Poll: Life after Behr Spar Varnish

[Yeadon]

Saddened by the refusal of Home Depot to carry Behr Super Spar Varnish, I'm curious what varnish my fellow forumites are using. Let's poll the crowd. My poll contains varnish products carried by Fisheries Supply in Seattle.

Feel free to add your own product suggestions in the comments.

[Ted Hoppe]

Great poll. interested in seeing thoughts on this. My stuff is out all year around and not covered. I'd gladly pay extra and better, longer results for less time worked.

[Yeadon]

I am also curious about the Marine Yacht Varnish from Fine Paints of Europe. Anyone tried this?

[wizbang 13]

I use Cetol gloss over numerous "varnishes".
Bingo is Cetol Gloss over epoxy

The little bit of bright on Woody is Cetol Gloss over Cetol "orange"

and of course Wonderland is all Cetol Gloss over Cetol orange

[cstevens]

Personally I like Epifanes, although I don't think I have enough varnishing experience to comment with any authority. However FWIW, Mark Demeter, a well known pro in Seattle, uses Pettit High Build for the first few coats on bare wood, followed by Epifanes for top coats.

[Canoeyawl]

I use Flagship
With a smidge of turpentine, and a dollop of penetrol, and that works for me

[Yeadon]

How do you pronounce Cetol?

See-tall?

Settle?

Say-tuhl?

Kettle?

[Yeadon]

Personally I like Epifanes, although I don't think I have enough varnishing experience to comment with any authority. However FWIW, Mark Demeter, a well known pro in Seattle, uses Pettit High Build for the first few coats on bare wood, followed by Epifanes for top coats.

Same. I almost always use Pettit EZ-Wood Sealer 2018 (formerly Old Salem plywood sealer) to build up the first few coats, then I cover with varnish until she looks great.

Over the years I've used Flagship, Captains, Epifanes, Man O' War, and Behr (RIP). I typically follow the directions on the can, which has left me with a metal cabinet full of proprietary thinners. They all look great to me, tbh. I'm always game to try a new product, especially if it'll work best in a specific situation.

This summer, I'll *probably* be finishing bright the Honduran Mahogany ribbon grain interior (topsides planking visible in the interior of the boat between the sole and the side decks) on my Bartender 19 project. Like anything finished bright I can always paint it if it get annoying to maintain. Haverchuck's ash rails are headed that way, for instance, but not quite yet.

11789855-8201-46B8-842B-9FAE97B0A6E3.jpg

Above, the bottom / bilge ply planking is coated with System Three epoxy. I wanted to make sure the surfaces between the floors and planking were properly flooded to keep water out from those crevices. The interior topsides and any and all lumber get wood sealer.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Deks Olje #1 and #2 are what I like. The products you listed mean nothing to me.

[wizbang 13]

How do you pronounce Cetol?

See-tall?

Settle?

Say-tuhl?

Kettle?

pfffft ...how do you pronounce Epifane?

[Yeadon]

Deks Olje #1 and #2 are what I like. The products you listed mean nothing to me.

Fisheries Supply does not sell Deks Olje. I feel like maybe I've seen it at the Northwest Maritime Center Chandlery in Port Townsend. (Though it's not listed in their store.) What do you like about it?

pfffft ...how do you pronounce Epifane?

Erpifert.

Duh.

[Edward Pearson]

International Schooner. The proper tung oil based one. Prefer it over Epiphanes. Though you can do a great job with either. Epiphanes seemed a bit thick, you have to thin it per instructions, progressively less, its maybe higher build than schooner but leaves the odd brush stroke. I think on a perfect home built finish Schooner’s better. If i was covering up damaged finish maybe epiphanes.

Keep meaning to try Le Tonkinois.

[Edward Pearson]

Instead of the official varnish storage bags, I recently bought some cheap bags for kids drinks (looked identical) on ebay with a small funnel for loading a fresh can in, and can report 100% success. A small but significant win.

