That’s really nice post. Well, it is very natural to hold back purchasing one when you are not well aware of the best features for you to consider. Oil-Modified urethane provides a flexible coating that applies easily If you are a boat owner, this is an investment that you’ll never regret buying. It comes with an oil-based formulation that allows it to expand and contract with altering weather conditions. The PolyWhey on the companionway slides held on for about that long, but by six months, they were ready for a do-over as well. This is generally scratch-proof, can be re-applied repeatedly since it will sooner or later chalk or crack off in the long run. Time, weather, and Southwest Floridas unrelenting sunshine have clearly taken their toll on the test panels over the last 24 months, and as the evaluation moves into its third year, only 19 of the original 54 test products will continue on in our survival-of-the fittest finish matchup. 693448 . You missed out Pettit’s Gold, a water-based varnish. Marine Paint. What are the different types of varnishes? In stock $ 39. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. October 2014 (chandlery), and June 2015 issues. Come in gloss, semi-gloss and satin. Prepare the wood. Two years later, our search continues for the ideal wood finish-relatively easy to apply, easy to … Yacht or Spar Varnish. This is the perfect pick if you prefer superior shine that is equipped with ultraviolet shield feature. Do not scrub the surface; just lightly brush it properly. Thanks for sharing. Luckily, both shopping in local stores and through online stores can offer you a wide range of options that will suit your needs and style. Finish: Super Clear Gloss. It held up for about two months, but after three months, it was in need of a recoat, and at six months, it needed a total takedown—and Cetol had emerged as the death-match victor. It can be directly applied to oily timber. But, if you would really like to invest in the best brands that are highly recommended by professional sailors and wise consumers, the most trustworthy brands that you can consider are the following: Spar Varnish vs. Spar Urethane: What’s the difference? Unlike other similar products sold on the market at present, it comes with instant-drying and high-build formula that allows users to apply several coats each day without the need to do sanding between coats. Duralux M738-1 Marine Spar Varnish 1 Gallon, Super Clear Gloss. Ratings slipped across the board. This is to ensure that it remains tidy and dry evenly. Testers applied dozens of exterior wood finishes (22 one-part varnishes, six two-part varnishes, 18 synthetics and satins/varnish alternatives, and eight teak oils and sealers) to small panels of bare solid teak. Rustoleum Marine Spar Varnish. And, the best of all, it can significantly cut the application time of varnish, it is very transparent, can offer utmost UV protection and is durable enough to stand the test of time. Spar-Marine Varnish will dry to touch in 4 to 6 hours. For the third coat, apply adequate amount of varnish to make the surface appear drenches. Testers applied dozens of exterior wood finishes (22 one-part varnishes, six two-part varnishes, 18 synthetics and satins/varnish alternatives, and eight teak oils and sealers) to small panels of bare solid teak and set them out to face the rigors of South Florida's weather. Many professional sailors highly consider this product as one of the best boat varnishes available today since it can remain firm after a few years without revealing any signs of flaking, chalking, cracking or peeling in direct sun exposure. You can restore an old wood with it too and it can be practically utilized in a number of interior and exterior applications. In the same way, it could darken the wood a little, but in a winsome fashion. All rights reserved. Marine Spar Varnish - Marine Spar Varnish is a super clear, high gloss varnish for exterior and interior use on new or previously varnished surfaces subject to abuse from parching sun, fresh or salt water, severe weather conditions or abrasion Alkyd Varnish. Reviews . It features ultraviolet protection that makes it a good option for internal and external use. It has the capability to cover well even though it is slightly thick in the can. Super clear finish, available in high gloss Generally, three coats of varnish are necessary to be applied. Acrylic Varnish. Duralux M720-4 Marine Paint, White Boat Paint, 1 Quart 4.2 out of 5 stars 55 TotalBoat Wet Edge Marine Topside Paint for Boats, Fiberglass, and Wood (Sea Foam, Quart) 4.5 out of 5 stars 526 Do not breathe gas, spray, mist, dust, fumes and vapors as these could damage your lungs and may cause other illnesses. Is it affordable enough to meet your budget? If you’re searching for the best finish matte varnish, this one is worth contemplating on. It is semi-thick, tends to flow off brushes nicely, imparts a warm amber color to surfaces, and is easy to re-apply over old varnish providing that the old varnish is not too badly degraded. As you can see, these are the vital features that a high quality marine varnish must possess. When it comes to great performance, value for the money and durability- this is something that you should not skip anymore. Its super strong UV inhibitor feature allows it to safeguard the wood from being damaged by extreme sun exposure. Such oil is mixed with solvents, driers, ultraviolet protector and resins in order to form a glossy surface. If makers gave a range for the number of coats to apply, testers went with the minimum. So, even if you’re not a professional painter, this is easy to work with and apply in your watercraft. Generally speaking, two-part marine varnishes that tops in terms