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KiwiGrip FAQs:
How much will a liter cover?Stock Answer: Each liter covers 2 square meters (about 20 square feet). Application is very thick - about 2 to 3 mm (a little less than 1/8 inch). A 4-liter pail will generally be sufficient for a 30 foot sailboat.
Better, though less helpful, anwer: It depends. Coverage depends completely on application thickness and on the underlying surface. KG offers a "miniature mountain range" texture with myriad peaks and valleys. A thick application (3mm) will offer tall peaks and deep valleys, yielding a very aggressive non-skid. A moderate application (2mm) will afford a more moderate texture, and a thin application will give a gentle result - suitable for cockpit seats.
The plot thickens. If you're applying over a high-profile, but worn, non-skid, some of your KiwiGrip will sink into the valleys of your current non-skid. Filling these valleys consumes your precious KG while offering little in return. This reduces coverage. Here are a few data points and a couple of buying strategies to consider:
* A Catalina 30 sailboat will typically need 4 Liters (a Gallon) with no leftovers
* One customer used 5 liters on his 23 foot sailboat - very thick application.
* I used 10 liters on my 48 foot center-cockpit sailboat to do cabintops, side decks, foredeck and aft deck, but not cockpit. Moderately thin application over smooth surface.
If you're having trouble deciding how much to buy, consider: (a) Buy too much and return unopened tins for a refund. Your risk is the shipping cost. (b) Make your best guess and buy more if you need it. Your risk is repeating your setup and cleanup. (c) Same as (a) but keep left-overs for repairs and alterations, or sell to your neighbor who now loves your boat more than his own. |
| Do I need extra rollers? Probably not.
You'll get a free 3" roller with your order along with another if you buy 2 gallons. The 2nd roller rarely gets used even on 50 footers. Here's the scoop:
It's important that only 1 person does all the rolling to avoid slight differences in texture resulting from different rolling styles/techniques. A 2nd person is a big help to do the slathering and peeling up the masking tape as the roller moves along.
A 3" roller gives better control than a larger one yet the project advances quickly. Allow about 6 hours to do a complete 30 footer with a helper.
If you're doing your KiwiGripping with the hardware still on your deck, you'll want to buy a 2nd 3" roller that you can cut down into a 1" size and then a few 2" paddles (cutting the 2" roller lengthwise. These paddles are good for daubing the texture under handrails and cleat horns.
We offer a 9" roller for 2 specific cases. First, very hot weather when you have to lay down alot of KiwiGrip without much working time. The 9" roller is faster. Second, very flat surfaces (no deck camber) like large catamarans or Navy ship decks or docks, etc. The problem with 9" rollers on yacht decks is that if the the deck has some camber to it, and you roll a 9" roller fore-aft, you'll exert less pressure on the ends of the roller than you do in the middle. This means that you'll achieve a slightly different texture at the ends than you'll get in the middle. Not desirable.
Finally, your rollers will last a lifetime if you wash them well in fresh water after each use.
Confused? Give me a call: 206-306-2222. |
| How much does KiwiGrip cost? Please see our online store for current prices. Roller(s) and handle(s) are included, 1 per gallon or at least one per order. |
| Can I have a sample? We've discontinued sending out texture samples because the samples showed only one texture while KiwiGrip offers many textures ranging from very gentle to very aggressive (bloody knees). Instead, we encourage you to order a single liter of KiwiGrip and give it a try. Within 30 minutes on your own deck or on a sealed piece of plywood, you'll be able to experiment with thickness, roller pressure, and back-rolling to achieve assorted textures. Don't worry, if you don't like the result the next day, KiwiGrip can be easily removed before full cure.
We're very confident that you'll be pleased with KiwiGrip and will credit 50% of the liter price to your next order, or 100% of the liter price if your next order is 2 gallons or more. |
IMPORTANT WEATHER ADVISORY!Getting a SuperYacht quality result depends on technique AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. KiwiGrip won't cure properly in cold humid conditions. Here's a rule of thumb: if the temperature (or 24 hour forecast) is under 50F (10C) and humidity exceeds 75%, wait for a warmer, dryer day or call 206-306-2222 to discuss your particular situation. Also DO NOT ALLOW DEW to settle on your fresh KiwiGrips before it is dry to the touch. If in doubt, run a small test patch (6" x 6") a day ahead. You should expect good adhesion without cracking in the finish! |
| What colors are available? Standard colors are white, dove grey, light blue, light green, and creamy yellow. Our standard colors have been selected for being low glare and as cool as possible underfoot in direct sunlight. |
| Can I have a custom color? Yup! We use the same water-based tints that most paint retailers use. Technically, there is no limit to the color as long as it is a light color, since we start from a white base. Dark colors are not possible since the tint is quite runny and too much tint will destroy the non-skid properties.
