. To avoid "mud-cracking" or pooling, do not apply too thickly. Pour a small amount of Xylene over the roller between coats so they will not dry out. Don't use other solvents for this purpose, such as lacquer or alcohol-based thinners, as they can cause product failure.

4.Let the Durabak cure for two to four days - less in hot and humid conditions, and more in cold, dry weather. Full curing time only affects the amount of time required to wait before subjecting the surface to cleaning and chemical exposure. Light foot traffic is allowed within six to 12 hours.


Carefully remove the tape after about six hours of drying time, and you'll then be ready to enjoy your beautiful new nonslip deck! BW