Cockpit Grates - Good or Not ?

[SaucySailoress]

Our is identical to James S', except ours lives in the spare bedroom. I thought it would look plain without it, so I didn't make the change for a few years, but I did - three years back, and I'm with Sabray - it has made my life so much better:

- I don't have to unblock drains so often
- I don't have to clean the bloody thing any more (fibre glass sole is so much easier)
- I don't have to keep lifting it to clean under any more.
- I can get crew to pick their pringles and nuts up as soon as they drop them, since I can SEE when they drop them.
- Fibreglass feels nicer on our bare feet.
- The dog isn't afraid of getting her paws stuck in the silly trellis any more.
- I thought it'd affect the appearance, but the teak deaking stands up even better without the grate.

In fact, if you want mine (just like James', as I said), give me an offer...

[Blue Crab]

To give the view from the other side of the tracks: As a small boat sailor, I shower in the cockpit. Grates are dirt/grime catchers. Look great at boat shows, tho. Sold mine.

[easterly38]

I saw where Dri-dek (SP?) was recommended... we have it in the head and cockpit. It has it's pro's and con's.

It is easy to clean, easy to install, and comfortable to stand on while wearing shoes.

On the other hand, it is uncomfortable if you have bare feet and VERY uncomfortable if you kneel on it while working or getting something out of the lazerette.

I kinda want to replace it with teak. So, any of you guys with teak decking in your garage or any of you who are about to throw it overboard, message me, I'll take it off your hands. (I'm serious, I'll take it.)

[zeehag]

dri dek hurts my feets--i have a neurpathy secondary to reynauds disease and stuff with bumps on it, as has dri dek, is extremely painful--teak is awesome-- makes no skid-- best nonskid created by gods, and is comfortable to my feets. as the previous poster, ui willaccept any and all donations of teqakwood unloved by sailors in love with new and modern stuff. i prefer the look and feel of the older stuff. thakyou... all ye have to do is get it here--i am in mazatlan until november.... after this arlene thing, we should be free of storm activity until sept.. so , come on down......

NO, I AM NOT KIDDING.......

[rhr1956]

I appreciate all the opinions. It seems there is a fairly divided crowd regarding to grate or not to grate. Thank you all as I further ponder the prospects of adding a grate...or not

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Doodles

I made one once for a Niagara 31 we owned out of this stuff ...Dri-Dek | Interlocking Tiles, Sheets & Rolls

Comes in colors, is light weight, easy to cut to size, easy to clean and comfortable to stand on. Beats the hell out of the teak ones.

This. The whole point of having a steel boat is to minimize time spent varnishing, sanding, Cetoling, etc.

Teak gratings are nice, but collect dirt, foot skin, spills, bird poop into a nice, somewhat corrosive slurry. Better to stand on lighter, easy to pull apart plastic tiles, I think, and to save the teak for the interior, if at all.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

just something to collect grit, grime and small pieces of dropped stuff...like martini olives?

Yes, and a real bastard to get many of them out to clean underneith.

Cruising for me is to relax, not to make my next 10 years harder!

[James S]

Originally Posted by tgzzzz

To give the view from the other side of the tracks: As a small boat sailor, I shower in the cockpit. Grates are dirt/grime catchers. Look great at boat shows, tho. Sold mine.

Originally our boat had them in the shower as well...and they were really nasty....gone now.

[gonesail]

teak grates hurt my bare feet .. we have one in the head .. my spouse likes it

[Jim Cate]

Well, I'm no ingrate! I rather like the one in the cockpit, and the one in the shower is essential... it is how the water gets to the sump!

I'll admit that they are difficult to clean, but to me they are worth it.

Cheers,

Jim

[rhr1956]

I decided to go for the grate. It's made, fitted and stained as of last night. Teak was too expensive. Ipe...couldn't find it...but I didn't look real hard. Ended up going with #1 select yellow pine. I found this article about varnish over epoxy. That's the route I'm going. Pictures will follow.

[James S]

....

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Doodles

I made one once for a Niagara 31 we owned out of this stuff ...Dri-Dek | Interlocking Tiles, Sheets & Rolls

Comes in colors, is light weight, easy to cut to size, easy to clean and comfortable to stand on. Beats the hell out of the teak ones.

same here. Used these both outside the boat in the cockpit, and inside the boat in places (not everywhere as they might scratch the sole). Good stuff and you can cut down to size.

[Billy Higgins]

I think grates are a charming addition to a coastal cruiser - they are comfortable to stand on, look very tradional, and will keep modest amounts of water below the soles or your shoes. For offshore, no one specifies grates any longer. The disadvantages are these: it will float up when a sea boards and then sink back into place pinning lines underneath; it may swell and shrink and be hard to stay fitted in its place; it weighs too much and can be an awful missle in a beam-over roll; there are other solutions to standing comfort; and it requires addtional maintenance. It is better left off the boat and other solutions sought for cockpit traction.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Billy Higgins

... there are other solutions to standing comfort; and it requires additional maintenance. It is better left off the boat and other solutions sought for cockpit traction.

Such as ... ?