Awlgrip Additives
Awlgrip Additives: Engineered to Perfect Every Marine Finish
When it comes to professional-grade marine coatings, few names carry the weight of Awlgrip. Since 1973, this AkzoNobel brand has set the global benchmark for topside coatings — and that same commitment to precision extends directly into their line of marine coating additives. These products are not afterthoughts; they are engineered components of a complete, system-based approach to achieving flawless results on the water.
What Awlgrip Additives Are and Why They Matter
Awlgrip defines their additives as supplementary products mixed into coatings to achieve the right application characteristics. Think of them as the fine-tuning tools that bridge the gap between a good finish and a truly exceptional one. Whether you are adjusting flow, managing evaporation rates in different climates, adding texture to a deck surface, or accelerating cure times in cold conditions, Awlgrip additives give applicators precise control over how their coating performs — both during application and in the final cured film.
Because Awlgrip topcoats such as the classic polyurethane system, the Awlcraft 2000, and the newer HDT (High Definition Technology) line each have specific application demands, the additives are formulated to work within those systems without compromising performance. This is a crucial distinction: using an off-brand additive with a premium coating system risks voiding compatibility and undermining years of surface preparation work.
Key Awlgrip Additives in the Lineup
- GripTex Non-Skid Additive: Mixed directly into Awlgrip and Awlcraft 2000 topcoats to create a non-skid texture for deck and step areas — an essential safety feature for any vessel.
- Cold Cure Accelerator: Designed to reduce cure times when applying Awlgrip systems in cooler temperatures, keeping professional schedules on track without sacrificing film integrity.
- Flattening Agent: Allows applicators to reduce the sheen level of any topcoat for specific aesthetic or functional areas, giving custom control over the final appearance.
- Crater-X: A specialized additive used to address surface cratering defects during application, helping produce a smooth, defect-free film.
- Awl-Coat TPC: A topcoat performance additive used to fine-tune application flow and leveling properties.
Built for System Integrity
What sets Awlgrip additives apart from generic alternatives is their design as part of an integrated coating ecosystem. Awlgrip's reputation — built on outstanding UV resistance, abrasion resistance, and long-lasting gloss retention — depends on every product in the system performing to specification. Additives that are formulated and tested alongside the topcoats they modify ensure that the system as a whole continues to deliver the mirror-like, durable finish that boat owners and yards worldwide expect from the Awlgrip name.
Whether you are a professional applicator working on a superyacht or a serious boater maintaining a cherished vessel, Awlgrip additives give you the control to handle real-world application challenges — temperature extremes, safety requirements, or finish aesthetics — while staying within a proven system that has been trusted on vessels in virtually every port in the world.