Treating new washboards

[mike_k]

My father-in-law is making me new washboards out of marine ply - same stuff as the old old ones.
What is the best way to treat them ? Do they just need a couple of coats of varnish, a stain then varnish or something more ?
I've used Sikkens on the other wooden bits, would that be okay for the washboards as a varnish also ?

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[paulrossall]

Never used Sklkens so cannot advise on its use.
Did my washboards 3 years ago. Used International varnish. From memory I think they had 2 sorts of varnish, a traditional which I think was good with UV sun light and polyurethane varnish which was quick drying and good at withstanding knocks. I used 3 coats of the traditional and 5 coats of the other. Washboards are as good as they were 3 years ago, no chips and no water marks. They may have changed the range of varnishes since then as most manufacturers seem to change products just when I have got used to them. Hope this helps. Paul PS Definately worth doing loads of coats when new.

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[TURNBULL]

I use a product called rubbol clear on all my exteria wood with great results.
here in sout africa your uv is unreal i have tried many a varnish and wood preserve they all only last about 9 months. rubbol is an imported product i think from holland. my wood work lasts about 3years with 4coats of rubbol.
mike

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[TURNBULL]

I use a product called rubbol clear on all my exteria wood with great results.
here in south africa your uv is unreal i have tried many a varnish and wood preserve they all only last about 9 months. rubbol is an imported product i think from holland. my wood work lasts about 3years with 4coats of rubbol.
mike

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[AndCur]

I made new wash boards last winter out of marine ply capped the end grain with a 4mm hard wood strip to stop any water entering through the end grain. These where coated with 3 coats of west epoxy the varnished with International Schoner
gloss.The finish is really good they look as good as they did at the start of the season.

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[dickh]

I have used International Varnish - the one pot Polyurethane stuff, and put on lots of coats. Put on at least 6 to 8 coats. I also did the rest of the cockpit but have fitted a cockpit cover for the last 4 years and it is noticeable that where the washboard is still exposed to sunlight, even under the sprayhood, the varnish is cracking and will need redoing soon. Where it was completely covered with the cover the varnish is perfect. One of my winter projects is to make a bigger cover over all the cockpit varnish work. It takes a couple of minutes to fit it when leaving the boat but saves loads of work revarnishing - but still thinking of a way to cover all the toerails!

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I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif