Water based Spar Eurethane

[william24424]

I'm sorry to get political so close to election time. Brightwork, varnished woodwork on a sailboat. I've weathered many threads about this topic....Some Left to gray or cetoled & some feel it's only Right to spar varnish many coats, thinning first few coats, and others have independent views of using a teak oil. I won't get into the Green, enviornmentally safe varnish.

I just used a water based Min Wax spar eurethane on my door threshold in my house...by mistake, it went on easy, didn't stink, looks good. I won't know if it last, because it just went on yesterday. Can I use this product on my teak toe rails? Inside the sailboat on the teak trim pieces? Can I use it over the oil based spar varnish? What is your experience? Thank you for your input.

 

[dLj]

I don't know for sure, but I believe using a water based over an oil based is OK but not the inverse.

dj

 

[dlochner]

Can I use this product on my teak toe rails? Inside the sailboat on the teak trim pieces? Can I use it over the oil based spar varnish? What is your experience?

Toe rails are a challenge to keep varnished. They are often wet and water gets into the wood under the varnish. When the sun beats down on them the water heats and the resultant vapor causes the varnish to lift off the wood, eventually cracking and peeling. Cetol is permeable and let's the vapor escape, that's why it is often used on toe rails. That and the oil in the teak may be problematic for the finish.

I have been using TotalBoat's Halcyon varnish on interior wood work, I am pleased with it. Application is easy, it dries quickly and can be recoated in an hour without sanding. Up to 5 coats a day can be applied. Unlike more traditional varnishes and modern polyurethane based varnishes, Halcyon does not build up as thick as traditional varnishes. It looks more like a lacquered furniture finish than a varnish finish. That has been my experience with other brands of water based varnishes. I should mention, I've used Halcyon on cherry not teak.

Does the label on the Minwax indicate it can be used on teak? TotalBoat can certainly advise you about using Halcyon on teak, again not sure how the oils in the teak will get along with the water based finish.

 

[jssailem]

1. Can I use this product on my teak toe rails?
2. Inside the sailboat on the teak trim pieces?
3. Can I use it over the oil based spar varnish?
What is your experience? See below.

Total Boat has a water-based varnish, "Halcyon." I have used it in both 1. & 2. circumstances above.
3. Halcyon can be applied to oil-varnished surfaces if the surface is in good condition. Read the Tech Data Sheet for instructions.
TotalBoat Halcyon Varnish – All Finishes – Technical Data
My rails have weathered well over the past 2 years of exposure. I see 15% of the finish failing. I will be doing a touch-up this coming spring.

The internal woods are going to be Halcyon. I have already completed the new stairs. The stairs were stained with a Varithane oil-based wood stain. I let the stain dry for 24 hours. I sanded with a 320 grit. Wiped the surfaces clean, then applied the Water-based varnish. Four coats on the first day and three on the second day. I followed the directions for building up coats using gloss clear. The final coat was satin clear.

 

[william24424]

I like the total boat products., with the minwax water based, I haven’t seen any reviews from sailors using it for toe rails., I might try it., I’ve tried every other method. unless I read/learn otherwise.

 

[FastOlson]

If you are not wedded to the idea of seeing the wood beneath the "clear" finish on those toe rails, consider overcoating the final clear coat with a gloss paint - your choice of a complementary pastel color. Back when big offshore boats often had teak toe rails this was a common way to preserve them from UV and weather for a Pacific crossing. A friend of mine bought a veteran south seas Islander 41 (if I recall the length correctly) and he removed that top layer of paint because he loved teak. The rail looked brand new, beneath.
Point being... there are many good solutions to a common problem. We have several big 80's cruisers in our moorage with constantly-scaling "clear" coverings on their teak rails...... and IMHO paint would look a Lot Better.
YMMV.

 

[Indysailor]

I won't question and can't add to the experienced advice of others who have commented, but only to say that you cannot reliably extrapolate the results of varnish on a slab of white oak threshold to teak. Teak just really doesn't accept being varnished like a hardwood does due to the very qualities that make it a preferred material for a marine environment. Below decks is very forgiving and I personally think your varnish will work well there.