Sea-Line® Non-Skid Additive (Anti-Slip Powder)

Sea-Line® Non-Skid Additive is a specialized fine powder designed to be mixed into your final coat of paint or varnish to impart a non-slip texture to the surface. This anti-slip powder is perfect for areas on a boat where secure footing is critical: decks, cockpits, companionway steps, swim platforms, etc.

How it works: When blended into paint or varnish, the powder disperses evenly in the coating. As the coating dries, the tiny hard particles protrude slightly from the surface, creating a mild roughness. This roughness is enough to increase friction under shoes or bare feet, yet not abrasive – the grains are fine so as not to hurt skin on contact or make cleaning difficult.

Dosage and mixing: One 20-gram packet is precisely measured for 0.75 liters of paint/varnish (a typical small can). If you have a larger batch (say 2.5 L), you’ll need ~3 packets (about 60 g) for the whole can. Mix the powder in just before applying the final coat: pour the additive into the paint while stirring continuously. Stir until you’re sure there are no clumps and the powder is uniformly distributed. Then let it sit for about 15 minutes – the manufacturer suggests allowing the powder to “wet out” in the paint. Give it one more quick stir and you’re ready to apply.

Application: Best results are achieved with a short-nap roller. Rolling helps distribute the particles uniformly. A brush can be used for smaller areas or hard-to-reach spots – just remember to stir the paint in your tray periodically to keep the powder from settling at the bottom during work. Apply the coat evenly. The additive particles are lightweight and will stay suspended for a long time, so any settling during application is minimal.

Compatibility: This additive is intended for polyurethane topcoats and varnishes – both one-part yacht enamels/varnishes and two-part polyurethanes. It can also be used in epoxy paints, provided they are being used as a finish coat. It’s colorless – the powder looks white/translucent but in a thin layer it doesn’t affect the paint color noticeably. This means your white deck stays white, blue remains blue, etc., just with a matte anti-slip effect. (Important: If the coating is glossy, adding the powder will make that area slightly more matte due to the texture.)

Advantages over DIY methods: Some boaters use sand, sugar, or other DIY tricks for non-skid. Compared to those, Sea-Line powder has a controlled, uniform grain size – it yields a more comfortable texture that’s easier to clean and less abrasive to touch. Plus, it won’t react with the paint (sugar can dissolve, non-marine sand might have impurities or iron that rusts, etc.).

Tips for use:

• Only mix the powder into the amount of paint you plan to use immediately. If you mix the entire packet into a full can but don’t use all the paint, the powder might settle or affect the viscosity during long storage. It’s better to divide your paint and additive for each coat if doing multiple non-skid coats.
• Mask off areas to create non-skid patterns or sections. Often, you’ll do specific anti-slip patches on a deck while leaving others smooth. After applying the textured paint, remove the masking tape carefully before the paint fully cures to get a sharp line between the gritty and smooth zones.
• Once cured, the areas with additive will appear a bit more matte. If you desire a slight satin finish, you could apply a very thin clear coat without additive on top – but note this will reduce the slip resistance a touch. Generally, it’s not necessary.

Result: A properly mixed and applied Sea-Line non-skid additive yields a subtle but effective anti-slip surface. For example, after treating a sailboat’s cockpit floor, the crew finds that when the deck is heeled and wet, their footing is much more secure – the surface has a “grip” to it. At the same time, it’s comfortable to scrub during cleaning – the texture doesn’t trap dirt excessively. In daylight, it’s hard to tell apart from the surrounding paint except for a slight dullness. With this additive, you achieve a professional non-slip finish without extra coatings or stick-on tapes – you’ve integrated safety directly into the paint.