[Rhodes22-list] Blue Heron gets beaded

[Sloop Blue Heron]

At age 16, Blue Heron is getting her topsides painted over in Awlgrip.  The
yard has removed all the hardware and has begun repairing water penetration
damage to the core in many places.  The mast step is pretty squishy, so that
will be rebuilt and re-glassed before painting.

 

Since the paint will fill in the non-skid patterns in the gelcoat, the yard
is going to add glass beads to the paint for painting over the existing
non-skid areas.  In addition, they will alter the color of the non-skid so
it is more easily recognized by guests and me during my senior moments.  The
general color will be "off white" and the non-skid will have a little red
added in to be "moon" in color-sort of a light tan.

 

In the cockpit, only the sole and the lazzerette lid has non-skid now, which
is handy when messing with the IMF.   The yard suggests painting all the
cockpit seating surface as non-skid for boarding safety.  That seems like a
good idea to me because, even during the roughest ride, I use the cushions
all the time.  The glass beads ought to help keep the cushions in place, so
it is unlikely anyone will ever sit on the itchy beads.  Does anyone have
any experience with that?

 

Rick