[Rhodes22-list] Tiller Repair Question

[John Tonjes]

Wally,
If the crack is really this small and it doesn't affect the strength of the
tiller, I would simply sand it smooth and varnish over it. Varnish will
fill the gap and as you layer over it, it should almost disappear,
especially since it's on the bottom. I used Razz's method of varnishing
using a thinned out Varnish for the first two coats, sanding before every
new coat. I recently put 12 layers on a used tiller handle and it came out
really nice. Should last a long time.
If the crack is structural, or you think it might widen, I'd drill a small
hole, fill with epoxy and then install a small brass screw. The epoxy will
prevent the screw from ever trying to back out. Then sand a varnish. I
suggest brass because it will blend in really well with the varnish and
would not be noticeable.

Rummy


> [Original Message]
> From: Wally Buck <tnrhodey@hotmail.com>
> To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> Date: 3/17/2003 8:12:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller Repair Question
>
> The guy I purchased my boat from had painted resin or epoxy on the tiller 
> handle. It looks like crap and it is peeling and turning yellow. Also two
of 
> the wood layers are separating. I wanted to sail last year so I put off 
> tiller repairs until Spring.
>
> Now that warm weather has arrived I can start hitting it with varnish. I 
> sanded down to bare wood yesterday and the tiller looks great. I have
about 
> a 8 inch split in between two of the layers of wood. I am sure this is
why 
> the PO applied epoxy coat. The job was not done properly and I want to 
> reseal the split area.
>
> The gap is very small and it will be hard to fill in the space with
epoxy. I 
> think this is what the PO tried but he wasn't able to seal it off. He
only 
> epoxied the outer edge and it separated after time. I want to try and
epoxy 
> the inside of the split and then clamp the tiller until epoxy sets. I was 
> also thinking of using a screw(s) from the bottom of the tiller to help
draw 
> the wood together. I will then varnish with several coats of Z Spar.
>
> Is there a better way to do this repair? I was really surprised to find
out 
> how nice the wood looked under all that opaque epoxy.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions or tips!
>
> Wally
>
>
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