of sturdiness can last for about two by up to three years. In the real world, all of the one-part varnish and varnish alternative test panels would be due for a maintenance coat, and some-like HMG K Type Varnish, West Marine WoodPro Plus (rebranded Epifanes Rapidclear), and Ace Spar Varnish-would be overdue. Everything mulled over, this marine varnish is a great product to invest in but it requires a lot of work and more time for it to dry completely. But it only achieves having to apply more coats to get the build you want. To execute this, utilize a neat bristle brush to gently coat the furniture or wood. With lots of options to consider when it comes to the best marine spar varnish today, picking the one that’s most suitable for your needs can really be challenging. Wood makes a great building material in many aspects, and it can be fashioned in various ways. For areas where slippery-when-wet coatings won't do, Cetol Natural (without gloss overcoat) or our top-pick teak oil, Star brites Tropical Teak Sealer (classic teak) should be considered. Without any shadow of doubt, this is the right stuff for the job. In this post, you will learn that there is a great deal of marine varnishes sold on the market. It can ensure clarity, durability, utmost ultraviolet resistance and excellent finish retention. It’s touted as a more eco-friendly and more sustainable coating than petroleum-based polyurethanes, which can have up to 75 percent more volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is a must to wear protective clothing, gloves, face and eye shield and a proper respirator. Rust-Oleum Marine Coatings Spar Varnish is an exterior urethane that provides maximum protection against sunlight, water and sea spray on trim, railings, furniture and other wood boat surfaces. Meanwhile, to provide you with a tidy finish on the final coats, you may consider using badge hair brushes. This is the period when the wood will start to obtain some sheen that you are aiming for. This is intended for outdoor use. Because we’ve not yet tested the reformulated Perfection, the top pick honors go to Nautikings Nautithane. View on Vehicle $8.99. Make sure to use several thin coats. This is dependable in sealing and shielding woods and comes with fade-proof feature as well. Most relevant reviews. This transparent varnish can provide lovely gloss finish with utmost protection. The wet rag will lift off any of the fluff, and from there, you could apply the final coat of marine varnish. Reviews . PolyWhey is a unique wood finish that uses whey protein, a by-product of the cheesemaking process, as a binder. The temporarily discontinued (since 2009) Smiths Five Year Clear has also proven to be a top-notch finish, but its not available at this time. So, you better save a lot of patience while executing the job to obtain satisfying results. Two such evaluations are our exterior wood finish tests. Teak oils and other naturally based finishes like PolyWhey, need maintenance coats every few months. Polyurethane Varnish. Works above the waterline; apply to exterior wood boat surfaces. Besides, it may call for extra time and huge amount of patience to obtain excellent outcomes. Even if you are not a pro, the job will still turn out fine so long as you properly adhere to the application procedure. This spar varnish is highly practical to utilize for exterior wood surfaces on top of the waterline, in railings, trim as well as wood furniture. Skip to the end of the images gallery . Although this is a great choice, bear in mind that this marine varnish is slightly challenging to apply especially for beginners, so make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Price. What is your opinion of covering a 2 part varnish with a one part? Also, if you did not use the recommended thinner manufactured by Interlux, this varnish is more likely to form some bubbles that could significantly affect the final outcome. Moreover, it is highly recommended for internal and external applications. Can I use marine varnish on steel door / aluminum boat? Ease of application and use. Excellent and Good coating integrity ratings mean that no maintenance is needed; a Fair indicates that its time for a maintenance coat; Poor means the fat lady has sung, and the coating would need to be removed and re-applied. McCloskey Man O War Marine Spar Varnish. This makes it a top option amber transparent clear coat wood finish for both internal and external surfaces. Spar varnish is manufactured with a base of natural oil that includes soya, linseed or Tung. To do so, use low grit paper, start from 80 and then by up to 220. Chemical and moisture resistant. Marine varnish products are quite easy to find these days. It is highly clear, but does not infiltrate into the wood. From Coal Tar Epoxy to marine Spar Varnish, Duralux offers a complete line of high performance products that are regarded as the industry standard. The best of all, it is marine grade, with a cost to match. At last, this satin marine finish manufactured by Waterlox is a gilt-edge choice. If you’re going to review exterior wood finishes comparison, you will instantly realize that this is a first rate choice for interior and exterior woods. All Rights Reserved. Super clear finish, available in high gloss All the same, the minus points that are to be expected if you purchase this marine varnish include the huge amount of time for you to wait for the varnish to completely dry up. What is amazing about it is that the more coats you apply, the greater the glaze, depth and clarity achieved. This is reliable in terms of offering wonderful sleek satin finish. Four of the nine varnish alternatives have been voted off The Rack after two years, and none performed well