We're starting to get the boat ready for another season of sailing, and
I would appreciate some advice as to pros/cons of various products for
refinishing exterior wood - Cetol, varnish with UV protection, and
polyurethane varnish with UV protection. Which is most suitable for
wood trim in the cockpit and on deck, teak cockpit table, rungs on swim
ladder (will be submerged in salt water when the ladder is down),
plywood dinghy flooring (will also be somewhat submerged during use and
also rainstorms), etc. The manufacturers' recommendations seem to be
more advertising than practical advice. Since all of these finishes
will be applied with a brush, the main concern seems to be durability
for the different applications.

-Nancy

wrote in message
oups.com...
We're starting to get the boat ready for another season of
sailing, and
I would appreciate some advice as to pros/cons of various
products for
refinishing exterior wood - Cetol, varnish with UV protection,
and
polyurethane varnish with UV protection. Which is most suitable
for
wood trim in the cockpit and on deck, teak cockpit table, rungs
on swim
ladder (will be submerged in salt water when the ladder is
down),
plywood dinghy flooring (will also be somewhat submerged during
use and
also rainstorms), etc. The manufacturers' recommendations seem
to be
more advertising than practical advice. Since all of these
finishes
will be applied with a brush, the main concern seems to be
durability
for the different applications.

A couple of weeks back one of our contributors (dadiOH) provided
two links, artfully entitled 'myth dispelling links' which I found
very informative. They cut through the advert blurb and after
reading them you'll know all about varnishes!

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00063.asp
http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/varnish.htm

--
JimB
http://www.jimbaerselman.f2s.com/
Describing some Greek and Spanish cruising areas

wrote in message


oups.com...



- Hide quoted text -
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We're starting to get the boat ready for another season of
sailing, and
I would appreciate some advice as to pros/cons of various
products for
refinishing exterior wood - Cetol, varnish with UV protection,
and
polyurethane varnish with UV protection. Which is most suitable
for
wood trim in the cockpit and on deck, teak cockpit table, rungs
on swim
ladder (will be submerged in salt water when the ladder is
down),
plywood dinghy flooring (will also be somewhat submerged during
use and
also rainstorms), etc. The manufacturers' recommendations seem
to be
more advertising than practical advice. Since all of these
finishes
will be applied with a brush, the main concern seems to be
durability
for the different applications.


A couple of weeks back one of our contributors (dadiOH) provided
two links, artfully entitled 'myth dispelling links' which I found
very informative. They cut through the advert blurb and after
reading them you'll know all about varnishes!

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00063.asp
http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/varnish.htm


--
JimB
http://www.jimbaerselman.f2s.com/
Describing some Greek and Spanish cruising areas



Thanks, Jim. I think I am sold on varnish over Cetol, but when/why
should you use polyurethane varnish instead of the "regular" stuff?
The local boat store sells both varieties under the Goldspar label.

Thanks, Jim. I think I am sold on varnish over Cetol, but
when/why
should you use polyurethane varnish instead of the "regular"
stuff?
The local boat store sells both varieties under the Goldspar
label.

You'll find as many opinions about polyurethane varnish vs
"regular" varnish as fish in the sea. I'm personally a "regular"
guy (no cracks).

My experiences with two part poly were not very satisfactory. It
was more critical to apply, and when it aged, it came off in
sheets. Now this may have been bad application in my part . . .
but there is a general consensus that 2 part poly is not very good
with UV.

One part polyurethane I haven't used. Again, I understand it is
not so resistant to UV, though you will find it sold in "exterior"
grades.

"Regular" exterior grades I've used on everything on the boat
(except the bathing ladder steps and the deck - both teak -
unprotected). OK, you need lots of coats (6) first time round, but
it's easy to touch up, and adding an extra coat or two after a
light rub down for the next season is a doddle.
--
JimB
http://www.jimbaerselman.f2s.com/
Describing some Greek and Spanish cruising areas

I would use Cetol on any surface that you need traction like ladders,
wood dink floors, etc. That being said, the teak decks on my boat are
just plain, no finish whatsoever. For rails and brightwork that you
want to look nice but not walk on, I use Honey Teak by Signature
finish. VERY durable and pretty but a little hard to put on the first
time. Follow the directions exactly. After that, just a coat or two of
clear every 12-18 months is fine. http://www.fabulainc.com/ It's a
polyurethane, BTW.

When I purchased my current boat, I was fortunate that all the teak was
bare... no existing varnish, no oil for years, etc. (Yet the wood was
in OK shape.)

I did 4 coats of cetol marine, then 2 coats of cetol marine gloss. Then
every year I do a coat or two more of gloss. Works great.

wrote:
We're starting to get the boat ready for another season of sailing, and
I would appreciate some advice as to pros/cons of various products for
refinishing exterior wood - Cetol, varnish with UV protection, and
polyurethane varnish with UV protection. Which is most suitable for
wood trim in the cockpit and on deck, teak cockpit table, rungs on swim
ladder (will be submerged in salt water when the ladder is down),
plywood dinghy flooring (will also be somewhat submerged during use and
also rainstorms), etc. The manufacturers' recommendations seem to be
more advertising than practical advice. Since all of these finishes
will be applied with a brush, the main concern seems to be durability
for the different applications.

-Nancy