Choosing a Marine Varnish

Marine varnishes have been applied to protect and maintain teak on yachts for many, many years.  History shows that varnishes used in the 1700s are very akin to those used nowadays.  The coatings allow for the attractiveness of the wood to be viewed while offering protection from the elements.  The luster attained after cautious application will vary from a soft patina to a high gloss finish analogous to fine furniture.

Presuming you want to protect and embellish your yacht's exterior brightwork, how do you choose among the astounding diversity of products? Recognizing completely that this is as big a deal as debating the differences of motor yachts vs. sail, we nonetheless provide the following observations:

Just What is a Varnish

A varnish is a liquid finish ordinarily used to treat teak.  Its principal elements are oils. resins, solvents, dryers and ultra-violet additives.  The elements are used in various quantities to provide the best appearance and protection.

 Wood Oils

Oils typically keep the new look and texture of the wood to a greater extent than the other products because they permeate deep into the teak fibers and do not produce as much of a surface coating. Wood Oils are accessible in colors ranking from water clear to gold to dark brown. As with any wood finish, multiple coats generally lead in a more uniform finish and greater length of service. We learn oil to be the easiest to utilize, since surface blemishes are not as apparent in the final outcome. This doesn't mean, notwithstanding, that slapping several coats of wood oil on raw teak will develop a Bristol finish.  Clean, sandpapered teak with several coats of oil will give your teak 3-6 months of protection and beauty.

Tung oil is used frequently for teak applications.

Varnish

Spar or marine varnish is a refined finish consisting of oil, solvents and thinners, resins, dryers and additives. By changing the proportions of the elements and by blending ultra-violet inhibitors and other protected components, manufacturers make varnishes with widely varying features. Varnishes can have a gloss or matte visual aspect, can be formulated to be super hard for high-use surfaces and can vary in color.

The two most routine varieties of varnishes are traditional varnishes made with tung oil and newer polyurethane coatings. Natural tung oil varnishes are great for marine use and provide the classic golden look. Oil modified polyurethanes tend to be more clear, permitting the color of the teak to shine through.

Newer varnishes, furnish better durability in the worst of environments such as the hot, Florida sunlight. Wood moves, and since it is a previously living plant, it enlarges and compresses with even small fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The best varnishes contend with this unstable material using high quality Wood Oils and resins and a higher percentage of solid components, providing a longer lasting, more elastic coating with a greater gloss. 

Thickness is everything.  A good base, yearly cared-for with maintenance coats, will give the ultimate in appearance, longevity and protection.  Despite the original effort (up to 10 coats are common) nothing looks better than exterior teak finished with gloss varnish.

Interlux’s Original 90 is one of many brands of traditional spar varnishes on the market.

Synthetic Wood Finishes

These coatings attained popularity with cruisers in Florida and the Bahamas looking for UV-resistant low-maintenance brightwork. Formulated for ease and speed, these products have remarkable durability for exterior use, are easy to apply and look comparatively good. I say comparatively good as some of these finishes, like Cetol, have a pigmented appearance, sometimes with an orange tone.  You must be careful not to apply too much.  Some varnishes such as Interlux Goldspar and Schooner are made with no pigment so the teaks natural appearance is saved. Full gloss and depth vs. convenience is the trade-off with these products, but simplicity and time savings can more than compensate. Ease of application is similar to teak oil, where you can lay it immediately over sanded, clean wood. I know of one professional that applies Cetol exclusively and his work is fantastic.

Cetol comes in four forms, with the new Natural providing a more golden color resembling the real look of raw teak.  You can overcoat any of the other pigmented Cetol finishes with the Gloss for a high gloss exterior finish.

Two Part Teak Urethane Finishes

One maker, C Tech Marine, boasts that its product Bristol Finish is used on numerous cruise ships, certifying to its beauty and longevity.

About the Author

Mike Dickens, the author, is a boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts.

Paradise Yachts is a Yacht Brokerage offering used yachts to customers worldwide.

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