Sail Lifevideo
⛵️ Nonskid and finished hatches for our hurricane-damaged catamaran. Ep 664
25 January 2026 · 19 min · 82K views
What this video covers
Repairing gelcoat crazing on an Antares 44 catamaran requires stabilising the surface with a layer of fibreglass before fairing and painting.2:42 A comparative test on a nearby vessel shows that painting over crazed gelcoat without fibreglass reinforcement leads to rapid crack recurrence, particularly on dark-coloured surfaces exposed to high solar heat.8:53 To address this on the project boat, the hull is sanded, primed with high-build primer, and reinforced with a layer of twill fabric set in epoxy.13:12 For non-skid surfaces, SoftSand rubberised particles are applied by sprinkling them into a wet coat of topcoat.7:04 This method provides a uniform texture that is easier to apply than traditional alternatives like KiwiGrip.11:34 Additionally, the project requires removing the boat's diesel tanks to access and replace a damaged water tank located behind a structural bulkhead.1:36 The bulkhead is removed by cutting, with plans to re-tab it using a two-step process that forms a flange before final bonding.16:54
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