Hello everybody,
I have searched your discussions and have found nothing on the subject of making a clear finish non skid. The Skerry has a lot of walking surface on its inside bottom, which is often finished clear from what I can see (and rightly so, it looks very nice). I have seen that some builders add mobile floors on the bottom on their Skerry, and I suspect that non-skid is an important part of that decision.
But I have no other function for the boards (such as the clever sleeping platform) and I haate to add complexity and weight to this clean little boat.
I have tried to encapsulate all kinds of granular substances (sand, fine powder sugar or salt) but none is fully satisfying: sand remains visible and sugar or salt are too tricky because of their hydrophily. They are nicely transparent when set in clear epoxy (and later on varnished) but their love of water requires perfectly dry conditions to avoid later surprises. I have looked for inert granular materials which would remain or become transparent (glass microsheres?) when set in epoxy but have found none so far.
A long way to formulate a very simple question: what do you do for a non-skid clear finish?
I would very much appreciate to read your thoughts and experiences on this. Thanks.

Emmanuel it's not a problem - I've never slipped once on my varnished floor board. Even wet it is no problem. Please post some photo's of your boat once its finished.

greg.

Hey Man...er Emmanual,

I've always found that a little bath of "BUSCH" Beer provides a sticky surface to the bottom of "Katy-Did". Proceed with caution if using this approach though...over-use of my secret ingredient will render the "slippage factor" moot and you will still end up in the water watching your boat sailing away from you.

You're very welcome, in advance.

---Cliff

I painted the sole of my Skerry and have had no problems with slipping. I did purchase some nonskid mat material, but have not yet felt the need to use it. I do wear neoprene kayak (water) shoes when I'm in the boat...have not tried it barefoot yet...
Kyle

Hello Greg,
Thanks for the advice, but since I once slipped when hoping aboard a dinghy, found myself in the water and the dinghy half sunk, I always want non-skid on the bottom of my boats.
I am most frequently bare foot in boats, so I can't rely on well designed soles (the ones I was born with are slippery on varnish).
I'll definitely post a picture of my completed boat, within a couple of weeks I hope.

quote:

Originally posted by Greg Swarthout:
Emmanuel it's not a problem - I've never slipped once on my varnished floor board. Even wet it is no problem. Please post some photo's of your boat once its finished.

greg.

Hello Cliff,
We cant't get Bush beer over here (France), and local brews are VERY slippery on varnish.

quote:

Originally posted by Cliff Waisanen:
Hey Man...er Emmanual,

I've always found that a little bath of "BUSCH" Beer provides a sticky surface to the bottom of "Katy-Did". Proceed with caution if using this approach though...over-use of my secret ingredient will render the "slippage factor" moot and you will still end up in the water watching your boat sailing away from you.

You're very welcome, in advance.

---Cliff