Re: Tropical waters

Bill Combs (ttursine@gnt.net)
Wed, 21 Jul 1999 11:25:13 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> I'm considering taking the P-19 south for the winter, in the Baja area.
> Since the boat will be in the water for an extended period of time, a
> concern of mine are Teredo infestations of the wood of the rudder. Will
> these worms eat up or weaken my rudder (it is wood, endangered mahogony I
> believe). The last thing I need is the rudder snapping off at some
> inopportune moment. What can I use as Teredo repellant that wont spoil the
> natural beauty of the wood finish of my rudder?
>
> Jim Nolan P-19 #426 "Panache", P-15 #1055 "Sea Pig", Loon-14 (no name yet)

You bet they'll eat it ... and quickly, too. I lost the bottom half of
my original kick-up rudder to just such wee beasties. [Didn't like the
blasted thing anyway ... and the mercurial Joe Edwards gave me a super
deal on a one piece replacement.]

I use bottom paint to keep them away from the new one since I don't
spend a whole lot of time under water admiring the nice wood finish.
The part one _can_ see is varnished (bite my tongue, it's actually
Cetol ... the wonder finish).

Regards,

Bill Combs
WWP 19 #439 (Aug 1987)
"Ursa Minor"
Fort Walton Beach FL
ttursine@gnt.net