Winter is a great time to start thinking about varnishing your boat. Not only is your skipper more likely to be out of the water, it's also the perfect opportunity to get your wooden decks, railings and decorative features looking their very best. If you're looking for the best finish possible, Mylor Chandlery will take you through everything you need to know before you get working with your trusty tin of gloss...
Prepare Your Work Surfaces
Make sure your work area is as clean as possible. We advise preparing all your work surfaces the day before you plan to varnish - that way any dust and debris that transmits into the air is less likely to stick to the newly varnished elements of your boat.
Cleaning your wooden surfaces is crucial for a sleek, smart and long-lasting finish. Use a tack cloth (a wiping cloth that has been treated with resin that picks up dirt, dust and grit) making sure you keep your tack cloth as clean as possible in between jobs, storing it away in an air-tight container when out of use.
What Varnish Should I Use?
Mylor Chandlery stock a wide range of different varnishes to suit the specific job you're going for. Whether it's a high gloss finish for bare wood and existing varnish work or a one-component interior varnish, you'll find exactly what you need in our paints and vanishes section with trusted brands such as Epifanes.
What Is The Best Way To Varnish Your Boat?
Don't use your varnish straight from the tin, instead simply pour enough varnish needed for the project into a plastic container and work from there. You'll find it a lot easier to carry around and you'll also prevent your tin of varnish from becoming contaminated with flecks of dust and other small pieces of debris that will effect the quality of the overall finish.
If you find varnish hard to work with, warm it up in a bowl of warm water: Grab the plastic container filled with your varnish for the day and put it in a washing up bowl filled with a little warm water to make it easier to work with. This way you'll speed up your varnishing process while making the application of the varnish smoother and glossier than before.
Varnish in small, neat squares, alternating your brush strokes with and against the grain - this way you'll create a more even, consistent, and seamless finish.
Make sure your work space is well lit: A poorly lit work surface is going to hide all the little imperfections and missed spots, so make sure you try and varnish in daylight, in a well lit room, and be rigorous!