Restoring leather on Wheel

[Ceirwan]

The leather on my yachts wheel has dried and and got quite a course feel to it.
Its honestly not really all that pleasant to hold, especially on dry days.

Has anyone had any luck restoring them or got any tips & products to use?
I had a blast with some stuff I had lying around for car wheels, but it didn't really work & its a different sort of leather anyway, the boat stuff being a bit more raw.

 

[Refueler]

You used to be able to buy Leather kits for wheels .....

 

[Tranona]

You used to be able to buy Leather kits for wheels .....

You still can clydemarineleather.co.uk/products/wheel-covers/ or seadogs.co.uk/product/leather-wheel-kits/

 

[Minerva]

Would saddle cream for horse saddles work?

Alternatively, perhaps time to bite the built and but a new leather kit

 

[Ceirwan]

I'll replace it if I have to.
But spending £150 and replacing if it can be restored seems wasteful.

 

[Tranona]

I'll replace it if I have to.
But spending £150 and replacing if it can be restored seems wasteful.

There is probably not much you can do if it has been exposed to the elements for a long time. Treat yoursaelf to a new one and enjoy doing it. I did one sitting in the warm spring sunshine in Corfu. One beer per section stitched. Then invest in a wheel cover, or even a complete binnacle cover.

 

[KevinV]

If it's dry and coarse then a very light sanding will smooth it and might buy another season.

 

[Supertramp]

I would use a leather conditioning cream of the sort used for walking boots - conditioning rather than waterproofing as it penetrates more.

+1 for a wheel cover.

 

[Ceirwan]

I'll give the cream and possibly sanding a shot.
And look at replacing it maybe next season, I'd rather be out sailing now.

Noted on the cover, its on the list!

 

[billskip]

 

[RunAgroundHard]

On Repair Shop, the expert that recovers trashed leather uses “Mink Oil”.

Some tips How To Rehydrate Leather Properly – Simple Tips & Tricks.

My own wheel’s leather cover was very dry, started splitting and failing in chunks. Best decision was to replace with new. Yes, expensive, but the expense is soon forgotten when using the newly covered wheel.

 

[Refueler]

View attachment 191748

Blimey - as a kid - I can remember Dubbin for my Footbal / Rugby boots and traditional leather covered ball !!

 

[billskip]

Blimey - as a kid - I can remember Dubbin for my Footbal / Rugby boots and traditional leather covered ball !!

Exactly where I remembered it from, when football boot's were boot's...

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Link to mink oil, which may help with leather rejuvenation, as said, used by the leather repair expert on Repair Shop.

The Ultimate Guide to Mink Oil on Leather

 

[neil_s]

Neatsfoot compound - restores dried out old saddlery.