WorkshopRenew non skid paint on windsurf boards - no more slippery decks

Manuel Vogel

 · 28.11.2023

Over the years, almost all boards lose their "grip". We'll show you how to renew the non-skid paint!
Photo: Oliver Maier
The "home remedies" for slippery boards range from treatment with quartz sand to bird litter and sugar in epoxy resin. It's really easy to restore the grip of a slippery deck with non-skid paint - as our workshop shows.

Surfing on slippery boards is sometimes bordering on slapstick. Just as everyone has experienced slipping on deck, everyone has their "own" home remedy to get the problem under control. The supposed solutions range from varnish with sprinkled bird sand, resin with sugar or salt to quartz sand. Applying new non-skid paint to your old board is not a complicated process. The time required is around 30-45 minutes.

What you need for non skid paint renewal

  • Masking tape for masking
  • Fine dry sandpaper with grit between 200 and 320
  • Dust mask or face mask
  • Grease-dissolving cleaning agent (e.g. brake cleaner or special grease remover)
  • Nautix Finishing Grip 2-component non skid paint (online approx. 35 euros)
  • Container for mixing
  • Paint roller with tray

"You shouldn't make things unnecessarily difficult for yourself," emphasises Andi Widmann, shaper from WARK and repair professional. "You can achieve very good results with a 2-component non-skid paint, such as that from Nautix. With "home remedies" such as epoxy resin with sugar, the problem I see is that the resin yellows unsightly relatively quickly. Sugar granules are usually far too coarse-grained and sharp-edged, so if you go off with the shorty and land on the deck, you run the risk of really hurting yourself." Quartz sand is finer-grained and less angular, but very heavy - so not an option.

"I would therefore recommend everyone to do it with the 2-component paint - it's easy and there are few sources of error. That's exactly what we did, you can see the exact instructions in the gallery above or here in the video!

You will find many more workshops on equipment, manoeuvres and repairs HERE on the YouTube channel of surf.


Also interesting:

Manuel Vogel

Manuel Vogel

Editor surf

Manuel Vogel, born in 1981, lives in Kiel and learned to windsurf at the age of six at his father's surf school. In 1997, he completed his training as a windsurfing instructor and worked for over 15 years as a windsurfing instructor in various centers, at Kiel University sports and in the coaching team of the “Young Guns” freestyle camps. He has been part of the surf test team since 2003. After completing his teaching degree in 2013, he followed his heart and started as editor of surf magazine for the test and riding technique sections. Since 2021, he has also been active in wingfoiling - mainly at his home spots on the Baltic Sea or in the waves of Denmark.

Most read in category Windsurfing