Aesthetic vs. cost saving: where to draw the line?

[BartW]

IMHO the white frames wouldn't be a compromise too far at all. White would look nice and clean and also visually increase the feeling of space on deck

exactly my vieuw,
actually I really don't like white panels with wood framing as you can see often on galley cupboards in timber boats,
on your bulwarks, its just OK,
but complete white would even be more clean (imho)

the deck plank in the corner, I would leave blank, like the rest of the teac floor,
and make the complete teac deck look straw brown, ones every season, (You know I love that, sorry ),
we found the easyest solution and products to do that (TCM guidelines.. ) effortless !!!

for the gunwale capping, we oiled ours a year ago, and initially the result was very very nice, but due to too long too much dirty dust om them while sandblasting the hull bottom, and not regular enough re-oiling, this doesn't look nice anymore, and can't be repaired without sanding, (I think)
so coming weekend we might decide to have this Varnished before next summer season. (tbc)
So after all, the glossy Varnish finish on the Gunwale capping still is my favourite.

having looked at quite a few big motor yachts the last season and
Last monday I saw another Canados23 as you know,
she had glossy gunwale capping,
for me this gives the unbeatable finishing "Brilliant" edge to such a boat.

 

[MapisM]

See for example the 4th-from-last last answer on this Epifanes page - Epifanes being perhaps the Rolls Royce of varnishes http://www.epifanes.com/qanda.htm

But I also saw the same advice on other big mnufacturers' websites

Thanks for the link.
In the meantime, I checked what my yard is using, and it's the following stuff, for gloss and mat respectively:
http://www.venezianiyacht.it/default.asp?ID=28&IDm=5&LNG=2&IDp=247
http://www.venezianiyacht.it/default.asp?ID=28&IDm=5&LNG=2&IDp=248
The links actually don't give much tech details, but according to my yard, practical experience shows that the deterioration of the latter is a tad slower...
...though as I now understand, any sort of clear varnish, no matter if gloss or matt, is nowhere near the durability of paint.

So, it seems that just switching to matt from gloss is not a good idea, all considered.
If nothing else, that's one option ruled out - result!

 

[MapisM]

Not wooden on this one but you get the feeling.

Very nice vessel K, thanks for the pic. Indeed she doesn't look shabby at all.
Mumble mumble....

 

[MapisM]

Just throwing a suggestion out there. What about trying the oiled teak look and also using an alternative uv protectant..
http://303products.com/index.php/pr...t-protecting-teak-wood-in-marine-environments

Mmm... I might well be wrong, but doesn't that webpage give a "snake oil" impression?

 

[MapisM]

So the only varnish you will find on my boat is below decks.
As for my teak deck rails I'm still experimenting but nothing lasts more than a season.

Wise choice for the first!
Re. the latter, do you mean handrails? In my boat, I was even thinking to get rid of them altogether!
They are as useful as a chocolate teapot....

 

[MapisM]

No opinion on looks but, if you decide to paint leave the varnish on and just paint over it. That way if your disappointed with it you can easily get back to clean wood with no paint in the grain.

Would the paint stick equally well on varnish?
Anyway, that's not an option I'm afraid, 'cause the existing varnish is weared out - badly, in places.
The previous pic was taken just after one of the previous years revarnishing...

 

[MapisM]

for the gunwale capping, we oiled ours a year ago, and initially the result was very very nice, but due to too long too much dirty dust om them while sandblasting the hull bottom, and not regular enough re-oiling, this doesn't look nice anymore, and can't be repaired without sanding, (I think)
so coming weekend we might decide to have this Varnished before next summer season. (tbc)

Just FYI B, one of the (many!) things I've heard on the neverending wood maintenance saga is that it can be extremely hard to get varnish properly sticking to wood after it has been oiled. No first hand experience, though. You will tell us!

PS: any chance to see another "Canados hunting" thread and pics?

 

[AndieMac]

Have you thought about having covers made for the handrails and the internal component of the bulwarks, clipping off on press-studs at deck level, to extend the life of the varnish?

 

[MapisM]

Not really. I have seen them in some boats, but mostly GRP boats with just a few bits of varnished wood.
On mine, there are just too many of those bits... Enough to apply the LTS principle, as previously stated!
Besides, handrail covers fit much more nicely where there aren't steel rails on top of them, as in my boat.

Btw C, S is finalising the Tas+NZ trip. I should be able to send you the program soon...

 

[jfm]

Tas+NZ trip..

I've been to Auckland perhaps a dozen times, and travelled the rest of the country. Shout if you need some hotels or other info

 

[AndieMac]

Btw C, S is finalising the Tas+NZ trip. I should be able to send you the program soon...

We will be in Europe during June this year P, still haven't finalised specific dates yet but will let you know as soon as we are organised. I'll pm you my new email address etc.....cheers.

 

[MapisM]

Shout if you need some hotels or other info

Many thanks J, but since we discovered the home exchange possibilities, we are not using hotels anymore - particularly on long trips, as this will be.
Aside from the big cost savings, it's the nearest thing to actually living in a place: some experiences we made would have never been possible staying in hotels.
Just as an example, while on our way, we will spend some days in Sidney, where we already stayed for the 2012 new year's eve.
A couple of friends who live there are actually from NZ, and we are already overwhelmed with their suggestions...
Highly recommended to anyone who has a home which can be offered for exchange (we do that with ours in Lake Como).

 

[MapisM]

We will be in Europe during June this year P, still haven't finalised specific dates yet but will let you know as soon as we are organised. I'll pm you my new email address etc.....cheers.

Please do!
In June, we will be mostly on our boat, and as you already know, you're more than welcome to join us for a taste of Sardinian sea.
And/or spend some time in our lake place, as you prefer.

 

[AndieMac]

Please do!
In June, we will be mostly on our boat, and as you already know, you're more than welcome to join us for a taste of Sardinian sea.
And/or spend some time in our lake place, as you prefer.

Whatever you suggest P, any new experience will be gratefully accepted , we'll just work around your own commitment time-frame.

Cheers

 

[MapisM]

Whatever you suggest P

Well, it depends on various things - your personal preferences and time available being the most important factors.
I'm sure we will work out something interesting, anyway.
Just email me your new address (mine is the usual one) and your trip dates, when finalised.
Looking fwd to meeting you soon!

 

[MapisM]

Revamping this old thread because, as some of you guys recently noticed, I eventually decided to go for the full white alternative.
Not as bad as I feared (imho, at least), if compared to the more classical varnished look.
But most importantly, this choice should reduce the varnishing workload/cost in the next years - hopefully!
Worth noticing that I also accepted a purely aesthetic compromise, i.e. using white seams (heaven forbid! ) around the bulkwark frames...
Wadduthink?

 

[Pinnacle]

Looks fantastic!

 

[andy59]

Works for me , very nice .

 

[rafiki_]

Yes, I think she looks great MM. Good result.

 

[pan]

Excellent, refreshing change from the heavy varnishing… and hopefully a little less work:encouragement: