[paint it black]

you guys are insane telling the man to sand with 80 grit.
It's spray paint, it'll come off with anything.
180 grit would have knocked it off faster than the 80 grit, without damaging anything.
The coarser the grit is, it actually scratches the paint off, rather than sand it off.
I guarantee you 180 would have done a far better job, cleaner, less screw ups, and no scratches.

If you use Nason Ful-Thane (which is actually not too cheap) would give you the look of Awlgrip when shot. You get a similar depth out of the shine, and smooth feel to it.
I wouldn't do it if you plan on keeping it, but I did shoot the inside of one of my skiffs with it once. It looked good, but I don't know how long it lasted. For I sold it shortly after.
Although, I had used Interlux for the non-skid on it.

Nason would run you somewhere around $30ish for the pint I believe, without catalyst.

 

[paint it black]

well if what he says it sounds like cheap spray paint than if you use 180 only i bet you will clog up the sandpaper fast THATS why i said 80 but everyones different. if you cant get nason to lay down any better than awlgrip you have a problem just saying  

Or, who ever can't make Awlgrip look great probably should get some practice before calling themselves a painter. Because I'll shoot that awlgrip to look like a mirror. 100 times better than a cheap automotive paint that will have shine for a couple months, then die back and become a pale single stage.