Keep in mind that the standard colors we offer have been selected for being as cool as possible underfoot in direct sunlight. Two strategies for custom colors: (a) You can buy our white KG and take it to your local paint store and have them tint it and shake it for you; or (b) for a $30 coloring charge and a color sample we can do this for you. For you do-it-yourselfers, we supply you with detailed coloring instructions to take with you to the paint store. |
| Can I apply KiwiGrip over my old non-skid? Yes. To prepare the old nonskid to accept KiwiGrip, scrub the surface thoroughly with a rotary green pad or wire brush, making sure that all the peaks and valleys are well dulled off. Then scrub with boat soap and water, allowing the surface to dry before masking and applying KiwiGrip. |
| Can I apply over wood, aluminum, steel, fiberglass, etc.? KiwiGrip can be applied over all surfaces providing they are sealed. Any sealer, epoxy, polyester, water-based or otherwise will do. If the sealed surface is glossy, lightly sand with 120 grit, mask out, and then apply KiwiGrip. It is very important that all paint films have been applied and completed before KiwiGrip is applied to selected surfaces. |
Do I really need a primer over bare metal?In general, yes. KiwiGrip will bond well to any surface, including bare metal, that's been sanded to give a good mechanical key. The primer is important for two reasons. First, it offers superior corrosion protection for the bare metal. Second, acrylics tend to harden in sub-freezing temperatures to the point where they can "pop" off a bare metal substrate. If your application is in a non-corrosive environment where freezing isn't a possibility, give us a call, you may be able to skip the primer. |
| Is there a warrantee? Like any other coating, your success will depend as much on your application technique and surface preparation as it does on our product. We are confident that you will be very happy with KiwiGrip if you apply it according to our recommendations. Nevertheless, it is always wise to select a small surface for testing before committing to the whole project. Trying it out first on a hatch lid or floorboard is a MUST! |
| How long will KiwiGrip last? This depends on your usage. If you are a weekender, you can expect 10 years or more on your decks and a couple years less in your high-traffic cockpit. If you’re a deck-scrubbing fanatic or live aboard, you might see 5 years between recoating your high-traffic areas.
In heavy use or commercial environments, even though the surface may wear away more quickly, it is easy to renew it with very little effort. |
| Can I recoat KiwiGrip? Yes. This is a wonderful feature of KiwiGrip. You can recoat after a good soap and water scrub. You can change color or texture during a recoat, too. |
| Does KiwiGrip resist mildew, mold and stains? Yes the acrylic formula is inherently mold and mildew resistant. You’ll find however, like any other anti-skid, if you don't wash it regularly dirt will accumulate in the valleys providing fertile ground for mold and fungus growth.
Stain resistance and non-slip surfaces are a conundrum. It is very difficult to have a very easy to clean, stain resistant surface that is also non-slip. KiwiGrip, however, does not seem to absorb many stains and are easily scrubbed and washed away. Stains typical in a yachting environment such as tea, coffee and wine are easy to clean off. |
| Is KiwiGrip UV resistant? Yes, the formula includes a UV inhibitor. The product was formulated for the New Zealand market where the ozone layer is thin, allowing more UV through than we find here in the northern hemisphere. |
| How do I keep my KiwiGrip decks clean? KiwiGrip cleans up nicely with a good biodegradable boat soap, water, and a soft bristle brush that can penetrate the peaks and valleys. KiwiGrip can be high pressure washed if required, but it is often best to use a boat cleaning detergent first, then remove with high pressure water. You can use bleach if you wish, in a very mild form only. |
| Do I have to mask? Masking is always advisable for the best result. Always remove the masking tape when KiwiGrip is still wet. Otherwise, you’ll need to use a razor blade to cut the KiwiGrip away from the tape edge. If you’re careful when recoating, it is not necessary to mask since, with practice, you can carefully drive your loopy-goopy roller along the non-skid edge. Beware - if you get excited and roll quickly, your roller will fling speckles of KiwiGrip onto surrounding surfaces. If this happens, wipe up immediately with a wet rag or come back the next day with a credit card or plastic scraper and zip these little suckers right off smooth surfaces. |
| What do you mean when you say "adjustable texture"? The non-skid properties of KiwiGrip come from the texture applied by our proprietary "loopy-goopy" roller. As the roller passes over the coating, the open cells of the foam roller leave peaks behind -- not unlike the stipple that results when you roll paint on a wall or ceiling. By pressing firmly on the roller, you can get taller peaks. Light pressure on the roller will give you a less aggressive texture. A super aggressive texture can be attained by allowing the fresh KiwiGrip to get slightly tacky and then rolling over again. It’s VERY IMPORTANT to experiment and dial in your technique on a small surface before tackling your whole deck. |
| How long does KiwiGrip take to cure? Apply only when surface, air and product temperature is 50° to 90° F (10° to 32° C). Normally dries in one hour at 77° F (25° C). Allow at least 4 hours before recoating. High humidity may prolong drying time.
At 60° to 70° F, KiwiGrip will tack up in under an hour. You can walk on your new decks without shoes in 12 - 24 hours. Your decks will generally be ready for soft sole shoes on the 2nd day after application and hard sole shoes on the 3rd day. The coating will harden progressively over the first couple of weeks.
