Screwfix No nonsense Yacht Varnish

[TSB240]

Can anybody pass on their experience of actually using this varnish and the quality and durability of finish?

 

[MM5AHO]

I used it one year. It was easy to use, flowed nicely gave a good finish, but barely lasted a season in the harsh Scottish sun. That's when I changed to LeTonkinois which I've used ever since. Fantastic stuff, lasting 3 years in some applications outdoors.

 

[burgundyben]

Its cheap! I used it, but only in some places that spend most time under cover or inside the cabin. Seems to last ok.

Of outdoor stuff like gunnels etc, defo not suitable.

 

[RobinBirch]

It used to be ok then they messed up with the formulation and it took ages to harden and even then felt sticky. I now use FLAG Yacht varnish - cheap but works well.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've used Ronsons yacht varnish which is easy to apply and seems to resist UV pretty well.
(I've also used Flag paint and AF both of which were cheap and effective)

 

[lw395]

Ronson do an 'outdoor varnish', which I've just used for some things which will get some sun. Seems OK to use, little bit on the murky side in the tin , but looks fine on the wood. Got it at BeanQueue in a '3rd one free' deal.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have had good results with "Coo-Var Yacht and Seaplane Varnish" which I buy from my local builders' merchant. I wonder when anyone last used it to varnish a seaplane, though.

 

[NPMR]

I seem to recall International Yacht Varnish had, at one time, on the tin, in small print, "Not suitable for marine use".

!

 

[lw395]

I seem to recall International Yacht Varnish had, at one time, on the tin, in small print, "Not suitable for marine use".

!

Loads of companies have sold a 'yacht varnish' into the decorating trade, which has basically been a more traditional alternative to 'polyurethane varnish', unsuitable for exterior use with poor UV resistance.

When I was young I used to use ordinary polyurethane varnish on my dinghy, because I got it for very little. It was OK on the deck which was covered most of the time, but on a wooden mast lasted very little time at all.

 

[Bilgediver]

Can anybody pass on their experience of actually using this varnish and the quality and durability of finish?

I

I seem to recall International Yacht Varnish had, at one time, on the tin, in small print, "Not suitable for marine use".

!

Yep definitely can't compete with varnish sold by International Marine Paints.

 

[davidej]

Is the Screwfix varnish water based? I is getting increasingly difficult to find any coating that isn't.

 

[lw395]

Is the Screwfix varnish water based? I is getting increasingly difficult to find any coating that isn't.

The ronseal stuff I mentioned earlier is white spirit based.
Spirit solvent based varnish is available from Johnstones for instance.

I'm not against going to water based coatings in principle though. The Diamond Hard Ronseal stuff is pretty good IMHO.
But for UV resistance, International 2 pack is hard to beat AFAIK?

 

[saxonpirate]

I speak as I find, and after being in the yacht/boat building industry for nigh on 40 years I've tried just about everything going, and in most cases you do get what you pay for. The varnish I always came back to using was Blackfriars. Its not the cheapest, but I can honestly say its a quality product, and their Super Yacht Varnish if applied on a dry well prepared substrate, will stand up to the elements admirably..