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(Last Updated On: )Improving your boat deck with a durable, non slip deck paint that protects it from the harsh marine environment is highly recommended.
The paint is available in a range of colors and finishes to suit your requirements.
The best boat deck paint is the TotalBoat TotalTread Non Skid Paint, which is available in beige, gray and white colors and provides a durable high traction finish.
A Boat deck needs protection as it needs to withstand challenging conditions from foot traffic, anchors, harsh weather and more.
Using a polyurethane paint with a non-skid additive will provide protection and an improved appearance.
Table of Contents
Best Non-Skid Boat Deck Paint
| Boat Deck Paint | Preview | Colors |
| TotalBoat TotalTread |  | 3 |
| Kiwi Grip |  | 5 |
| TUFF Coat |  | 8 |
| Rust-Oleum Topside |  | 9 |
| Interlux Interdeck |  | 5 |
The non-skid feature of most deck paints is something that is essential for your boat’s deck.
If the boat deck paint you choose does not feature this, you can add a non-skid additive to the paint before applying it.
Boat deck paints can be applied with limited preparation and a simple roller is all that is required in some cases.
However, for the best possible finish, sanding the deck prior to painting will leave a smoother and longer-lasting finish to the deck.
Investing in high-quality paint will protect your boat’s deck from the harsh marine environment for many years to come.
The paint is also available in a range of colors to suit the rest of the boat decor.
Below is a list of the best boat deck paints that are non-skid and provide a long-lasting finish.
TotalBoat TotalTread Non-Skid Deck Paint
TotalBoat is one of the market leaders in a range of different boat paints.
The TotalTread boat deck paint is the most popular and it is a slip-resistant polyurethane finish with a low amount of sheen with a choice of beige, gray and white colors.
Compared to the alternatives that use silica, the TotalTread uses wax spheres to provide a high traction surface that is less abrasive and comfortable on the feet.
It is a 1 part finish that is simple to apply with just a brush or roller. If you want more traction on the deck, you can add an additional coat for a better result.
TotalBoat offers a range of different paints but this is the best boat deck paint that is tough and durable for a long-lasting finish.
It also has the best non-skid properties, which of course is a very desirable feature.
Kiwi Grip Non-Skid Deck System
The KiwiGrip is a non-skid formula that spreads easily with the included roller where you can expect 20 square feet from a 1-liter can.
The coating is durable and easy to maintain with no cheap fillers stripping off whilst being cleaned.
This boat deck paint comes with the choice of 5 different colors that provide a low glare finish that is 100% UV stabilized for consistent color.
The KiwiGrip custom pastel colors can also be easily tinted to any color you wish but only if its a light.
In terms of application, there is minimal preparation required. All that is required is the work surface to be clear of wax and grease.
On top of the deck, it can be used for many other applications such as wood, fiberglass, epoxy, metal, and concrete.
Overall, it is a great all-rounder and is the easiest to apply to the deck of your boat.
TUFF Coat Non-Skid Coating
TUFF Coat is a rubberized non-skid deck paint that is water-based with no hazardous ingredients.
It is suitable for decks, pontoon boats, aluminum boats, ducks boats, and even docks.
It is the most durable boat deck paint you can buy with excellent UV and chemical resistance and 8 different colors to choose from.
As the TUFF Coat is a rubberized deck paint, its important that you mix the paint thoroughly and apply many coats to the deck.
However, this will make the coating of paint for durable whilst on the boat deck.
Overall, it is the most durable boat deck paint you can buy but this is dependent upon whether you wish to have a rubberized finish to your boat deck.
Rust-Oleum Marine Topside Paint
Rust Oleum is a big brand in both the boating and automotive niche with a range of paints and treatments.
This is a topside paint and does not have an anti-slip additive, so this will need to be added but it’s worth the inconvenience.
It can be used on a range of other applications other than decks such as fiberglass, wood or metal that are above the waterline.
It is an oil-based formula and is easy to apply with Rust Oleum claiming that it will dry in under 2 hours.
The Rust Oleum provides a durable UV resistant coat of paint that resists abrasion and harsh weather with excellent gloss retention.
Compared to the alternatives, Rust Oleum offers this topside boat paint in 9 different colors to suit the decor of your boat.
Interlux Interdeck Slip-Resistant Deck Paint
Interlux is a large brand in the marine industry and this Interdeck is a slip-resistant tough polyurethane deck paint that provides excellent protection.
In terms of the colors, it is available in 5 different colors (gray, white, cream, beige and squall blue).
A matte finish to a deck is highly desirable by many boat owners and the Interlux Interdeck does exactly thanks to the low sheen finish.
The other benefit of a matte finish is the reduction of glare.
It is a top-rated boat deck paint but its quite expensive per quart, which may put people off but it all comes down to the budget you have set aside for each square foot.
