Cockpit Floor Paint Suggestions?

[65Bowrider]

I'm refinishing an old SeaCraft bowrider. It's been fixed, stripped, primed, sanded & ready for painting...except for the cockpit area... I remember reading some old posts, but can't find them anymore thru the 'search'.

The floor has the original 'waffle' and would like to keep that as much as possible, if possible.
I think I remember something about cleaning with a wire brush & then rolling a thin coat?

This site has been wonderful in getting me this far along, now I just need a little more help. Thanks, Carla