Caring for outside timber

[Killick69]

The grab rails on the roof of the cabin on Night Cap are in OK condition, but are deteriorating. I would like to sort them out before it becomes a big issue. Hopefully I can sand back the damaged bits and re-coat the whole handle on each side. It looks like they were varnished. Shaun, any help appreciated. What do you guys do in cases like this. What is best/most universally useful varnish etc to use/ Any tips/suggestions will be most welcome. The tiller is in considerably better condition, but will need attention down the track. Anyone put a cover over the tiller? what about covers on grab rails?

[Miker]

Hey Killick,

The grab rails come off easily if you don't have a hood liner in the cabin, just unscrew from the inside. Take them home, sand them with a machine and varnish them using a good quality marine grade varnish. I used Feast and Watson last time. You can do them whilst they're on the boat, but it takes longer and is susceptible to weather when it's drying. I have a battery powered 18volt palm sander which helps.

With the toe rails, I started sanding them and cleaning them, but never got as far as I wanted so they're now grey timber. I'm happy with that for the moment, as it looks better than faded varnish or peeling. Although I do have to finish getting the varnish off one side. I think though, once I do get the timber clean, I'll probably just oil it for a while until I get a decent window to varnish it properly.

One thing with varnish, at least from my point of view, is take your time. Use thin coats and sand lightly between coats. Build up to about 8 thin coats and then you'll have a lovely long lasting lustre. The port side rail and the stern seat on my boat are the two best features.....

I have a tiller cover, it was made by Hood Sails when I got them to make up the Lazybag and seat cover. This is the second tiller cover, the original went to god a few months ago. I think it cost about $80, but it was custom made. All up, the Lazybag, seat cover and tiller cover came in at a fraction over $600 I think.

Have fun!
Michael

[Shaun]

Gday John,
The varnish used on the grab rails & tiller is Bondall Monocel Gold (marine grade varnish, gloss).

Taking the grab rails home is a good idea....but Because the exterior grab rails have interior grab rails under them inside the cabin, you'd have to hack out the timber plugs covering the screws.
If your going to go to the effort of varnishing, I think its critical to protect your hard work with covers from the sun that breaks down the varnish then water/UV rays finds & pentrates weak spots in the varnish & will grey tiny cracks in the timber.
Grab rail covers look very smart, you could knock some up, along with a tiller cover on a sewing machine, or make do with an old trouser leg on the tiller.
cheers

[Killick69]

A tiller cover it will be. Only question is what is best material to use. Guess a light colour for starters, to reflect most of the uv. Type of fabric to use is the big question. I guess it does not need to be waterproof, but needs to breathe. Maybe have it open/have openings along bottom, to allow moisture to get out. I have considered using shade cloth. I guess UV is the biggest enemy of the tiller, moisture not a major problem.
Thinking about shaun's idea (trouser leg), Maybe denim is the fabric to use....tiller jeans.
Shaun, are the washboards also coated with Bondall Monocel?

[8philip8]

at whitworths you can buy yachtacrylic blue cover fabric , if you are handy with sewing machine, you can make all kind of covers for your boat.

[lockie]

For best UV protection, you need material dark and thick enough so that you can't see any light through it.
If you can see light through it, it's only giving partial protection. Same principal as the kid's cover-up garments. I like the old pants-leg idea.

cheers, lockie

[storm petrel]

I have a blue yacht/acrylic cover that has lasted for many years (longer than the fancy 'Mast' winch covers I bought from Whitworths). It seems to give good protection to the varnish on the tiller and looks better than the leg off a pair of old jeans. I have thought about covering the wash boards as well but have never got round to it. I don't like too many covers or other mucking about, because I prefer to get going and put the boat to bed quickly when I return. I am more likely to go for a quick sail if it is easy to do so (I try to get out to sea at least once a each week). I cut back and varnished the gunwales on Storm Petrel last December (three years since I did them last) and they look great but they are getting close to there 'us by' date.

Cheers,
Mark

[karl010203]

Hey just my two cents worth... I got sick of varnishing a long time ago. It seemed like I would spend forever sanding back the Washboards and Varnishing they would look for a year tops and you would do it again - I am lazy.

I have been painting everything with International Brighside - a Polyurethane Paint instead. It looks nice and white (if that is the colour you want) and a lot more UV resistant than Varnish. Also looks a lot cleaner.

Food for thought.

[8philip8]

the fun of the top hat ownership is that I can work on it . (try to do as much as I can)
I did some varnishing using 1 coat -decking oil + 3 coats -exterior clear (4 hrs touch dry each coat) from Bunnings , see the result
the next job is to the outside timber work in cooler days

[karl010203]

the fun of the top hat ownership is that I can work on it . (try to do as much as I can)
I did some varnishing using 1 coat -decking oil + 3 coats -exterior clear (4 hrs touch dry each coat) from Bunnings , see the result
the next job is to the outside timber work in cooler days

Looks great!!! Wanna come to QLD - only too happy to encourage this hobby of yours - ha ha...