Which varnish?

[PhillM]

Seems to me that any varnish will look great until water makes its way underneath and it starts to flake. Then the nightmare starts. Le Tonkinois does resist flaking better than most others but, however you go about it, a glossy finish over a significant area is hard work to do and harder work to maintain. OK, if you've got a classic beauty you enter in concours d'elegance, but not, to my mind for a boat to go sailing with unless you're wealthy enough to employ people to do the work for you, when maintaining that sort of appearance could be a good way of remedying your sinful state of wealth.

For a practical finish outside, after my initial experiences with varnish, I've favoured an oil finish; when it gets past its best, a quick wipe over with some more restores the beauty and dropping something hard on it doesn't mean a complete strip and start again. Inside, Ronseal(?) Diamond floor varnish has lasted well and still looks good seven years later, though I don't, as you've probably gathered by now, run a concours boat!

Heresay, tis the work of the devil.

 

[wazza]

Coelan (XtreemCoating in Sweden), absolutely brilliant as long as you do your prep work correctly it lasts for years without any re-varnishing..

 

[Quandary]

Unlike other respondents I am not a varnishing expert, however yesterday when I was in Jackie Kay's workshop, I was stunned by the gloss on his latest cold moulded mahogany tender, this one has the outer planks vertical but it looks like one piece of wood, I asked him what it was varnished with and was told two pack because of the durability and hardness issue, but I have never seen a gloss like it.
These tenders are displayed across the back of classic yachts, if you want one they go for about £8,000.

 

[pcatterall]

I confess!!!!.......I used Ronseal Marine gloss 3 years ago on exterior wood work Its been 2 of those years in the Med and still looks good.
I will use it again.

 

[Stemar]

Heresay, tis the work of the devil.

Being a heretic has got me into al sorts of trouble over the years

Which particular heresy are you referring to?

If it's the oiled finish, before I'm hauled off to the steak (much preferable to the stake), may I compund it by saying I use Cuprinol teak furniture oil? It's forgiving and easy to use, and, while the finish is a long way short of the "50 coats of varnish twice a year" the OP is looking for, it looks clean and tidy, even in the hands of a lazy bugger like me.

 

[nigelmercier]

I used Screwfix No Nonsense Yacht Varnish on my saloon table, it has the best finish of any varnish I have ever used.