Flooring - Varnish or Resin

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johnneale

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After renewing my plywood cockpit floor - I have given it 3 coats of varnish (International Goldspar). An 'expert' suggested giving it a coat of clear fibreglass resin for a harder surface finish. Is this a good idea, or can it give other problems ?

tks
 
In my experience two pack resin can be applied just like varnish - very hard and durable.
If you use SP systems (or West Marine Systems) you can buy the resin in a two pack form, simply mix together and apply like varnish.
I used it on the rudder of my boat - looked great (very glossy finish), hard wearing, easy to sand etc.
Smells a bit though so do it in a well ventalated area!

Jonny
 
This topic was discussed on another forum and it was reported that Ronseal Diamond Hard varnish was lasting several years without wear.

Might resin make it a bit slippery by producing a very smooth surface?
 
Are there any issues with UV protection when using resin. I'm assuming you are talking about epoxy?

I need to strip and re-varnish a very flakey tiller this winter, any reason why I couldn't or shouldn't cover with clear epoxy?
 
I would agree with the slippery finish.
My experience has been using it on rudders and centreboards for dinghies where it was worked very well indeed.
You could sprinkle sugar onto the surface whilst drying - this will create a rough finish (the sugar sinks into the surface, but then dissolves after a days use underfoot and getting wet, leaving lots of tiny 'crators' in the surface - thus making a fairly non-slip effect - this technique was used with normal two pack varnish on the floors of the dinghies I used to race).

Ronseal sounds simplier though ...
 
A few years ago i did a bit of a restoration job on a Miracle dinghy, stripped down to bare wood and revarnished. First time I took her out, went a**se over t*t in the cockpit cos the beautiful looking varnish was like ice when wet. Suggest you do a final coat of varnish with sand in it.
 
Epoxy resin is sensitive to uv and it will turn chalky with time.
It needs a coating of uv resistant varnish on top of it.

You might just get off with it on dinghy foils but long term it will deterioate.

I used to float a coating of epoxy on foils then coat them with two part UV resistant varnish.

Cheers

Iain
 
As a general rule, it is not a good idea to coat a layer of one-component paint or varnish with a two-pack version, unless you strip to bare wood. I would go for a layer of "Le Tonkinois". Not slippery when wet.
 
Le Tonkinois.
Brilliant stuff, well worth the money, used on a friends boat this year and well impressed with the finished results.

As normal, for a superb finished job, preparation is the key.
 
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