Longest lasting varnish

[Pub911]

I've tried honey-teak from Signature Finish. It does last long but it has a coloring I'd prefer to not use for this job. I'm doing brand-new teak handrails -the looped grab-bar type that are through-bolted on my cabin top. For this job I'd like to see the natural color of the wood come through. I also want to do my own Honeyteak vs. Varnish test. FYI - I am able to do the job indoors as these parts have not yet been installed on the boat.

Thank you all for your replies.

[bljones]

For exterior sun-exposed wear surfaces, I like a linseed varnish, like Le Tonkinois.

American Rope & Tar :: Letonkinois - Original

It's also really nice to apply indoors because it smells good, and you don't need to sand between coats, which means you're more likely to do a proper 7+ coat brightwork schedule.

[capecodda]

I've had decent luck with Epithanes, but its WORK.

I've tried other varnishes. For what it's worth, stuff with more pigment in it seems to last longer, but to my eye doesn't look as nice (YMMV). The Epithanes i've used is really clear, you need 6-7 coats at least on bare wood, and even in my northern climate, we need to topcoat with 2 coats per year (6 month season). So it's quite a commitment of either time or $$$'s.

I've tried the 2 part stuff, didn't seem to last much longer, used cetol, semco, various teak oils, incantations, witch doctors, rain makers, .....

At least in my experience, the stuff that looks the best is the most work