Varnishing cabin sole. What type of varnish should I use?

[rays]

Our cabin sole (10 years old) is beginning to look a little tired. SWMBO would like a mid-sheen rather than a gloss finish (more modern apparently). Any recommendations. How many coats? What preparation?
Thanks,

CD

 

[Talulah]

I used Ronseal Diamond finish which is a pva varnish. Big mistake.
If I was doing it again I would use Epifanes gloss varnish. The last coat I would wet and dry and then buff up with cutting compound to leave a semi-gloss finish.

 

[ebbtide]

Sekens Natural, a durable satin sheen that you can touch up easily.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I used this stuff on my Westerly OceanLord last winter.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/j/JUN625/

I used it on all the flooring, which is the typical stripped with Holly inlay. I also used it on the companion way steps - a high wear area.

It is a gloss finish, which looks really good, it has not been slippery, and there is no sign of any wear at all.

Above all, you only need 2 coats, which dry remarkably quickly.

I used 2 part varnish on my previous boat, which took days and days to do. No question which is the more suitable product - and its cheap too!!!!!

 

[l'escargot]

I have just used Epifanes Rapidcoat on mine which is a semi gloss finish. Looks good and although I can't comment on durability yet, my experience of using it for other purposes suggest that their should be no problems. Just lightly sanded the original surface and wiped down with white spirit. Doesn't need rubbing down between coats either.

 

[Woodlouse]

I would use Epifanes PP varnish. It's a 2 part 50/50 mix and tough as nails. Normal epifanes varnish won't last the 10 years the previous stuff did.

With PP you'd probably want 4 good coats.

 

[Tam_Hazan]

BournSeal - specialised floor sealant. [May have spelt it a little wrong].

I tried the matt finish first, but it did not look so good. Then I changed to gloss and it looked marvellous - reflected the light well and it was easy to clean.

 

[rudolph_hart]

Used Ronseal Extra Hard Floor Varnish (spirit-based, not water) from Homebase on the full-stripped cabin sole on our previous boat (Dehler). 4 coats, excellent results, was still immaculate 5 years later when I sold it on.

I was so impressed that I applied 3 protective coats of the same stuff on top of the (already immaculate) factory-sprayed lacquer, both to the cabin sole and saloon table on the current boat (another Dehler). Still excellent 5 years later.

In both cases, I did all the necssary preparation/cleaning/sanding, and applied each coat progressively less thinned than its predecessor.

I used the Satin finsih, as it looks better.

 

[lw395]

I have the diamond hard ronseal on parquet flooring in the kitchen at home. Was initially very unhappy as it went patchy where water dripped on it, weeks to months after it was done.
Now (about 1 year on) looks a lot better, and is wearing quite well. If you use this stuff, make sure no solvent based varnish has been applied in the preceding few months, this may have been my mistake, according to ronseal's technical people.
In the past I have used Blackfriar's satin floor sealer, which screwfix used to sell for £15/2.5ltr. This worked well on the cabin sole and is doing well on the dining room floor, although there are scratches it is pretty robust and easy to touch up.
I am currently using Johnstones satin floor varnish, this seems easy to use, initial impression is that its quite tough, it was about £27/2.5ltr from their trade place I think.
I would stick to spirit based for marine use imho.