New Non-Skid for the Companionway Stairs
The companionway stairs have an inset for Treadmaster SP which I
removed prior to varnishing the companionway stairs. I ordered a single
sheet of teak colored Treadmaster SP to replace the original material
with. There is just enough material in one sheet to replace all of the
companionway treads twice. The original installation was obviously
designed to allow for easy replacement over the years. Thank you again
Oyster for building a boat with a mind toward long term maintenance!
I used a straight edge and a single edged razor blade to cut the pieces
to fit. Note that each of the treads is just enough different to
require a custom cut to look proper. The project took most of a day to
complete and then an additional few hours to polish the brass rub
strakes which go over the intersection between the teak and the
non-skid material.
I used "Weldwood" contact cement and each tread required approximately
one small bottle. In California real contact cement is only available
in small containers at a cost of about $5/bottle but at least it is
still available. The issue is the volatiles which are very carefully
controlled in southern California.
The result is beautiful!
When cutting the pieces I made sure there was a very good straight edge
on the front and that the piece was a bit snug across and then was
trimmed to fit. The contact cement took out the snuggness making for a
perfect fit.
The DeWalt 18V portable vacuum with HEPA filter has been a godsend!
Cutting Treadmaster SP is very easy, a very sharp razor blade works
very easily although it is important to keep the cut straight up and
down. to get a nice clean edge. I leave the back of the step with too
much material and trim to fit after the contact cement has completely
cured.
The forward edges of the stairs have a bit of a turn out which requires
some careful trimming. It may be that there is supposed to be a bit of
teak which fills in those spots but now it is just being filled in with
the non-skid material.
Careful trimming with a straight edge is important!
All of the pieces are now cut!
The blue tape is in two layers, the lower marks the beginning of the
brass strakes so I can find the screw holes again. Over that one extra
bit of tape is applied to help with getting the contact cement applied
without getting it all over the varnished teak
Everything is finished except for gluing down the bottom piece. It
turns out that the strakes on the three steps are are even because the
Treadmaster SP is just the right thickness to make it flush. The bottom
tread has the treadmaster on top of the cover for the generator and so
it stands up by the thickness of the treadmaster SP. With the overlap
the metal strake does not look right as it is angled so I have cut the
piece of non-skid so it is completely under the brass strake and then
is cut back to look like the upper treads.