Alaskan Crab Fishing Boat Docked For MakeoverCustomer: Alaskan crab fishing is said to be one of the most dangerous jobs in North America. Every year many fishermen brave extreme weather conditions and harsh environments to bring in large amounts of seafood for consumers. The water of the Bering Sea, which is the primary area where most of the crab fishing occurs, has rich bounties of king crab and salmon. On a normal work day during crab fishing season, the deck of a crab boat is exposed to arctic waters pounding over the side of the deck; sub zero temperatures and icy winds. Not only is the deck slippery from the large amounts of water being dumped onto the boat from huge seas, but during the winter season, these conditions cause the sea water to freeze on the deck and ultimately produce even more slippery and hazardous conditions for the workers aboard. The surface on the deck where crab pots are released and picked up is called the launch area and also is sometimes referred to as "the money spot". It is one of the most dangerous areas on a vessel in these icy conditions, and a good quality non-skid surface upon which to work is important. Pots are loaded with bait and launched out into the sea with hydraulic lifts. When they are unloaded, the pot is pulled back into the boat by hooks, positioned over the holding area and the male crabs (females are thrown back) are unloaded and stored. The seafood brokers at the Alaska Boat Company own a fleet of crab boats that frequent the Bering Sea during crab season. The company is involved in all stages of catching, processing and marketing a wide variety of seafood products, so having a safe work space for the crews that man these vessels is essential. Jed Vaughn of Dur-A-Flex Northwest in Spokane, Washington and Jim Starr of Surface Preparation and Coatings out of Long Beach, Washington were responsible for introducing the Dur-A-Flex Cryl-A-Quartz system to the company. They explained the features and benefits of the Cryl-A-Quartz system, including the slip resistant properties, and the captain was convinced that this system would be perfect for the crab pot area. "The Bulldog" was the vessel chosen for the Cryl-A-Quartz system. "The Bulldog" is part of the fleet that was featured in a ten-part documentary series on the Discovery Channel called "America's Deadliest Season: Alaskan Crab Fishing". The series chronicled the real-life high sea adventures of Alaskan crab fishermen. The MMA system was ideal for the conditions "The Bulldog" would endure because it seals and protects, the system offers operational flexibility, and it fully cures in one hour. The quick turn around time eliminates the amount of time the boat sits idle. Jim and his crew chose to use the Cryl-A-Quartz double broadcast system. They water blasted the metal surface of the deck with high pressure water jetting and sanded the wood surrounding the crab pot area. Methyl Methacrylate is a versatile product that easily adheres to metal and wood, and the quartz broadcast provided a slip resistant surface that was necessary for the crew's safety. Since they were coating metal, the Methyl Methacrylate based modifier, Cryl-A-Bond MT was added to the primer to improve bonding. The system has been performing throughout crab season and continues to serve the crew of "The Bulldog". The captain and crew worked hard during this busy time of year, but the Cryl-A-Quartz system worked just as hard and continues to stand up to the harsh conditions of the arctic. Dur-A-Flex Inc. |