Boat Deck Paint Buying Guide
After years of usage, the boat deck protective paint wears off due to wear from human traffic, boat items falling and denting the floors, salty water, and even sunlight exposure.
This damages the aesthetics of the boat reduces safety and compromises its integrity as the wooden deck may rot, and the metal struts rust too.
The paint can be repainted through a number of DIY steps or through seeking the help of the professional in the field.
Any shortcut may prove costly and therefore due procedure must be followed in order to get the best outcome.
Below are some of the preparation tactics you should follow in order to get the best finish to your boat’s deck.
Preparation For Paint
There several basic steps that one should follow while repainting the boat deck. The process starts with preparations.
The deck should be sanded to the appropriate level to chip away the worn out area to obtain a uniform surface ready for painting.
If the paint is old enough, it is best to peel it off entirely. However, it is unfortunate that most conventional paint remover cannot work with the kind of paint in the fiberglass boats.
They are not suitable as they attack both the gel coat and the underlying structure just as effectively as the paint coats on top.
Many of the boat deck paints have a non-skid feature that will provide traction upon wet decks.
If you choose paint without the additive, it can be easily added to the paint but be sure to mix it thoroughly.
Other means of sanding include the use of a heat gun that helps in softening the paint coats for easy removal.
However, this should be done with caution as damage to the underlying gel coat and laminate may be possible.
Cleaning
The last process should be cleaning the paint area ready for the paint application process.
This includes degreasing of the surface by use of a cleaning chemical such as the methylated spirit that helps clean even the stubborn stains or dirt.
Painting The Deck
After the pre-preparations, you can get straight into the painting process.
The procedures include the application of the primer paint, which serves as the glue between the actual paint and the deck floor.
It also highlights any imperfections that may appear on the deck. Therefore, this will give you a chance to retouch the small areas before resanding the surface.
Once the deck has been primed successfully, you can then move onto applying the first coat of deck paint. This can be achieved using the following methods:
- Roller – Using a roller (usually comes included) will allow you to paint the deck much quicker than the alternatives. Most decks can be huge and a roller is the most efficient and easiest method.
- Paint Brush – The application process can yield magnificent results for those with a patient and some level of skill. However, the quality of the brush will need to be good in order for the finish to look its best.
- Spray Painting – The enclosed area will need to be well ventilated and the person painting need have the appropriate gear to protect against the hazardous fumes of the paint.
After the first coat of deck paint, you have to give it time to dry before moving on to the next step of applying the second coat.
After the first coat dries off, you can lightly sand to allow for the second coat to stick. It is advised that you do two or more coats for a better finish.
If the boat deck paint that you are using does not come with a non-skid additive, this may be something you should add to the paint on the second coat.
Topcoat Choices
Linear polyurethanes are one type of topcoat that is divided into two categories, the two-pack polyurethanes, and the one-pack polyurethanes
They give a great finish that is waterproof and cures hard enough, which protects against dents from falling objects.
However, due to the hardening once cured, it is best to ensure that the painted surface is stiff enough not to move about as it can crack leaving spaces exposed for moisture to seep through and affect the wood.
Water-based and latex acrylics are easy to apply, looks good as a marine paint, and is overall cheaper.
The latex paint cures with time and hardness to produce a glossy smooth finish.
House paint enamels have been on an upward curve in matters of improvements.
They are equally and good enough that some can be used on the expensive yachts too.
The cost may be the biggest advantage over the rest but it works fine since it has waterproofing capabilities just like the marine paint over shorter periods though.
Important Tips
When it comes down to painting your boat deck, you should never rush the job.
So many people rush the drying process, which leads to the finish looking not as expected.
You will want to allow the chemicals to cure and adhere well before applying the second coat.
The environment you are painting the deck needs some thought because there are dangerous vapors and odors that come from the paint.
You will also want to ensure that you are painting in a dry area to ensure that the deck paint dries correctly.
Maintenance of the deck should also be a regular routine as the marine environment and heat can cause issues with the rot.
Simply cleaning the deck and checking for any damages in the paint can increase the lifespan of the deck paint.
Conclusion
The deck of your boat takes a large amount of damage over the years and not regularly maintaining the deck can lead to rotting and other issues.
Applying a new coating of paint to your deck is very simple and fairly cheap to do.
All of our recommendations apart from the Rust Oleum have an anti-skid additive to prevent slipping over on the deck.
This is a desirable feature of any deck paint and will instantly improve your experience whilst walking on a wet deck.
Not everyone likes the idea of having marine carpet on the deck but a non-skid deck paint will certainly improve your traction.
We use Interlux deck paint. I like this paint because it was convenient to use. Even applying it on the surface is quite easy. I did not need any special painting tools whatsoever. I only need a small nap roller brush and a couple of foam brushes for the hard-to-reach areas.