Buy the media made by the same company's varnish you plan to use. Don't put it in the last coat, put it 1 or 2 coats before that......lay the varnish down and then immediately shake the media over the varnish from a salt shaker type apparatus.....let dry then put another coat on top of it.
Capt J, I'm sorry but I'm confused, by applying the media, then putting 1 coat over the media, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? Again, I don't know the size of the media, and depending on how thick the last layer....it kinda makes sense.
I've never seen "non-skid" used on dress varnish. Wood means work on a boat. The whole idea is to look good, and adding grit would defeat that as would stepping on it a few times. Don't step on varnished wood. It;s that simple When people are boarding, cover it with a mat or install a rubber step in a place regularly stepped on. For the crew, step over it or sit on it and then throw your legs over. As for the slipperiness, that's why we wear boat shoes.
No, it still is raised and rough textured. BUT, the coat of varnish over it seals the sand in so it doesn't wear right off. That is how non-skid decks are painted on, the texture depends on the thickness of the glass beads used.
It's a functional sportfisher, so stepping on the wood covering boards isn't avoidable, particularly when going up to the bow, or climbing the flybridge ladder. It's like ice when it's wet, so boat shoes don't matter. They're better than bare feet, but not much.
Congratulations on taking on the stewardship of a beautiful classic. What do you mainly target, by the way? Many have said that unglassed wooden boats are the finest of all fish raisers.
Why thank you! Bluefish and spanish mackerel inshore, dolphin, billfish, small tuna offshore, and amberjack at the towers.