That's not the case, from my observations. Given two equally prepped
pieces of wood, the Cetol will outlast varnish by about 10% at most, and
require about 10% less work to maintain.


Maxprop wrote:
The biggest difference between the two that I've found is the technique and
care required during application. I'm good with a brush, but it still takes
me far longer and with far more care to apply a coat of varnish vs. Cetol.

Maybe I'm getting to be a fussy old fogey, but it seems totally natural
to me to be careful like that. Modern varnishes (at least the
high-dollar stuff) is nowhere near as temperamental as the old time spar
varnish I remember.

My wife uses foam brushes... still have to be careful about bubbles, but
it's pretty quick and easy. I'm wavering on the foam brush thing, it
seems sinful to me.

.... And weather is another factor. I've applied
Cetol in 45 degrees and wind, and also in 90 degrees and humidity, both with
acceptable results. Varnish requires a narrower set of parameters if the
finish coat is to have a smooth, glasslike appearance.

That's very true. Especially dust & humidity.

... Then of course there
is the issue of sanding between coats. Cetol requires none as it bonds
chemically to itself, but varnish requires a mechanical bond between coats,
so sanding is obligatory.

Actually (depending on the varnish you use) it's not. All sanding does
is produce a lot of dust and require cleanup. The pro we had going over
our brightwork originally gave us a lot of pointers on this. He said
that most people sand way too much and don't clean up after well enough.
Bristol and Epifanes both make a good high-build high-UV-resistant
finish that isn't supposed to be sanded between coats, once the surface
is good.





The new clear stuff doesn't look as bad as the old orange Jell-O Cetol,
but it still doesn't look good up close.


I honestly can't tell much difference between the two.


Maybe you haven't looked well enough. Up close, the difference is
obvious. From ten feet away, it's not obvious but visible.

If a boat with really sharp varnished brightwork parked next to you,
people would say "Boy that Sea Sprite sure is a pretty boat, what a dang
shame about the woodwork."


If the wood has pretty enough grain to be worth any type of bright finish,
it deserves varnish IMHO.


Have you ever tried Epifanes Gloss Wood Finish?


Yep. I'm not positive but IIRC that's what's on the tugboat right now.


BTW we had a professional do some of the wood on our boat when we first
bought it, the former owner had slapped on a terrible coating of
polyurethane. He also takes care of a number of boats with Cetol and he
swears the stuff is actually more work than varnish.


I've heard that before, and don't believe it for a moment.


Well, this guy makes a pretty good living at it and knows a lot more
than I do... I can't believe somebody would pay money for a pro job and
want Cetol but apparently a lot do (including two in our marina).


... Perhaps when we retire to Oriental, we'll reconsider varnish for
the brightwork.


That part of NC (around New Bern as well) is getting to be worse than
Florida. They're four-laning the highway to Oriental, so that the
blue-hairs will have an easier time. But hey, there's plenty of room for
more!


We noted the road work when we were there last year. Not too many bluehairs
when we were there, but no doubt they'll come. They always do.

They're already there. That daily 3 truckloads of New York newspapers
and 2 truckloads of froo-froo coffee isn't for consumption by locals.


Fresh Breezes- Doug King