Urethane Varnish

[Vincent Serio III]

I slapped on some Minwax Spar Urethane (clear gloss)to a small piece of floorboard (Atlantic White Cedar)to see what it would look like. After a few coats, the wood looks like a mirror, or more precisely, like it is coated with plastic. This makes sense, as I think that urethane is a polymer, hence it is essentially liquid plastic.

Anyway, the finish looks like a million bucks--if maybe a little plastic. I know that this forum has discussed the pros and cons of Home Depot-bought finishes, versus marine varnish. I know that the marine varnish tends to be higher solids, with better UV protection, etc.

Can anyone comment on the durability of a "urethane varnish" of the Minwax variety? I would use it on a trailer-sailed boat that will be stored indoors. The floorboards would probably be as slick as eagle s--t, but they would look pretty damn gorgeous! I would think that urethane (I assume plastic here) might make a pretty good covering for a high use area like a floorboard. (I'm not going to paint the floorboards, so don't even go there).

Does the urethane varnish degrade faster and look "cheap"?

Here's a picture of the varnished piece next to its mate prior to stripping.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid187/p1fdaff404a2e4a749d7e7020e1be85f0/f248d506.jpg

[Granville]

It seems to me that your missing one of the necessary elemnts of durability, and that is flexibility. How flexible is a cured urethane compared to a traditional spar varnish? Solid wood is going to be going through wet dry cycles with seasonal changes unless you have your boat stroed in a sealed environment. UV resistance is important, but so is flexibility.

[capt jake]

I recently completed a tender and finished the gunwales with the same product. I am curious and hopeful about it's durability. Th main reason I went with it on this project was speed of application and the fact that I could 'cheat' with a few spray cans (as soem of the bright work would have been hard to hit with a brush).

[Bob S]

Originally posted by Vincent Serio III:
I slapped on some Minwax Spar Urethane (clear gloss)to a small piece of floorboard (Atlantic White Cedar)to see what it would look like. After a few coats, the wood looks like a mirror, or more precisely, like it is coated with plastic. This makes sense, as I think that urethane is a polymer, hence it is essentially liquid plastic.

Anyway, the finish looks like a million bucks--if maybe a little plastic. I know that this forum has discussed the pros and cons of Home Depot-bought finishes, versus marine varnish. I know that the marine varnish tends to be higher solids, with better UV protection, etc.

Can anyone comment on the durability of a "urethane varnish" of the Minwax variety? I would use it on a trailer-sailed boat that will be stored indoors. The floorboards would probably be as slick as eagle s--t, but they would look pretty damn gorgeous! I would think that urethane (I assume plastic here) might make a pretty good covering for a high use area like a floorboard. (I'm not going to paint the floorboards, so don't even go there).

Does the urethane varnish degrade faster and look "cheap"?

Here's a picture of the varnished piece next to its mate prior to stripping.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid187/p1fdaff404a2e4a749d7e7020e1be85f0/f248d506.jpg

[Bob S]

I email the company about that very product last spring about using it on oars. They recommended using a true marine varnish not theirs.

[capt jake]

Bob, did they say 'why' they didn't recommend their product? Seems odd, probably a marketing gimmick, by including 'spar' on the label.

[Bob S]

I thought the same thing when I seen "spar" on the label. As I recall something about holding up under an enviroment constantly exposed to water. You might contact them from through their web site, it took about three or four days to get a reply.

[capt jake]

Hmmm, sound like I will be re-masking and re-finishing. :rolleyes:

[WoodenBNut]

I have used Interlux's Goldspar Polyurethane varnish and so far am very statisfied with the results. It is a marine poly varnish and has UV filters in it. It applies and lays down very nice and seems very forgiving. Other marine polys are probably also good, but I just haven't tried them yet.

[Brian Palmer]

I used Minwax spar varnish on the spars of our boat (imagine that!) and after two seasons they are fine. Like the boat in question, the spars are stored under cover when not in use. If the boat is stored inside, the Minwax will be fine.

Traction on floor boards is another issue. If they seem too slippery, you can always sprinkle some fine sand on the last coat.

Go sailing.

-- Brian