OC-6 foot grip texture-- what is best?

swami

What is everyone leanig toward putting inside in the foot area of fiberglass OC-6s for a little traction...
1. surf wax gets too gritty
2.  truck bed liner too abrasive  and washed out

I am thinking about two part epoxy with some texture and pigment mixed in then applied by brush to masked areas where feet go most often..
Please help before the garage is full of failed experiments.....and the wallet is empty....
Mahalo

Submitted by swami on Mon, 02/13/2006 - 7:10pm

Snarfblat

You can use the anti-slip tape that people put on their steps. They come with sticky backing. Commercial grade is preferable. Cleaning the bottom of the canoe with a wax remover/degreaser is key to making these things stick.
Wax is probably still the easiest to use since you can take it with you no matter what canoe or what seat you're sitting in.

#1 Mon, 02/13/2006 - 10:53pm

painteur

I bought "Excel"booties for the cold of california water when I paddle one man. Works like a charm in the 6man. No more slipping and no sting ray problem when coming ashore.

#2 Tue, 02/14/2006 - 4:33am

swami

The tape sounds like an option...I found the same kind as on back of Xylo and kialoa Steering blades except in 4 inch width...might work. I don't like booties so much....paddlers lose respect for the canoes and track birdshit and other grime aboard.. More better they take off shoes while getting in. I can see though if living where 60 degree water is the summertime high.

#3 Tue, 02/14/2006 - 10:58am

PaddleLikeAGirl

The epoxy/texture/pigment solution would probably last longer and be prettier than the tape, but the tape would probably be less labor. Either way, the girls will like it cuz we can exfoliate our feet while we paddle :) Wax just gets nasty & is hard to clean out.

#4 Tue, 02/14/2006 - 11:29am

swami

always happy to oblige good grooming...and what could be nicer than 6 pair of pretty, freshly scrubbed wahine feet stepping out on the warm sand...race over, margarita in hand posing for winner photos? Darn near nothing! In keeping with mitigating my usual fastidious, obsessive , near fiendish need to go the hardest, most difficult way...I think I am ordering the tape....

#5 Tue, 02/14/2006 - 1:01pm

onnopaddle

Yep, resin + what ever is at hand tossed in will work ..... foam dust, sand, sugar, salt or walnut shells from the local chandlery, or paint store.
Monster grip or the like purchased from Sailboard shop ... pretty clear too and not too rough for bare feet ..... foam dust above is nice in this manner too.
Another good one is to prep area first by wash/degreasing, laying down some tape in the pattern you want and lightly sanding for key in / prep, pull off tape and retape neatly, lightly brush in resin ( epoxy preferred ) then squeegee down some peel ply nice and smooth to your tape line , let cure and pull peel ply + for clean grip surface.
By switching peel ply to 4-6 mil clear, wrinkle free plastic you can get a super smooth surface instead.

#6 Tue, 02/14/2006 - 10:18pm

swami

Can you tell me about peel/ply....? what is it...? from the internet seach, it looks like airplane manufacture stuff to improve laminates. expensive by the yard too...Is it re-usable in the application we are talking about? lay it down and peel it off for each foot area on the canoe?

#7 Wed, 02/15/2006 - 3:10pm

onnopaddle

Not really expensive .... 2-3 per running yard and it is usually 50" - 60" wide.
Not sure where you are at but you might call Fiberglass Hawaii ( Oahu or Santa Cruz i believe)
Fiberglass Supply
aircraftspruce.com Super fast service in So Cal area.
Often used in vacuum bagging as a release ply between laminate and the bag +++ but used in open layup, leaves a clean even slightly rough texture with minimal weight.
Just order a couple yards and experiment on something scrap.
Not reuseable

#8 Thu, 02/16/2006 - 10:56pm

swami

thanks onno....I think I have enough to work with...mahalo for all.

#9 Fri, 02/17/2006 - 12:33pm