Hi everyone – I’m poking in here from OTF, I am not a woodworker.
I have a little sailboat, and need to make some new bits for it to replace some that broke. being the Cheap kind of guy that I am, I’m hoping to save both trees and money by remaking these parts out of wood we are pulling out of the house.
These are the parts I need to replace:
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=453
Mine broke at the inside corner of the rabbet – these are a part that sees a lot of use – they are retainers for hatchboards, if that means anything to you.
In our house we are replacing a bunch of mahogany trim with pine, and I am considering remaking these by laminating the mahogany from some door casings to make the base, then replacing the rabbet with a slab of aluminium, and putting a teak trim cap on made out of the old teak boards removed from the boat.
The completed part will look like the attached images (with any luck).
My questions are:
- Is the mahogany used to make household trim different than the mahogany regularly used on boats?
- What glue would work best and be very weatherproof, such that it could be used on a boat, and left to sit outside in Canada’s climate?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Replies
"Is the mahogany used to make household trim different than the mahogany regularly used on boats?"
Usually, yes. The "mahogany" used in housebuilding is usually something like meranti, which isn't a true mahogany, and isn't as weatherproof. However, if the trim is really old (at least fifty years), or if the house is really high-end, it could be genuine mahogany. It's hard to tell them apart if you're not familiar with the details.
"What glue would work best and be very weatherproof, such that it could be used on a boat, and left to sit outside in Canada's climate?"
Titebond III would be a good choice. For the ultimate in weather resistance, use a marine grade epoxy.
Since you have a boat, you probably also have a marine supplies dealer; they should be able to fix you up with some appropriate adhesive. Come to think of it, there might be someone there who can distinguish genuine mahogany from the imposters.
-Steve
Thanks Steve
The house is a "Viceroy" home built in the 80's with an interior trim kit. I didn't build it, but Viceroy is still around. I guess I can contact them to find out what the wood was back then. Thanks for the idea.
I'll check the boatbuilding places around here for good epoxies. We actually only just bought this boat last month, and the first thing I did when we got it was to break these parts.View Image
We actually only just bought this boat last month, and the first thing I did when we got it was to break these parts.
Don't worry, every boat owner will tell you there are lots more parts that can and will break.
You may be better off to buy a nice chunk of teak, (which should cost about 2 to 3 times what real mahogany will cost, but will still be way cheaper than what Catalina wants for the parts) and make what you need. You can use what's left over to fix the next thing you break.
Welcome to the wonderful and hellaciously expensive world of sailing! Wait'll you need a new mainsail...Anyway, for epoxy, I highly recommend West System.http://westsystem.com/If you have a West Marine store nearby (they're not related to the epoxy, BTW), they'll have it in stock. Good stuff, reasonably easy to work with.did<!---->Cure Diabetes - Whitefish, Montana, 2007!<!---->
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A couple of points come to mind.
Aluminum should be anodized to avoid fairly rapid saltwater corrosion. I'd go with stainless if I wanted to use metal instead of the rabbet.
I'd have serious doubts that Honduran mahogany would have been used on house trim, and if it isn't Honduran you couldn't expect satisfactory weathering. And, if you have teak anywhere else, you'd soon be wanting to replace those pieces with mahogany.
At least Canada's climate is easier on boats than the tropics, as long as you avoid freezing up mechanical systems. Sun is the main enemy to exterior wood, and northern latitudes get less.
Being a "cheap kind of guy" is going to be tough with a sailboat. There are always projects. Things always break, just at the wrong times, unless the vessel is kept to top condition. Sometimes, having things break can be hazardous so maintenance is not optional.
It is absolutely true that a sail boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money.
It is also true that there is nothing that can offer so much satisfaction.
Cut the rabbet off, leaving a section of 7/8 x 1 1/4" (IIRC). Purchase some bronze stock from Atlas metals to replace the rabbet. Drill and through bolt, using oval-headed bronze screws in countersunk holes in the bronze.
Kiss your visa card, LOL.
I love this idea! Why didn't I think of that. Its so much easier.
Being on a fresh water lake, the aluminium corrosion wasn't much of a concern, but this idea of simply using the teak we already have, and adding to it is wonderful!
Thanks everyone for your ideas. I think that I will use the existing teak, planed down to the proper thickness, put the aluminium plate (anodized just in case I make it to the ocean) on it, and buy a couple of bitty bits of teak to top things off with.
I checked the trim in the house last night, and it is quite light in colour, so I doubt it is the good stuff. This will cause me to feel less guilt as I feed the fire with it.
View Image
Edited 11/29/2007 12:07 pm ET by Dagwood
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