"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
news

Maintenance is MUCH higher, the coating is less durable, and the UV
protection for the WOOD is far less or non-existent.

KLC: "Varnish is more work, but looks nicer if it's
maintained."

So, you've already told us that you know it's more work.

KLC: "Even in Southern California my varnish lasted longer than a
single season. But it's important to keep it covered if possible when
the boat isn't being used. Tiller covers, handrail covers, boom
gallows covers, rail covers... many boats in SoCal have canvas houses
covering the boat from stem to stern."

So, you also stated that you know that Varnish is not really very
durable at all. You have to cover everything with REAL protection from
the elements in the form of canvas covers. How good does your
varnished wood look when it's covered with canvas? Why not just paint
your wood with pacific blue enamel and be done with it?


KLC: "Nor does it have to be "scraped and sanded off every
time you want to refresh things." Scuff the surface, clean, apply
varnish topcoat, Bob's your uncle."

Not true. You might get away with that for one extra season (if you
have carefully kept everything covered with that lovely blue canvas -
which you have already told us is necessary for varnish because it
offers very little protection of its own)

Here are a couple of things you don't know: Clear Varnish may contain
some form of UV protection or stabilization for the_varnish_itself,
but does almost nothing to keep the underlying wood from being damaged
by the sun. That's why you have to strip it all off every few years.
The wood has still taken a beating.

To protect the wood REQUIRES some level of opacity, and the more
opacity, the more protection. That's why you have to cover all your
wood with canvas. I don't cover any of mine. That's because my wood is
protected by the finish. Yours is not.

CWM

Yes, varnish is more work. I have so stipulated. Regarding the covering, it
prolongs the life of the varnish. Is it necessary to keep it covered all the
time? Nope. I cover it when the boat is sitting because it prolongs the life
of the varnish. If I were out cruising, the covers would come off and stay
off because the boat is constantly presenting different surfaces to the sun,
rather than the situation sitting in a slip where one side is exposed to
direct sun while other surfaces are always shaded. And they aren't blue,
they're green.

In Long Beach, we "got away with" five years without having to strip the
varnish, and it was stil in fine shape when we sold the boat. I have no idea
what the current owner is doing, or even who the current owner is, as this
was many years ago.

UV protection in the varnish prevents UV from getting to the wood. That is
the reason for it being in there to begin with. The varnish also keeps water
out and oils in. And WHEN I decide to remove the varnish and start over, the
wood underneath all that varnish is in beautiful shape, not damaged by the
sun. This isn't theory, it's genuine experience.

How opaque is the sunscreen that you put on your skin? Not at all unless you
like zinc oxide.

Varnish is not for everyone. If you want simple and easy, paint your wood
with Cetol or some other substance. If you want beautiful brightwork,
varnish it and accept that it's more work than paint. For some of us, it's
worth the trade-off.