Method for Casting Non-skid Pattern into Deck Repair

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
einspritzer
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:56 am
Location: Sausalito

Method for Casting Non-skid Pattern into Deck Repair

Postby einspritzer » Mon May 25, 2026 7:06 pm

BACKGROUND
I recently repaired a hole on the deck of by Boston Whaler boat, and I want to share my method. Some fuel burned a hole in the gelcoat on the deck, and wanted to make a repair with the same non-skid pattern. Most repair kits don't offer a proper Boston Whaler non-skid pattern, so I made my own.

PROCESS
  • cleaned out all the loose gelcoat bits;
  • made a mold from the good area of the deck. I purchased (green) silicone mold-making material from Amazon;
  • used "whaler tab" gelcoat and filled the holes in the deck with the gelcoat using a popsicle stick, with just a little dab to fill the holes. At this stage the gelcoat is smooth surface;
  • placed the green mold over the repair in order to press a relief into the smooth wet gelcoat;
  • let the gel coat cure for 24 hours and then peeled off the silicon mold.

ILLUSTRATIONS:

F3a.jpg
Fig. 1. The mold (green) made by a silicon casting from a non-damaged section of the deck non-skid pattern.
F3a.jpg (70.89 KiB) Viewed 305 times


F2a.jpg
Fig. 2. Overhead view showing resin being added to repair area.
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F1a.jpg
Fig. 3. Extreme close-up view of deck showing non-skid pattern [and what appears to be repaired areas].
F1a.jpg (103.97 KiB) Viewed 308 times

jimh
Posts: 13285
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Method for Casting Non-skid Pattern into Deck Repair

Postby jimh » Tue May 26, 2026 9:16 am

Q1: in Figure 3, are we seeing the outcome of your repairs?

Q2: what is "whaler tab" gel coat? Please clarify what you mean to say.

Q3: please give a link to the source of the material from Amazon that you used to cast a mold of the non-skid pattern from an undamaged area.

Q4: what are we seeing in Figure 2? You mentioned "popsicle stick" but there appears to be a syringe in use.

Q5: is there a better photograph of the green mold? Seeing the pattern in the mold is difficult in your illustration. The mold seems to be lit from the back.

ASIDE
This method has been described several times, but to have more details and see the outcome is very welcomed.