Full Seadek Floor Install on 1999 SAN

Jared, for the fellas doing stringer jobs (me included) do you think it would be a good alternative to paint the bilge and floor area with this paint vs. Gel coat?

Tim prefers Gel and I agree but if this were a little easier to work with maybe even brush on? It may be a little easier to handle than a gel spray out.

phatsat67 wrote: Jared, for the fellas doing stringer jobs (me included) do you think it would be a good alternative to paint the bilge and floor area with this paint vs. Gel coat? Tim prefers Gel and I agree but if this were a little easier to work with maybe even brush on? It may be a little easier to handle than a gel spray out.

The product I used can be sprayed on or rolled on. I rolled it onto everything over two days. The cost is about $125 per gallon and I used all of three gallons. But I also coated a lot of extra stuff like the top and bottom sides of the three floor panels mentioned in my original post as well as the bow-filler step. Plus I applied it to the gunwale shelves/cupholders, and everywhere under the bow, helm, and observer's seat. The gel coat quotes I obtained while researching the project were about $400 just for the top side of the floor.

As for using it on stringer projects. I wouldn't hesitate as it is easy to apply and would provide a waterproof coating. But you'd have to prime the wood before applying the urethane and it is NOT smooth. It has an orange-peel finish. But I, admittedly, am not familiar with how easy or hard gel coat is to apply or work with and I am not sure if this urethane is better or not.

The urethane coating does not hold dirt and is easy to keep clean. Most anything brushes or wipes off as it would/does from the gel. I used an epoxy primer, but there are other less expensive recommendations for primer on the manufacturer's website.

I know that there are many out there who could do this project better and for less money. This is just the option that I chose for the reasons that I mentioned (most notably its toughness as it will not chip or scratch like gel coat) and it worked out fantastically well for me. I could not be happier.

2005 ski Nautique 196

your boat looks amazing and inspired me to replace the carpet with sea dek

you used UHMW for taking up the gap created with the removal of the carpet around the hatches and floor pans
UHMW is so slippery - did the Sea Dek adhere to it?

How did you blend the UHMW in     were you able to paint it or did you coat it with fiber glass first

would you use another material if you had to do it again and if so, what and why?


Thanks
Robert