"Thomas Wentworth" wrote:
Please post what you use on your bright-work. Tell why you use it, how it
goes on, and just generally what reason this product is the one for you.


Jere Lull wrote:
As others have mentioned, this is somewhat a religious topic.


Yes, but it shouldn't be.

We prefer Cetol as we only re-coat every couple of years as needed, and
the two or five coats we can apply while we're at an anchorage for a few
days last quite a long time.

I admire the absolutely beautiful brightwork done in varnish or the
modern equivalents, but refuse to spend the time to make it so.


Actually, the time spent is getting it to look good in the
first place, and learning how to achieve that. Most people
could probably never get a good looking coat of varnish on,
no matter how much time they spent.

Once the surface is in good shape & looking Bristol, it only
takes a small amount of touch-up per season (at least, at
this latitude.) OTOH it *cannot* be deferred or the surface
goes to crap quickly.


We SAIL our boat in season. This year looks to be a bit below our usual,
only 73 scheduled days out and sailing. Last year was awful, about 65
days. We used a grand total of 13 gallons of diesel, about 50 hours' run
time.

Your results will almost assuredly vary.


I would just as soon lay down a coat of cheap shellac, then
paint on Sears Weather-Beater or some other cheap &
super-durable finish. Why put on a pretend bright finish
that still takes too much work? A nice light cream or buff
color accents the boat nicely and looks pretty good, and
lasts for years even in the Flroida sun. Then when you want
to sell, take a scrubby pad and scour off the paint, lay on
a coat of varnish, and there you go.

Having owned wooden boats, I am no longer seduced by the
romance of having any type of bright wood finishes on the
exterior. OTOH I am alos spoiled enough, and have rigid
enough aesthetic standards, that I'd rather not have ugly
congealed jello smeared on whatever wood my boat is showing
to the public.

If the wood is pretty, then show it! If not, or if you have
other priorities (not a bad thing at all) then why take half
measures?

Fresh Breezes- Doug King