[pcford]

Eppy fawn ness.

I called the Dutch consulate and asked.

[Yeadon]

International Schooner. The proper tung oil based one.

I've also been intrigued by their "Original 90" varnish for quite a while. The Interlux varnish labels could not be any less interesting, which is catnip to me.

[wizbang 13]

ouden gouda chgass

[Ted Hoppe]

I use Flagship
With a smidge of turpentine, and a dollop of penetrol, and that works for me

that does not really come in a can, yours should be called Yawlship top shelf usually chilled but can be warmed at room temperature. Nearly impossible to find in most retail. For those ones on the membership list, an excellent vintage worthy to those bespoke boaters. Smoked or unsmoked choices available.

[pcford]

Epifanes is has been the choice for many years. Why cheapy out at the final stage? Prep is over 90% of effort.

You can add turps and Penetrol for ease of application. Careful not to add too much Penetrol...will change color.

[Yeadon]

Wait, pcford prefers Epifanes? Had no idea. If I recall correctly, there was another PNW boatwright who felt equally strong about Behr. And see what happened to Behr?

[stromborg]

Fisheries Supply does not sell Deks Olje. I feel like maybe I've seen it at the Northwest Maritime Center Chandlery in Port Townsend. (Though it's not listed in their store.) What do you like about it?



Erpifert.

Duh.

Sadly the Chandlery has become a t-shirt and do-dad shoppe. I talked to the nice lady who runs it, the real boaty stuff just didn't sell well enough to keep around. The coffee shop it shares a wall with is pretty good though.

[Yeadon]

Sadly the Chandlery has become a t-shirt and do-dad shoppe. I talked to the nice lady who runs it, the real boaty stuff just didn't sell well enough to keep around. The coffee shop it shares a wall with is pretty good though.

Ahh, I think you're right. Good catch. And anyways, maybe it was Le Tonkinois that they used to sell and not Deks Olje.

Now, what's your favorite varnish?

[StevenBauer]

I’ve had great results with Le Tonkinois. But do you mean to report that you didn’t stock up on Behr Super Spar Varnish and have already run out? I wonder if that last unopened gallon in the paint locker down in the shop is still good. Hmm.

[stromborg]

I'm currently having pretty good results with McCloskey Man o' War on my spars and tiller.

[pcford]

I'm currently having pretty good results with McCloskey Man o' War on my spars and tiller.

It's an old fashioned but very good varnish. Quite pale.

[pcford]

If you want the lurid orangey effect go with Cetol.

[StevenBauer]

Why anyone would use Cetol when Deks is available is beyond me.

[Yeadon]

I always seem to have half a can of Man O’ War hanging around. I like it too. Easy to apply. Never needs thinning. But the smell seems a bit too tart (?) and sharp to me.

I think my all-time vote is for Flagship. I think. Typically I listen to Pat and then do what Eric does. That’s been the pattern. And that’s how I ended up with Flagship on most of my boats.

[pcford]

I always seem to have half a can of Man O’ War hanging around. I like it too. Easy to apply. Never needs thinning. But the smell seems a bit too tart (?) and sharp to me.

Whatta wuss.

[Yeadon]

An off smell would certainly feel most comfortable to you.

[Canoeyawl]

Why anyone would use Cetol when orange paint is available is beyond me.

...

[pcford]

...

Well said, sir. Some people like lurid colors. No accounting for taste.

[wizbang 13]

If you want the lurid orangey effect go with Cetol.

C'mon, this hatch is a ringer for Fife cabin joinery.

and who dosen't love a woody outboard?

cetol on white paint

[pcford]

https://youtu.be/vDqULFUg6CY

[wizbang 13]

We might have a poll of the best way to remove 12 coats of varnish every 3 years .

[Mark0]

Le Tonk is what we are currently using other than a mix of linseed / pinetar.

So nice to use products without solvents.