That old wood finish question again

[PaulinVictoria]

So, I've read what seems like 100 different threads with no real conclusions other than some people like one thing and others like something else.
The brightwork on my boat is somewhat less than bright and it's about time I sorted it out.
I have the cabin-top handrails, the hatchboards, the tiller and the rail across the transom to do. None of this is exactly high-wear, and the UV up here generally isn't too bad.
What do folks in the PNW (or PSW for us BC'ers) use? I hate varnishing, so something relatively easy to apply and not requiring a million coats would be good. I also don't like high gloss, or fake colouring. Just want something simple to apply, protects the wood, lasts for a few years (ideally) and just brings out the natural colour of the wood.

[sea_hunter]

Cetol or my choice Semco.

[endoit]

I am new to this but sanded with 100 and 220, bleached with oxalic acid and applied 2 coats of semco gold tone with a rag. I was told each year to wash well and do 2 new coats. Looks nice and not too fancy.

[CorvetteGuy]

Try a 2 part teak cleaner followed by a few coats of teak oil, a few applications throughout the seaason. keeps the natural look with no shine

[Sabre Dan]

I have a small varnish business here on the somewhat varnish-unfriendly Massachusetts coast. My issue with semco, while a good sealer-oil, has too much pigment in it for my taste. A similar, but less pigmented product is cetol natural. Easy to apply after a two part cleaner/brightener application, and it has a very natural look, but dries smooth and not oily at all. Itwont turn black, and can be applied over easily adfter a refresh cleaning-brightening.
Dan

[Beersmith]

Cetol Natural Teak or Cetol Light for a non glossy, effective coating

[poopdeckpappy]

3 coats of Cetol natural teak, followed by epiphanes (sp) high gloss, fast build wood finish as the top coat

Beautiful

[PaulinVictoria]

I've seen a few Cetol finished boats and they always look like they are wearing fake tan, do they do a non-coloured one too? And no gloss for me, I find it a little too much, rather like those chrome wheels you North Americans are so fond of.

[MarkSF]

Having spent the last seven Saturdays putting seven layers of spar varnish on JUST the transom rail, I sympathise with your reluctance to go down the varnish route.

However, it REALLY looks good now.....

Varnishing is like some kind of bad drug habit, in the sense of there never being an end to it. There are also the highs (final result looks great) followed by the inevitable lows (a year later and it's all peeling off.

[Flybyknight]

Suit yourself, but I stand by time tested traditional phenolic vanish.


dick