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Varnish and various wood oils have been the
traditional transparent wood finishes for boats for hundreds of years. The lack of pigment
allows the beauty of the wood grain to show through, while protecting the wood from the
ravages of sunlight, saltwater, dirt, and abrasion. The finish which results from careful
application can vary from practically invisible protection for interior and exterior wood,
to a fine-furniture glossy coat in which you can see your reflection.
In addition to wood oils and varnish, there is a
new category of wood finishes which are gaining popularity in the marine market. To say
"gaining popularity" is a massive understatement; all you have to do is ask
about Sikkens Cetol or similar products on an Internet news group, and you'll have 50
responses from around the globe debating its properties, comparing it to other finishes,
and explaining EXACTLY how to apply it.
Assuming you want to protect and beautify your
boat's exterior wood, how do you select among the incredible (dare we say baffling?)
variety of finishes? Knowing full well that this is as big a minefield as debating the
benefits of power vs. sail, we none the less courageously offer the following
observations:
 | Wood Oils
 | Oils generally maintain the original look of the
wood more so than the other finishes. This is because they penetrate deeply into the wood
fibers, and do not create as much of a surface coating. Oils are available in colors
ranging from water clear to gold to dark brown. As with any wood finish, multiple coats
generally result in a more uniform finish and greater longevity. |
| We find oil to be the easiest to apply, since
surface blemishes are not as apparent in the final outcome. This does not mean, however,
that slapping four coats of oil on dirty teak will produce a Bristol finish, and you'll
also find that the thin consistency of oil makes masking practically as important as with
varnish to protect surrounding gel coat and painted surfaces. Clean, sanded teak with
several coats of oil can provide 3-6 months of beauty and protection.
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| Varnish
| Varnish is a complicated finish consisting of oil,
solvents and thinners, resins, dryers, and additives. By varying the proportions of the
ingredients, and by adding UV inhibitors and other secret ingredients, varnishes end up
with widely varying characteristics. |
| Varnish can have gloss or matte appearance, can be
formulated to be extremely hard for walked-on surfaces, can be water-based for low VOCs,
and can vary in their color. Newer oil-based varnishes are truly better, with improved
durability in the worst environments: hot, tropical sunlight. And yet, in our opinion,
nothing looks better or takes more continual maintenance, than exterior wood finished with
gloss varnish. |
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| Synthetic Wood Finishes
| These are the (relatively) new kids on the block,
with names like Sikkens Cetol, Armada. They have remarkable durability for exterior use,
are relatively easy to apply, and look relatively good. We say relatively good because
these products tend to have a pigmented appearance, with an orangish brown cast (Cetol),
or a sort of chocolaty brown (Armada) which you either like or possibly don't like.
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| Finishes in this category are, like varnish,
available in gloss and satin finishes. Ease of application is similar to teak oil, where
you can apply it directly over sanded, clean wood. Masking surrounding areas is highly
recommended. |
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