[quote=samc99us]I used the 3M adhesive backed Hydroturf from Matt McDonald a few years ago to do my Infusion hull. Cost was $200 shipped, needed 2 half sheets IIRC. I'm forgetting at the moment if I sanded the non skid back. I want to say no, but I definitely cleaned it up well with alcohol prior to application. Of course knowing me I probably sanded it out of weight concerns.
In any case, I went through a heck of a lot of effort to apply the stuff. Plastic drop cloth taped in place then traced then copied over to the hydroturf then cutting the hydroturf (that's easy, sharp scissor and x-acto knives). Then application and final trimming. My 2 cents:
1) I used a thin version in black. I would go with the stuff shown above with the diamond pattern, black doesn't stain so easily, the grey stains. Nacra ships black in the large diamond pattern on all their new models, but gray is probably better for Florida and other more tropical venues
2) The templates were sort of useless in the end. Basically I did final trimming with an x-acto once applied to the boat, against the gelcoat itself but I have a fine touch for that kind of work. Its nice to start with a decent templates size but you need to cut oversize for the compound areas and there will be seams. Its helpful to look at a new boat that has the decking factory applied to know where the seamed areas are
3) The edges tend to lift, I've had rubber contact cement lift as well before so my suggestion is a little super glue, that's what I used during the install and it held up fine
4) If at all possible, get a kit for your boat. Maybe bacho makes some? I know Goodall does for their boats, and Raptor Decks (http://www.raptordeck.com/) supposedly has a large catalog of existing boats and kits to draw from
I can say positively that this was the biggest upgrade made to my 08' Infusion, besides a set of sails. New boards and that boat would have been faster than my 12' Infusion perhaps. Anyway, it makes a world of difference when sailing in breeze as the boat is far, far more grippy than without the nonskid, and the decks are more comfortable to sit on, but only a little bit-I wouldn't do the mod for that reason alone.
IMO this makes any boat look better, even the classic Tornado which is simply gorgeous to begin with. The only thing it won't do is make the hard deck to hull lip on the T disappear, which for me necessitates thicker soles on my boots for trapezing; +1 to Zhik here, I destroy sailing gear at the rate of the pros, but I've been on a pair of Zhik booties for 3 years, its probably time to replace them, previous boots last less than 1/2 my sailing season. Anyway, the minor discomfort under foot on the T is completely outweighed by every other aspect of that boat, its just a magnificent sailing machine and if you ever have the opportunity to jump on a sport rigged T you absolutely must say yes.[/quote]
