"Dinks" out of wood?

[Mukes]

\"Dinks\" out of wood?

Due to being a clumsy bu**er, I have contrived to put a "dink" in my bowsprit while removing for the winter. I seem to have a vague memory of my father showing me some technique that can be attempted to remove such deformations if not too deep. Can anyone enlighten me or has the memory part of my brain invented this in some vain attempt to provide comfort to the clumsy part of my brain?

 

[Mirelle]

Re: \"Dinks\" out of wood?

Your father was of course quite right.

Carefully scrape the varnish back from the affected part, and use steam.

It is actually possible to "iron" a ding out of softwood - wrap a wet cloth round it and borrow the domestic iron. Or stand a kettle under it with the spout pointing at the affected part.

Give it ample time to dry before re-varnishing, of course.

 

[twisterkai]

Re: \"Dinks\" out of wood?

As you say, it depends how deep you've 'dinked'. If not too bad, damp it, put a piece of brown paper over and then put a hot iron on it. Not sure if it really needs to be brown paper, maybe a damp cloth would do. Anyway, that's how you can deal with dings etc in furniture, so no reason why it won't work on your bowsprit. Apparently, the heat from the iron causes the moisture in the timber to expand which in turn pushes the dent out. Tried it on a coffee table once, thanks to my darling niece, but only had limited success.

 

[Mukes]

Re: \"Dinks\" out of wood?

Thank you both - sounds simple enough even for me.

Mirelle, thanks for your previous advice on boat selection etc. through PM and you now see I have embarked upon the adventure of classic boat ownership. I am finding however that my efforts thus far do seem to be adding to, rather than detracting from the list of "to dos".

 

[Mirelle]

Not to worry

I dread to think how many scars inflicted by her present owner Mirelle bears; apart from topside scratches hidden by paint and filler there is certainly one helluva dent in the bowsprit, caused by setting the jib and forgetting the bobstay, which was not one of my brighter moments and has certainly seriously weakened the spar. Then there is the odd dip in the rail on the port quarter where a bit of scaffold pipe that took the plank when in the mudberth chafed it...etc, etc.

All part of her character; I think of it as adding "patina"!

 

[Jeremy_W]

Re: Not to worry

[ QUOTE ]
All part of her character; I think of it as adding "patina"!

[/ QUOTE ] You don't want "patina". It'll make your SWMBO think your yacht is worth something and could usefully be traded in for designer shoes, dresses or handbags. Call it clunks instead and she'll rest happy in her bed thinking your yacht is next to worthless.