Varnishing toe rails

[Richard D]

When I bought my wooden boat last year the wooden toe rail was very nice looking, the varnish looking smooth and even, over the winter things have changed. It is now very dappled with parts looking very good and shinny and the others the varnish seems to have disappeared and it is all dull, what is the method to make it all look good again. Someone please tell me I dont have to strip off all the varnish and start again. If this should be the ONLY option what products and metheods shoukd be used.

Regards Richard

 

[prv]

If there are places where the varnish really has "disappeared" then you will need to fix these first. First, go and buy a big tin of Epifanes varnish, its accompanying thinner, a range of decent-quality sandpaper, a good brush, and a pack of disposable plastic cups for mixing and to act as a kind of mini paint kettle instead of carrying the tin around. Then sand each area with, say, 120 or 180 grit paper to turn the sharp edge into a smooth ramp from intact varnish to bare wood. Brush away all dust, then use varnish thinners on a rag or paper towel to wipe up the remaining dust that you can't see (dust is the enemy of a good varnish finish). Then re-varnish each area, following the instructions on the tin for thinning the first three coats (50%, 25%, 10%) since you're going over bare wood. Flat each coat after it has dried at least 24 hours, using 320 grit paper to avoid taking too much varnish off again, and removing all dust as before. At minimum I would probably do the three thinned coats and one un-thinned one before regarding the area as "fixed" - more is always better for external wood if possible. Then you can re-varnish the whole toe-rail, starting by sanding it (I would use the 320 grit, but you may want something slightly more aggressive if the existing finish is poor), de-dusting, and then probably at least two coats (you don't need to do any thinning since there's no bare wood to soak into). Again, more coats better if you can spare the time. This is how I used to treat my wooden spars, in places where minor chafing or accidents had removed varnish.

Wooden boats, eh, who'd have 'em?

Pete

 

[Tranona]

If it is peeling off then at some point you will probably have to bite the bullet and strip back to bare wood. Achieving and maintaining a high gloss finish on toe rails is a never ending job. Perhaps better to consider a porous woodstain like International Woodskin. Does not give the high gloss finish, but easy to apply, does not flake or split, has good UV resistance and easy to touch up. I gave up on traditional style varnishes many years ago - better things to spend time and money on than something you know will need constant attention to keep looking good.

 

[andygc]

Yes, I've given up on varnish on the toe rail and rubbing strake. I've been using Sikkens Ceetol for the last 3 years (now it's been replaced by Intenational Woodskin). I stripped back to bare wood and then gave the recommended three coats. It's durable and very easy to touch up - a good wash and no need to rub down. I haven't given up on varnish elsewhere (cockpit, coachroof sides, grab rails) but am experimenting with various combinations of Epifanes Rapidclear and Rapidcoat, and topcoats of International Original for the glossy finish.

 

[jerrytug]

Is that Woodskin easy to clean off the surrounding gelcoat or do you have to mask it off very carefully? Thanks for the tips Jerry

 

[Richard D]

Thans for all the tips. if I used the international woodskin do I need to sand off all the old varnish, back to bare wood of will it sink in, and if on top of old faded varnish will it still cover and give reasonable good looking finish.

 

[oldbilbo]

Is that Woodskin easy to clean off the surrounding gelcoat or do you have to mask it off very carefully? Thanks for the tips Jerry

'You have to mask it off' more carefully than I know how...

 

[nigelmercier]

I use this:

...

Oh, rails.