The above advice holds when the temperature (F) roughly matches the percent humidity. That is 40F and 40ish % humidity or 90F and 90ish% humidity. With low temperature and high humidity, drying will be very slow. With high temperature and low humidity, your working time with the product will be very short and drying will be accelerated. |
| What happens if I spill nasties on KiwiGrip? KiwiGrip is impervious to common caustics such as coca-cola, peanut butter, jelly, alcoholic beverages, and detergents, although it can be damaged by some solvents. Diesel, oil, acetone, and gasoline spills should not be allowed to pool. Quickly mop up spills, and promptly scrub with a detergent boat soap and water. |
| How can I remove KiwiGrip if I need to patch or repair my decks? To remove Kiwigrip it is normal to grind it away, make repairs and then repatch. The nice thing about KiwiGrip is that repatching looks very good because of the rough texture, so repairs can be almost undetectable. Unfortunately, KiwiGrip isn't easy to remove - it will need to be physically ground away if there are large areas to remove (as would most coatings of this type). As a thermo-plastic material, it will soften with a heat gun. You can try heating it and scraping with a putty knife. |
TIP: Achieving a consistent textureKiwiGripping is technique sensitive. Here are a few tips for achieving a super-yacht quality finish:
A) Apply a consistent amount of KG with your brush or trowel before rolling texture.
B) One person should do all the slathering. One person should do all the rolling.
C) Maintain a wet edge by working small sections. Think of painting an interior room. You get best results by starting in a corner and rolling up and down, floor to ceiling. Then you move over 9 inches or so and roll floor to ceiling again, keeping your roller wet with paint. You proceed all the way around the room, always working with wet paint. Avoid rolling wet KiwiGrip up and over a previous section that's already started to dry - this will cause a slight texture difference in the lap area. |
| How much does a KiwiGrip coating weigh? The weight per litre is 1.2 kg, spread rate is somewhere between 2 to 3 square metres per litre or somewhere between 300 to 400 gm per square metre. Note, in some circumstances racing yachts have applied a very thin coat with a mild texture knowing that it may need further applications as required. |
| Can I use KiwiGrip to stop my leaky seams? KiwiGrip is not formulated to be a waterproof barrier. Seams will need to be caulked and taped as appropriate, and a waterproof barrier laid down if needed, before KiwiGrip is applied. This said, when applied in two thin - moderate coats, KG offers a nice membrane-like coating that won't allow moisture to penetrate. |
| How can I get an even coating thickness? Most customers are happy to slather the KiwiGrip around with a 4" brush averaging a coating thickenss of 2ish mm (between 1/16 and 1/8 inch). They even out the coating with the texturing roller. Gary in Texas suggests using a serrated 4" putty knife with 1/8 inch "saw-teeth" to spread the KG on the decks. This yields a very consistent thickness ahead of the roller. Nice. Finally, if you're overcoating a darker surface, two thin coats with brush and roller will yield a more consistent coating thickness since thin areas in the first coat will be corrected during the 2nd coat. |
| How do I apply KiwiGrip in tight spaces? The standard 3" roller will reach most ares of your project. For the very tight spaces, you can cut an extra roller down to a smaller size or even cut it lengthwise into 1" strips to use as daubing paddles to reach under cleat horns or grab rails. You can also use a Q-tip or screw-driver blade to "daub" small peaks and valleys. Slow going, but with a little practice you'll be able to match the surrounding texture. |
| What's KiwiGrip's shelf life? KiwiGrip will keep indefinitely when properly stored - we're talking years. Here's the fine print: Store in a FULL, AIRTIGHT container in a coolish location and do not freeze. KG will slowly react with air to solidify. If the container is full, there's no air for the reaction. KG is water-based and is subject to freeze-thaw spoilage like most other water-based coatings. Finally, KG will slowly separate with the water rising to the surface and the solids sinking. It'll be fine after a mighty shake. Take care when stirring not to introduce air into the product as this can result in small pin-holes or craters in your coating. |
| Why did you name your company Pachena? We chose Pachena because we like the name, it has a Northwest flavor, and some local boats we admire have been named Pachena.
Pachena is an anglicized version of the Nitinaht Indian name for the site of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Isalnd, BC. By mistake, early Admiralty charts applied the name to a point further up the coast that had a nearly identical configuration to Port Renfrew, and there it stuck. A bay and a lighthouse there still bear the name. In its original form, Pachena means either 'sea foam' or 'foam on the rocks'. |
Notes on ColorsFirst, we use the same universal water-based tints that every other paint manufacture uses. This makes it possible for you to take your KiwiGrip to your paint reseller and have it custom tinted. Do not exceed 3% tint by volume.
Second, we've included approximate Pantone color numbers in our product descriptions in our online store. You'll likely wonder, "What does near Pantone 427C" mean. So, here you go:
Pantone is a standard color designation scheme. Most paint resellers and interior decorators will have Pantone books available for review and browsing.
Near means that our KiwiGrip is slightly lighter in shade than the Pantone color.
427 is the color number of the lightest shade of grey on one of the many pages dealing with greys
C designates the Pantone COATED series of color chips. These coated chips are closer to the semi-gloss KiwiGrip finish than the dead flat Pantone chips. This said, over the first few months, the semi-gloss finish wears off, further improving the non-skid property of KiwiGrip and reducing glare with low light angles. |
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