first you put on as many coats as it takes to fill every pore in the woods surface. then you start your count. 6/ 10 from there on lake michigan prolly be good.
then each season, fix and build up and and all nicks, the 2 coats on everything.
it never stops. it's a game we play. easy peezee
i'm just north of you in sturge.
in the tropics i would be adding a coat every month if i had not done a top coat in white paint to be removed when back north.
after growing up with dad's wood boats, varnish upkeep ain't much.
here comes season 48 with aeolus in the family.