That Helmsman isnt really even a spar varnish - its a urethane with oil to make it flexible and UV blockers for the sun. Each coat also makes the finish a bit smoother.
This depends on how many are already there and what kind of environment your boat is exposed to.
How many coats spar varnish. For chairs benches chests and other such pieces 1 to 2 coats should do the trick. Any wooden pieces that will be used outdoors or under a covered porch should only have spar varnish or boat varnish applied. Never more than 3 coats.
For the base coats a thinner spar varnish is preferable about ¼ solvent to ¾ varnish. Add the solvent of your choice then stir very gently and only until mixed. As you add coats you can thicken the mixture by adding more varnish.
The final coats should be nearly full-thickness spar varnish with little or no thinner added. For example Ive heard it said that two coats of conventional varnish eg. Schooner Epifanes can be applied if the second is applied within a day of the first coat.
How to Apply it. You need to add multiple coats while applying spar marine varnish. It takes a few hours for one coat to dry before you can use the next coat.
You can go on applying multiple coats until you achieve satisfactory results. But ensure that the coating is completely dry before you apply the next coat. Apply the Spar Varnish Use a clean bristle brushnot nylonto lightly coat the furniture with the spar varnish.
When applying varnish coats it is best to use a number of thin coats rather than a single thick one. Let the varnish dry completely before doing a light dry sanding with more 220-grit paper. How many coats of polyurethane should I use.
Two coatsFor protection two coats are the minimum but floors and anything else that will see hard wear or occasional moisture should get at least three coats. Each coat also makes the finish a bit smoother. Spar varnish and spar urethane are two very different compounds.
The main difference. Use a very fine sandpaper like 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe off dust and apply a second coat.
Three coats are recommended if the wood is for the exterior or if was previously unfinished. Do not sand after the final coat but allow it to dry for 24 hours before you use it. We applied a water based gray stain and two coats of helsman spar varnish.
The third coat was supposed to be semigloss but painter mixed the cans and about a third of porch had different gloss. He came back put an overcoat of semigloss over entire. Apply the Spar Varnish.
Use a clean bristle brushnot nylonto lightly coat the furniture with the spar varnish. When applying varnish coats it is best to use a number of thin coats rather than a single thick one. Let the varnish dry completely before doing a light dry sanding with more 220-grit paper.
Spar varnish is purposed to project long-lasting protection to your piece of wood. It is designed to withstand harsh elements and save your wood from them. So no matter how the weather and other factors treat your outdoor wood if its varnished with spar varnish it can handle them all.
Friend has a wooden spar and is wondering how many coats of varnish and how many years. I have suggested at least 15 coats 11 jet speed 4 spar and that he should get 7 years between varnishings. I am looking for anyone who has some experience with this question of number of coats and length of time between applications that require stepping.
How Many Coats to Apply. This depends on how many are already there and what kind of environment your boat is exposed to. If you start with bare wood six to eight coats provide a solid basis for adding more during regular maintenance.
Some varnishers apply as many as ten coats. I then follow up with three to four coats of a good spar varnish to give the glossy build and lasting sun and weather protection that is every bit the equal of epoxy used by the rest of the industry. As you can see in the pictures my wraps have a natural gently rounded fairly flat sculptured shape to them quite different from the fat bulges that have come to be accepted on factory rods.
For outdoor wood furniture apply 4-6 coats while for indoor applications use 2-4 coats. As long as you use a good brush the varnish should level out perfectly with no bubbles or brush marks. Once cured it leaves behind a clear finish that provides protection from the rain sun bacterium and scratches.
I thinned the helmsman spar urethane about 20 on the first coat and used it straight for two more coats. The areas where I sanded have a darker appearance than the unsanded areas even though it is the same varnish being used and it occurs not only on the exposed wood but the areas that I sanded the finish off of that had not been damaged just in order to be able to feather the new finish. When you apply multiple coats of urethane any dust or small flaws will be amplified with each new coat.
If you want the smoothest finish possible then wait until it is dry very lightly sand with very fine paper 220 or finer to remove any dust bumps wipe it clean with a slightly damp cloth or tact rag let it dry or buff it dry with a dry cloth then apply the next coat. Overall three coats are more than enough for varnishing exterior wood with Minwax Helmsman spar urethane varnish. Keep in mind that you should never sand after the last coat of spar urethane.
Also it is best to allow the surface to dry for at least one day before using it. Coats 1 through 6 can be your finish varnish or a less expensive formulation but do not use hardware store varnish. General purpose varnishes are typically too brittle for marine use.
In hot weather coats 4 through 9 may require a small amount of thinner to keep the brush from dragging Advertisement. I have used a lot of spar varnish Man-O-War on bamboo but havent tried it on graphite – yet. I usually work in two or three coats cut 5050 with turpentine.
I use a dubbing needle and only put on what soaks in. Coats go on about one day apart. That Helmsman isnt really even a spar varnish - its a urethane with oil to make it flexible and UV blockers for the sun.
Itll de-laminate with age while real marine spar varnishes will wear from the outside by chalking and may be recoated without always sanding down to the wood. My advice - three coats and get a cover. Bristol 299 Dana Point.
If theres no varnish now 6 coats will look great. 8 coats will look fabulous. 10 coats will be show quality.
Prep is the key. The surface should be glass smooth to start. How to varnish your boat like a pro.
Marine Spar Varnish and Brightwork. The varnished wood on many boats is referred to as Bightwork. You can have just a few pieces of brightwork such as hand rails toe rails transom or your whole boat can be finished brite.
Doing the brightwork on a entire boat. Its your boat you can do as you please at least you have 5 coats on it. I hate any kind of painting and used Bristol Finish on my bow pulpit 8 coats because the thicker the finish also the longer it will last.
I think the real trick with varnish or Bristol is not letting it get real bad before you sand a little then add another coat.