32 coats of varnish

[gary3029]

I have recently bought a wooden boat and the hull is varnished. The owner says he had it for 16 years and every year it has had two coats of varnish so giving 32 coats. I am informed it has not always been the same brand of varnish used. The survey report came back as the condition of the varnish on the hull was 'impressive' as it is on a carvel construction. I have several questions. Given the mix of varnish used over the years what should I use now? Also where varnish meets antifoul this must be a weak area for hull protection. Any thoughts on this or am I worrying about nothing.
Whilst here perhaps someone could answer this for me. Wood below the water line, what protects this from rotting? Does the anitfoul do this? The boat is in sea water and will be all year round except for a month where she will be out to apply all the lovely varnish!!!!
Thanks

 

[tillergirl]

1. Wood below the waterline, what prevents it from rotting? Paint and salt water. Ensure good coverage below the waterline using underwater primer and antifouling.
2. Where varnish meets antifoul; weak area? Not especially. Same basic rule, ensure good sound paint coverage. My topsides are painted not varnished but I don't think varnish will be any different - I paint topsides first and then cut in the antifoul to the waterline, thus overlapping the bottom edge of the enamel (not by much though). Last year when a bit extra on the hull, I spent a little more time than usual ensuring particularly at the waterline that the primer and undercoat of the gloss and the primer for the antifoul were up to scratch. Repeated scrubbing to rid waterline of weed, does give this area a bit more of a bashing than the rest. You can use a boot topping paint although I have to say for whatever reason, my attempts this year were spectacularly unsuccessful. Prepare as for antifouling.

3. Varnish on topsides 'impressive'. Good, lucky you. If its worked for 32 years, carry on and don't worry it. Ensure any poor, flakey, chipped etc areas get attention as quickly as possible to ensure damp doesn't get under the edges of the damaged varnish and start to discolour the wood. Otherwise in the spring, abrade gently and reapply two more coats of varnish.

Real worry - fresh water. I would be more concerned about keeping off the fresh water and preventing it accumulating in any corner or seeping through poor deck (etc) joints. Have a look at the corners - corners of the cabins, the coamings, the cockpit, where deck meets hull etc. Any darkening wood under the varnish is a clue. Its my opinion that most wooden boat troubles come from on top. I'm wintering afloat this year and its mast down, full cover over until spring. Bottom will keep nicely in the mud berth until the spring high pressure clean. Going to take her up the Blackwater today to do that although its getting darker and darker by the minute!

 

[Mirelle]

I agree with Tillergirl's advice.

Only think I would add is - if you don't know the type of varnish used before, don't use a polyurethane varnish, as it is not compatible with conventional varnishes, wheraas conventional varnish can go on top of polyurethanes quite safely. Two brands often recommended here are Epifanes and Le Tonkinois - I've used the former but not the latter.

 

[PCUK]

Single pack polyurethane is compatible with conventional.

 

[natureday]

Do you really need that many coats of paint?
We had a boat a few years ago, that was very small, and no motor.
We added 3 layers of varnesh and I though I was going to pass out from the fumes!

 

[Wansworth]

I knew a cabinet maker who was rubbing down the 23 coat of varnish with flour paper!How can therebe people so dedicated.

 

[tcm]

no, you don't need 32 coats, but it does look deep and shiny.

It can, however, begin to look "gloopy" unles the coats are thin and there's some appropriate rubbing down. By "gloopy" i mean that the varnish seems so thick that it noticeably adds extra radius to internal and external corners, losing the definition of any detail. This isn't a big issue on heftier items without much detail such as masts and capping rails but furniture in particular can look a lot less sharp.

 

[ccscott49]

You need two coats of varnish a year, at least!! The varnish is degrading all the time through sunlight, you lose at least two coats a year in degradation, so you actually do not have 32 coats on there. I put four coats a year on my boat, but I'm in the meddy. Worse for degradation, but more fun and easier to keep up with it. I swear by (not at) epifanes varnish, the hard wood oil type makes easier building up, then a coat of high gloss as the final coat, wondeful shine!

 

[shula]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you really need that many coats of paint?
We had a boat a few years ago, that was very small, and no motor.
We added 3 layers of varnesh and I though I was going to pass out from the fumes!

[/ QUOTE ]

this story is so funny /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[roger]

We met the owner of a very beautifully varnished yacht in Perros Guirec a few years ago. He said he did a lot of work in the winter and then tried to get a coat of varnish on every month in summer.
It makes sense in a way. The wood moves, the varnish cracks and water starts to get in. A constant application of varnish will stop the black marks appearing. It is of course a lot of work but you probably didnt want a plastic fantasti anyway

 

[ccscott49]

If he has put 32 coats on, then there is likely to be about ten coats actually on the boat, UV will destroy about two or three coats a year. If he has been doing it like this, then I would think it is standard single pot polyurethane type varnish and epifanes is my personal favourite.