Chipped varnish

[Captain W]

Unfortunately, one of the weather boards fell and a piece of varnish chipped off. Do I need to take off all the remaining varnish and rebuild all the coats again or can you “repair” a corner like this?

 

[justsomeguy]

can you “repair” a corner like this?

I'd try the repair first. Got the same type/brand of varnish?

 

[dlochner]

This can be repaired. Do you know what varnish was on there?

The process is simple. Using some fine sandpaper, 180-220 feather out the chipped edge and the area that is missing. Clean out all the dust and debris and build it back up with multiple layers of varnish. Best if you used the same varnish, if not a good quality varnish will do, Epifanes Gloss Wood Finish is my favorite. Jamestown Distributors TotalBoat Gleam is another good product.

 

[Captain W]

Thanks. The previous owners used Interlux Schooner varnish.. I am glad I don’t have to strip the entire thing...

 

[shemandr]

Wow, that's a lot of varnish!

 

[Captain W]

The previous owner loved on this boat for 36 years and was quite skilled at it. (But it does put some pressure on us newbies to try to keep up the stewardship)

 

[dlochner]

The previous owner loved on this boat for 36 years and was quite skilled at it. (But it does put some pressure on us newbies to try to keep up the stewardship)

Hinckley owners can be that way.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Wow, that's a lot of varnish!

I'm not alone then thinking that's the thickest varnish I've ever seen.

 

[capta]

IMO, it depends on whether you want it to look the same, or be a lighter patch.
First I'd sand it gently and see if the wood will come back to the original color. Feather as above, etc. But if it stays light, you can stain it to match, then varnish.

 

[TomY]

Unfortunately, one of the weather boards fell and a piece of varnish chipped off. Do I need to take off all the remaining varnish and rebuild all the coats again or can you “repair” a corner like this?

You can fix it. It will take a long time to build up that 10 coat original build plus 36 annual maintenance coats..

The owner was a varnish zen master! He was at peace with a brush in his hand.

 

[dlochner]

You can fix it. It will take a long time to build up that 10 coat original build plus 36 annual maintenance coats..

The owner was a varnish zen master! He was at peace with a brush in his hand.

And a devotee of Rebecca Whitman.

 

[jon hansen]

i have rebbeca's book on the desk here right next to my copy of 'high performance sailing' by bethwaite.

get the boat sailing well then start getting it looking well

 

[sailnoproblem]

I keep staring at the picture that sure seems awfully thick for varnish sure it’s not something else? Maybe it’s Epoxy or that clear stuff used to pour on table tops. (Sorry I don’t know the name)

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I keep staring at the picture that sure seems awfully thick for varnish sure it’s not something else? Maybe it’s Epoxy or that clear stuff used to pour on table tops. (Sorry I don’t know the name)

I had the same thoughts! Maybe I've never seen varnish built-up so much. But that material looks more brittle than varnish would look, doesn't it? I've never seen "chipped" varnish. I've seen it flake … How far did it have to fall to break off a chip like that? If it was merely dropped, I would be too worried about marring the surfaces to actually go sailing!

 

[dlochner]

The varnish is the result of many, many, coats of varnish. Many more than the usual 3 or 4 coats most folks give varnish and probably given a maintenance coat every year. Over time the coats build up faster than they wear off.

I am currently finishing a cockpit table. The more coats of varnish, the deeper the gloss and the longer you can go between maintenance coats. The table has 2 coats of sealer and 6 coats of TotalBoat Gleam Gloss varnish.

 

[Captain W]

I think TomY’s description of the previous owner as a “varnish zen master” was close and that it is all truly varnish from years of care. Here is a picture of one of the lazarette covers he left me.

 

[dlochner]

I think TomY’s description of the previous owner as a “varnish zen master” was close and that it is all truly varnish from years of care. Here is a picture of one of the lazarette covers he left me.

I'd be afraid to board the boat much less sail it for fear of damaging the varnish.

 

[Captain W]

While I can see why you guys are saying that, I don’t mean to leave the impression that he didn’t love to sail her too. He was just one of those amazingly skilled people. This is a 17-foot “pulling boat“ he made in addition to 4 wooden kayaks. He installed a sliding seat in the pulling boat so he could row around Long Island Sound like a sculler.

We have had a lot of fun sailing her this year and the varnish survived my mediocre sailing skills.

 

[sailnoproblem]

"Varnish zen master" I bow to your great skill, outstanding work. I do have the time but no longer have the energy, to make my old girl shine like that.

 

[jon hansen]

I'd be afraid to board the boat much less sail it for fear of damaging the varnish.

Dave, nicks and dents, then fixing and recoating is called 'patina'. it makes the boat worth more.
well, that's what i claim anyway

i've been caring for a 'varnish farm' for forty seven seasons. lots of patina. shows you sailed the vessel allot.

"more sail"

bare teak decks and cockpit too