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Refinishing the Tiller

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/30/2003 : 15:33:36

Hello All,

Can anyone recommend the correct way to refinish a tiller? For example, what grit sandpaper to use, what varnish to use? Any insite is tremendously appreciated.

Thanks,

Ben
Adventurous
1987 SR/SK

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 17:01:12

Ben,

I don't know what the "correct way" is, but when I restored my badly delaminated tiller, I split apart all the layers, reglued them, sanded with 100 grit (?), applied a dark stain to accent the laminations, applied two coats of epoxy, and three coats of polyurethane spar varnish. It looks great, but with lots of character!

Of course after all that work on a $50 item, I made a Sunbrella sock to protect all the varnished surfaces.

Eric Werkowitz
C25 #4969

Hey cool! I just got promoted to Skipper!

Edited by - eric.werkowitz on 03/30/2003 17:05:39

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 21:46:23

Thanks for the input, Eric. My tiller isn't as far gone as your's must have been. It just needs sanded and re-stained.

And congrats on being promoted to skipper. I look forward to the day when I too will reach that milestone post. Alas, with my being such a greenhorn when it comes to sailing, I have very little expertise to add to the board, so that elusive 100th post may still be weeks, or months, away.

Thanks again,

Ben
Adventurous
1987 SR/SK

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2003 : 22:08:27

Depending upon the condition it's in, of course, you may be able to simply scuff up the existing varnish with sandpaper. I would use something around 150 grit on the good varnish. If the varnish is peeling or exposing wood, use a more coarse grit first to get down to good, non-weathered wood. Then use 120-150 or so just before your first coat of varnish. I am not sure it matters TOO much on the brand of varnish; everyone seems to have a favorite, but make sure it has UV protectant in it. I don't think it makes much sense to apply any fewer than 5-6 coats, maybe as many as 10, touch sanding in between with 200-ish grit. Take a day between coats. Varnish is only good when built up. Then, make sure you have a good canvas (Sunbrella type) tiller cover.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2003 : 01:26:15

I use the same method that Gary B. described so well.

-- Leon Sisson

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2003 : 07:13:53

Thanks for the instructions, everyone. I'm going to have the nicest looking tiller on the lake.

Ben
Adventurous
C25 #5553
1987 SR/SK

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2003 : 08:33:57

1. Mmmmmm! My we seem to have people fixing on their stars this morning.

2. Thanks for the input, my wife and I plan to work on our wood finishes this year, and your information has been helpful to me.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2003 : 20:10:43

Call me lazy, and a guy without a wood shop, but I just went to west marine an popped for a replacement. Was about $50 for a new one if I remember right, and its hard to look better than that.

Cheers -

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2003 : 07:07:05

I don't know, Phredde, to me there's something satisfying about sanding something down that looks pretty terrible and refinishing it to look all nice and shiny. Especially when it's such a simple job, someone like me could do it.

Ben
Adventurous
#5553
C25 SR/SK

Edited by - on

77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2003 : 15:24:33

a new one would probably save a lot of time, pretty inexpensive too. if you do it yourself put lotts of layers of varnish, i didn't on my last one and itbegan to splinter in these great virginia humid summers

Steven de Filippis
78 catalina 25 - Gypsy

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.