Best varnish for oars?

[Kelpie]

My oars live outside in the dinghy 24/7. No other option. I'm currently in the Caribbean where the UV is pretty brutal.

Looking for suggestions for varnish which will
- stand up well to knocks
- stand up well to UV
- not take weeks to apply, because I can't really go more than a couple of days without using the oars
- be available out here

Happy to go 2-pack if it's going to meet those requirements. I'm kind of tempted to sand back the transom and varnish that too. But I'm not a glutton for punishment.

 

[geem]

2 pack paint is the best varnish

 

[Kelpie]

2 pack paint is the best varnish

In many ways I agree. I painted the dinghy with 2-pack and it's holding up astonishingly well. I'm a complete convert now.

But sometimes aesthetics matter. The oars have a history to them and are about the only brightwork the dinghy has.

 

[geem]

In many ways I agree. I painted the dinghy with 2-pack and it's holding up astonishingly well. I'm a complete convert now.

But sometimes aesthetics matter. The oars have a history to them and are about the only brightwork the dinghy has.

Ours came varnished. It's not durable enough in the Caribbean. What you can do is varnish them with several layers then 2 pack on top. This way, when you return to a more temperate climate, you can sand off the 2 pack back to varnish. The varnish will stop the 2 pack penetrating the wood

 

[Refueler]

Wouldn't it be better to sand back and then use a stain instead ? That will soak in and help preserve the wood ....

 

[Sandy]

Le Tonkinos is all you need.

 

[geem]

Le Tonkinos is all you need.

No here. Varnish in the Tropics doesn't last. The super yachts redo the varish every 6 months.

 

[Sandy]

No here. Varnish in the Tropics doesn't last. The super yachts redo the varish every 6 months.

Are they using modern rubbish or proper varnish like Le Tonk?

 

[geem]

Are they using modern rubbish or proper varnish like Le Tonk?

You have to remember that UV here 10 times what you ever see in the UK. We have used Le Tonk. It fares not better than any other here

 

[westernman]

You have to remember that UV here 10 times what you ever see in the UK. We have used Le Tonk. It fares not better than any other here

Down here in the SOF and Costa Brava, a normal varnish does not last a season.
Le Tonk will last two before needing touching up. NB touching up, not taking down to bare wood and 10-20 new coats as the super yacht guys do.

The major advantage of Le Tonk in addition to much better than average UV resistance is that it is very easy to apply and very easy to touch up. It is very tolerant to unprofessional painters like me. It gives a very good finish for little work.

The superyacht guys strip down to bare wood and apply 10-20 coats twice a season or more.

With Le Tonk, we just give a very light rub down every two years and apply one or two coats.
Does the job and looks very good - but not quite as good as 20 coats of professionally applied stuff to bare wood.

No clear coating, or varnish lasts too long in intense UV. The two pack stuff goes yellowy and looks dreadful after two years if not kept almost permanently covered up. After five years it flakes off.

The best varnish is solid white GRP.

 

[Wansworth]

Sand down and paint white

 

[geem]

Down here in the SOF and Costa Brava, a normal varnish does not last a season.
Le Tonk will last two before needing touching up. NB touching up, not taking down to bare wood and 10-20 new coats as the super yacht guys do.

The major advantage of Le Tonk in addition to much better than average UV resistance is that it is very easy to apply and very easy to touch up. It is very tolerant to unprofessional painters like me. It gives a very good finish for little work.

The superyacht guys strip down to bare wood and apply 10-20 coats twice a season or more.

With Le Tonk, we just give a very light rub down every two years and apply one or two coats.
Does the job and looks very good - but not quite as good as 20 coats of professionally applied stuff to bare wood.

No clear coating, or varnish lasts too long in intense UV. The two pack stuff goes yellowy and looks dreadful after two years if not kept almost permanently covered up. After five years it flakes off.

The best varnish is solid white GRP.

We used Blackfriars satin varnish in 2021 on our interior wood work and the cockpit table. The table is still looking great after 2 years but it gets some shade from the sprayhood. The varnish goes on quite thick and was the easiest varnish I have ever applied. It need less coats so is a lot less hassle than most.
Our saloon floors are sealed with clear coat epoxy, then varnished. They look excellent. A vote for Blackfriars. Nothing against Le Tonk and I have used it before but it doesn't seem to out perform other varnishes in my experience

 

[Kelpie]

The two pack stuff goes yellowy and looks dreadful after two years if not kept almost permanently covered up. After five years it flakes off.

That's very interesting, I was wondering if 2 pack varnish might be the answer, but I think I'll save my money!

 

[geem]

That's very interesting, I was wondering if 2 pack might be the answer, but I think I'll save my money!

Not my experience. We painted ours 5 years ago with Awlgrip. They live on deck in full sun. Just going flaky now and in need of a new coat of paint. They will do for a few more months

 

[Kelpie]

Not my experience. We painted ours 5 years ago with Awlgrip. They live on deck in full sun. Just going flaky now and in need of a new coat of paint. They will do for a few more months

Should have been more specific- I meant two pack varnish. I'm a big fan of two pack paint though!

 

[Refueler]

Le Tonkinos is all you need.

Or something like Burgess Woodseal ...

The typical Two Pack today is a surface only coating ...

What is needed is a protective that soaks in and helps the wood survive and BREATHE. It main reason that the traditional way is to thin old style varnish down and WIPE it on ... multiple applications ... sanding between to remove raised 'hairs' etc.
Once grain stops rising on application - start wiping on stronger varnish dilutions till final is near full varnish.

Yes a labour of love - but the final results are something to be proud of.

Anyone can slap on two pack ... but later - its flaking and PITA to sort.

 

[Refueler]

And note :

Two Pack 'Varnish' is not actually Varnish ..... its a PAINT.

True Varnish is a cross between a Protective Stain and a Paint - designed to soak in.

 

[jwilson]

Two pack varnish will sooner or later need to come off, then you find 10% flakes off easily, and the rest is really really difficult to remove. I will never again use it. Rather uses ordinary yacht varnish, at least it is easy to get off again.

 

[Boathook]

What about Danish wood oil ? Various makes around.
I've just done my cockpit rails, etc with it as I got fed up with varnish. Seems to give a nice matt finish and hopefully easy to touch up.

 

[geem]

What about Danish wood oil ? Various makes around.
I've just done my cockpit rails, etc with it as I got fed up with varnish. Seems to give a nice matt finish and hopefully easy to touch up.

Looking to get 3 months out of it here in the .Caribbean. UV is very aggressive