Repair/ maintenance leather covered wheel

[Ian_Edwards]

The black leather cover on the ships wheel has some minor damage and scuffs:

The wheel is covered when we leave the boat and stored in the garage during the winter, but I haven’t tried to maintain it since new, 4 season ago.
I was thinking of using NiWax waterproofing wax followed by black shoe polish to waterproof the leather and restore the appearance, just like I’d restore a pair of shoes.
Is this a good idea?
Does anyone have a proven method of maintaining and restoring leather coverings?

 

[Mrnotming]

leather on ship's wheel.

Maybe a visit to your shoe repair store will produce some black coating which is suitable?
Have not seen this finish before, but some other forumite will come along.
"Lady Esquire" comes to mind as a black finishing paint, wonder if it is still available?
If stitching repair is needed a small circular needle will help to keep things neat.Buy a few whilst you are at it, they are very useful!

 

[Momac]

Is this any use ?
http://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/Pre-Coats_Repairers.php

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Thanks for the link, there seems to be a wide range of possible products I might use.

I wouldn't know where to start!

I'll try emailing them the pictures to see can suggest the best products to use.

 

[SAMYL]

The POR 15 people make a special kit for restoring classic car steering wheels. Might be of some use for yours.
Available on Ebay or from Frost Engineering or Eastwoods. Sorry I don't have a link but you will find them through Google.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I'd steer clear of black boot polish, it'll come off on the helmsman's hands.

Think about recovering with the usual elk hide.

http://www.boatleather.co.uk/buy-online

 

[Mrnotming]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dylon-Lady-Esquire-Black-Colouring/dp/B005VOL3GA

never believe the spec!

 

[rob2]

Are you sure it's leather? The first photo looks like foam under the surface. Either way, if the skin has been torn you can never really remake it - just like badly scuffed shoes. If it is, then a leather dye would at least yield a uniform colour.

Rob.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Are you sure it's leather? .

Exactloy my reaction. My wheel is leather covered, treated in much the same way except not usually taken off the boat in winter and at 15 years old the only problem I have is some of the stitching

 

[Ian_Edwards]

It looks like a Lewmar Fastnet Wheel

From the Lewmar website

"The Fastnet wheel is made from Alloy 6082 and is lightweight and stylish. These wheels are built to order and supplied powder coat painted black with black leather to the wheel rim as standard. We can offer white painted wheels and alternative leather colour options to cover the wheel rims upon request. The Fastnet wheel range starts at 122cm/48" with incremental sizes up to 175cm/69"."

The wheel is definitely leather covered. but it's not powder coated, the spokes are SS and not Alloy 6082, however, it has the same double spoke configuration.

It's fitted to a Dufour 40 as standard, and there are a lot of Dufour 40 around, our hull number is 530. I guess Dufour get them made to order. So I was hoping the someone else had a similar problem and a solution.

I take the point about the surface being damaged, which probably isn't repairable, but if I could get some waterproof dye (which won't come off on the helmsman hands) it may not make it look quite so bad.

I sent several exploratory emails to suppliers but not had any replies as yet.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Maybe a tangent but there is an issue with cheap / reasonably priced leather furniture in that they split the hide into three thinner hides and then put the surface finish on it. Not surprisingly it doesnt last anything like as long as the really expensive leather furniture. I wonder if that is the problem here. My wheel also is Lewmar but the finish is suede rather than polished ie chrome typoe leather. Either way, I dont think that 4 years is good enough - have a moan at Lewmar

 

[dulcibella]

Another advantage of a tiller!

 

[Ian_Edwards]

update

I've ordered a kit from www.furnitureclinic.co.uk in matt black, after an email conversation with the company and watching a video of a car seat restoration, which was quite convincing.
I'll post some picture of the results, I thought it was worth a go at restoration, but I'll be interesting to see how long it last in a marine environment. In the long run I may have to "bight the bullet" and put a proper cover on the wheel.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Refurbished Wheel

I got the kit from Furniture Clinic, and I've refurbished the wheel.

I'm happy with the result, it's much better than it was and quit easy to do, if a little time consuming, because of the inherent geometry of the wheel.

It just remains to be seen how well the refurbishment stands up to the marine environment.