| Marine varnishes have been used to protect and | | | | varnishes are great for interior or exterior use |
| preserve woods on yachts for many, many | | | | and provide the traditional golden teak appearance. |
| years. History bears witness that varnishes applied | | | | Oil modified polyurethanes tend to be more clear, |
| in the 1700s are very similar to what is used | | | | permitting the color of the teak to shine through. |
| today. The applications allow for the | | | | Newer varnishes, provide improved durability in |
| attractiveness of the wood to be seen while | | | | the worst of environments such as the hot, |
| offering protection from the elements. The finish | | | | Florida sunlight. Teak moves, since it is a formerly |
| achieved after cautious application will deviate | | | | living plant, it expands and contracts with even |
| from a soft patina to a high gloss coating akin to | | | | small fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The |
| fine furniture. | | | | best varnishes cope with this unstable material |
| Assuming you wish to protect and embellish your | | | | using high quality Wood Oils and resins and a |
| boat's exterior brightwork, how do you select | | | | greater percentage of solid ingredients, providing a |
| among the astounding diversity of products? | | | | longer lasting, more elastic coating with a higher |
| Knowing completely that this is as big a deal as | | | | gloss. |
| debating the benefits of motor yachts vs. | | | | The number of coats is everything. Six to ten |
| sailboats, we nonetheless offer the following | | | | coats is usually required to get a quality look. A |
| observations: | | | | sound base coat, annually cared-for with |
| What is a Varnish? | | | | maintenance coats, will give the ultimate in |
| A varnish is a liquid finish commonly used to treat | | | | appearance, length of service and protection. |
| wood. Its primary components are Oils. resins, | | | | Despite the initial effort (up to 10 coats are |
| solvents, dryers and ultra-violet additives. The | | | | common) nothing looks better than exterior teak |
| elements are mixed in various quantities to give | | | | finished with high gloss varnish. |
| the best appearance and protection. | | | | Interlux's Original 90 is just one variety of |
| Wood Oils | | | | traditional spar varnishes on the market. |
| Oils typically hold the original look and texture of | | | | Synthetic Wood Finishes |
| the teak more than the other finishes because | | | | These coatings gained popularity with cruisers in |
| they permeate deeply into the wood fibers and | | | | Florida and the Bahamas looking for ultra-violet |
| do not create as much of a surface finish. Oils are | | | | resistant low-maintenance brightwork. Formulated |
| accessible in colours ranking from water clear to | | | | for ease and speed, these finishes have |
| gold to dark brown. As with all teak finish, many | | | | uncommon durability for exterior use, are easy to |
| coats typically result in a much more consistent | | | | apply and look comparatively good. Some spar |
| finish and longer length of service. We learn oil to | | | | varnishes such as Interlux Goldspar and Schooner |
| be the easiest to utilize, since surface blemishes | | | | are made with no pigment so the teak's beauty is |
| are not as obvious in the ultimate outcome. This | | | | retained. Full gloss and depth vs. convenience is |
| doesn't mean, however, that applying four coats | | | | the trade-off with these products, but simplicity |
| of wood oil on raw teak will develop a great finish. | | | | and labor savings can more than compensate. |
| You'll also see that oil's thin consistency makes | | | | Applying synthetic finishes is similar to teak oil, |
| masking areas to protect adjacent gel coat and | | | | where you can lay it directly over sanded, clean |
| painted areas about as crucial with oil as with | | | | teak. |
| varnish. Clean, sanded teak with several coats of | | | | Cetol comes in four varieties, with the new |
| oil will give your teak 3-6 months of protection | | | | Natural allowing for a more golden color like the |
| and beauty. | | | | real appearance of raw teak. Overcoat any of |
| Tung oil is one of the most widely used for teak | | | | the other pigmented Cetol products with the |
| applications. | | | | Gloss for a high gloss exterior finish. |
| Spar Varnish | | | | I know of one professional that uses Cetol |
| Spar or marine varnish is a complicated product | | | | exclusively and his work is fabulous. |
| consisting of oil, solvents and thinners, resins, | | | | Two Part Teak Urethane Finishes |
| dryers and additives. By varying the ratios of the | | | | Another product to make an appearance in the |
| elements and by blending UV inhibitors and | | | | cruising world are the urethane two-part finishes. |
| different secret components, manufacturers | | | | Fashioned to replace traditional varnishes, these |
| create varnishes with widely varied features. | | | | products have made a mark in the yachting |
| Varnishes can have a high gloss or matte visual | | | | community. Their manufacturers produced these |
| aspect, can be produced to be extremely hard | | | | finishes to survive in tropical conditions for years |
| for high-use surfaces and can vary in color. | | | | at the time. One maker, C Tech Marine, sports |
| The 2 most common varieties of varnishes are | | | | that its product Bristol Finish is utilized on many |
| natural resin varnishes such as tung oil and | | | | cruise ships, certifying to its beauty and longevity. |
| oil-modified polyurethane varnishes. Natural tung oil | | | | |