The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Refinishing the Tiller, 2005

Also see Refinishing the Tiller, 2004

Description

After completely refinishing the tiller a year ago, I didn't expect applying another two coats of varnish this year would be much of a project. It was my only indoor winter project this year, so I ended up putting more time into it than necessary because I ran into an unexpected problem. The first coat of varnish looked perfect while wet, but upon drying the surface was pebbled with tiny specks. "Oh well," I thought, "I've got to wet-sand it anyway." The next coat would have Penetrol added and perhaps that would help. (In this photo and the next, the tiller has just been polished.)

The second coat dried with the specks of dust or whatever again present, so I applied a third then fourth, wet-sanding between each and leaving out the Penetrol, but with no better results. Turk Terleski on the discussion list suggested I use a cheap foam brush instead of a varnish brush, and that actually worked ... better. But it still left some small dust particles or, he thought, bubbles spoiling perfection. In frustration, I used a fine polishing compound on the entire tiller to rub out the specks until the surface was perfectly smooth.

Next and finally, I applied a coat of wax. In this photo, the nail points to the separation between what has been waxed (left of the nail) and what hasn't (right of the nail). The final result was not quite the high gloss of a pure varnish finish, but I am satisfied with the trade-off to achieve the perfect smoothness.

The finished tiller, second annual refinishing. (Note the tiller-pilot pin, added to the tiller last year when I installed the Raymarine tiller pilot.) That's Chip Ahoy beyond the house covered with its blue tarp.

The finished tiller, second annual refinishing.

The finished tiller, second annual refinishing. (Note even a nautical door bell!)

The finished tiller, second annual refinishing.

With the seven coats of varnish I applied last year, and an additional five this year, the tiller now has twelve coats over the wood, and it couldn't be any smoother.

It's become almost an object d'art now! Some (myself included) thought I was being obsessive, "anal" as one on the discussion list put it. Cabin fever will do that to you -- especially after a winter like this one. But there's not much wood on a Catalina 22, and the tiller is right there alongside you most of the time you're sailing, your most direct contact with your boat. I like it looking real good, and feeling really smooth to the touch. Since I had nothing else I could do indoors this winter, it was worth getting it here; I'll appreciate it in the coming months.  (Mar. 18, 2005)