enough to earn our recommendation for two-year wood protection. Once the wood is properly varnished, you will witness for yourself the fabulous glossy finish that comes with classic golden color. Fortunately, all the products reviewed in this article were all backed up by different warranties. (See photo above.). Thus, see to it that it is well-sealed and properly closed after use. Make sure to follow the application instructions accordingly so that you can achieve the best possible outcome. As for the durability, exceptional protection, ease of application and price, this is truly unparalleled. In summary, you have learned from this post that there are lots of many other varnish formulations on the market nowadays; nevertheless, no other clear one-part coating is more heavy-duty in the marine environment than the best marine varnish. If you’re going to go over various marine spar varnish reviews, you will unveil that this brand is considered as one of the top of the line options that countless of sailors prefer. Rust-Oleum 1 Quart Marine Spar Varnish, 7. While applying the topcoat may mean added effort, both our panel tests and test-boat evaluations have shown that the coating will last much longer and need fewer bandaids if the soft Cetol is protected with the semi-hard topcoat. The Cetol Natural (with gloss) test panel fell from a Good coating integrity six months ago to being dropped from testing. This is UV resistant and contains alkyd and phenolic resins and Tung oil for its formulation. Oil and varnish dry very slowly and have plenty of time to penetrate well into the wood. These are just a few of the negative aspects that you need to learn more about if you choose this product. In reality, there are lots of good features to like about this brand, it is top quality and is backed up by friendly and reliable customer service support. Aside from this, it has the tendency to produce milky undertones. 3 reviews. Afterward, use a wet rag and wipe down the surface to get rid of the dust. 3. When it comes to application, spar varnish is applied to a surface with the aid of a soft white bristle brush and it requires at least one day for it to dry between coats –this will of course rely on the type of climate. This does not indicate signs of weathering and can combat tough weather conditions too. Ultimately, this very transparent marine spar varnish is quite well-known for its lustrous finish and it provides maximum shield in all climates. Be reminded though that you need to allow at least two days before you consider recoating. It is available in different sizes such as in gallons, quarts and pints. Oil-based spar urethane necessitates a number of hours between coats and a thin application is needed to avoid drips. Boat owners in sailing areas that see less sunshine than our Florida test site should also consider Pettits Flagship 2015 or Captains 1015. Weight. And, perhaps you may be thinking that you can just simply shop from the nearest marine supply store or hardware in your area or buy online and you’re done! The PolyWhey on the coaming was the first to go: Where crew backs often lean against the wood, the finish was all but gone after four months. It is not surprising why many boat owners love this product. For boats and all marine uses. This is a fantastic alkyd-based marine-grade varnish, suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. Provides excellent protection from weathering and the elements, including UV rays and salt water. Perfection has been reformulated since the test began and is now sold as Perfection Plus. The UV abuse had obviously taken its toll, sucking the life out of most of the coatings, particularly the clear finishes. Your test is useful for me because I want to buy but don't know which product is the best. After two years of testing, we’ve come to accept that perhaps there’s no Holy Grail of exterior wood finishes. As you know, boats are expensive these days, so it is just right that you purchase the right products, tool and equipment to ensure their safety and longevity. Surprisingly, the first products to be dropped from this group are two that performed well in past PS tests: Bristol Finish and Honey Teak. If recoated within 3 days, it won’t call for sanding between coats yet it can successfully offer hard gloss finish and superior build. It comes with well-made packaging and prompt delivery. Traditional varnish (sometimes called Spar Varnish or Marine Varnish) is a resin in an oil base with solvents. In essence, it is a well-known exterior water-resistant varnish around the globe. There is no need to thin the varnish as it can dry instantly enough to enable a number of coats in a single day. Dulux Paints carries the full range of PPG Protective and Marine Coatings (PMC), including Amercoat®, PSX®, Sigma Coatings ™, Keeler & Long™ and MegaSeal™ coatings which deliver unrivaled performance and protection.Technical experts are available to understand your needs and assist with specifications, and comprehensive sales support across Canada. It was tougher to pick Recommended coatings at the two-year mark, as most wood finishes aren’t intended to go that long without maintenance. Please be reminded that this wood finish gloss by Epifanes comes with only short shelf-life, in other words, it is not the best option if you opt for something that can stay firm for a longer period of time. In the summer of 2008, the test panels were mounted on a wooden rack (aka: The Rack), which was set up in an unobstructed area on the roof of the PS workshop in Sarasota, Fla., to ensure that all panels received the same amount of weather exposure. I’ve been quite impressed with it over the past 8 years on both my Cape Dory Typhoon and my Alberg 30.