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Marine varnishes have been applied to protect and preserve woods on yachts for many, many years. History indicates that varnishes applied in the 1700s are very similar to what is used today. The coverings allow for the rich beauty of the brightwork to be seen while offering protection from the elements. The finish achieved after slow coating will deviate from a soft patina to a high gloss finish similar to fine furniture. Presuming you wish to protect and beautify your yachts's exterior brightwork, how do you choose among the unbelievable diversity of finishes? Recognizing completely that this is as big a deal as arguing the advantages or disadvantages of single engines vs twins, we nonetheless offer the following observations. What is a Varnish A varnish is a fluid coating normally used to treat teak. Its principle ingredients are oils. resins, solvents, dryers and maybe ultra-violet additives. The elements are mixed in various proportions to give the optimum visual look and protection. Oils Wood oils more often than not hold the original look and texture of the wood to a larger extent than the other finishes because they penetrate deep into the wood fibers and do not produce as much of a surface finish. Wood oils are available in colors ranging from gin clear to gold to dark brown. As with all wood coating, many coats generally lead in a much more consistent finish and greater longevity. We find oil to be the easiest to utilize, since surface blemishes are not as apparent in the final outcome. This does not mean, not withstanding, that slapping several coats of wood oil on raw teak will generate a Bristol finish. You will also find that oil’s light body makes masking areas to protect surrounding gel coat and painted areas almost as crucial with oil as with varnish. Clean, sandpapered teak with 3 or 4 coats of oil will give your teak 3-6 months of protection and beauty. Tung oil is utilized frequently for teak coatings. Spar Varnish Spar or Yacht varnish is a processed product consisting of oil, solvents and thinners, resins, dryers and additives. By switching the proportions of the components and by adding ultra-violet inhibitors and other protected elements, manufacturers create varnishes with widely varied features. Varnishes can have a high gloss or matte appearance, can be developed to be super tough for high-use surfaces and can vary in color. The 2 most everyday forms of varnishes are natural resin varnishes such as tung oil and oil-modified polyurethane varnishes. Natural tung oil varnishes are great for yacht use and offer the classic golden look. Polyurethanes tend to be more clear, allowing the color of the teak to shine through. Newer varnishes furnish improved strength in the harshest of environments such as the hot, tropical sunlight. Wood moves, since it is a previously living plant, it expands and contracts with even little changes in temperature and humidity. Premium varnishes cope with this unstable material using high quality oils and resins and a greater percentage of solid components, offering a longer lasting, more resilient coating with a greater gloss. Thickness is everything. Six to ten coats is usually necessary to get a quality look. A sound base coat, annualy maintained with a uniform maintenance coat, will give the ultimate in appearance, longevity and protection. Despite the initial effort (up to 9 coats are common) nothing looks better than exterior teak finished up with gloss varnish. Interlux’s Original 90 is just one variety of many conventional spar varnishes on the market. Synthetic Wood Finishes These finishes gained popularity with cruisers in Florida and the tropics looking for UV-resistant low-maintenance brightwork. Developed for ease and speed, these coatings have wonderful durability for outdoor use, are simple to apply and look relatively good. I say relatively good as some of these finishes, like Cetol, have a colored appearance, sometimes with a heavy tone. You must be sure not to apply too much. Some spar varnishes such as Interlux Goldspar and Schooner are produced with no pigment so the wood’s natural appearance is retained. Full gloss and depth vs. convenience is the trade-off with these finishes, but ease-of-use and labor savings can more than pay for themselves. Putting On synthetic finishes is similar to teak oil, where you can lay it straight over sanded, clean wood. I know of one pro that uses Cetol exclusively and his work is fabulous. I prefer to use the new Ceol Natural on my teak. Cetol comes in four varieties, with the new Natural providing a more golden color resembling the real look of raw teak. You can topcoat any of the Cetol finishes with the Gloss for a high gloss exterior finish. Two Part Wood Urethane Finishes Another finish to make an appearance in the yachting world are the urethane two-part finishes. Fashioned to supersede traditional varnishes, these products have made a mark in the boating community. Their producers produced these finishes to hold up in tropical conditions for years at the time. One manufacturer, C Tech, boasts that its product Bristol Finish is used on numerous cruise ships, testifying to its beauty and longevity. Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA. Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide. 904/556-9431 Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale
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