Fight Club____for Sailors

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by Surfesq

Excellent! I have to try one as well. It's just such a good name. I actually got a great sail in last night. It was breezy down here on the Bay. 16 knots with some 25 knots puffs. Quite a bit of fun. The humidity was also quite low today so I was able to get a lot of work done on the boat. I am following Epihanes instructions closely. I applied my first coat of clear/high gloss today. I thinned it 50 percent per the instructions. My wood was so dry it drank it up. Tomorrow, I will sand with 220 grit and apply a coat thinned by 35%. Then its 5 coats thined by 10%. Yikes!

I just bought a boat where the interior was varnished with Epiphanes. I can report that with careful attention to detail and many coats, the result is stunning.

[Surfesq]

Its amazing stuff. I am a tool about following instructions. So when they want thinning and sanding, I follow the instructions to a tee. I have to say that thinning the first coat on bare wood makes so much sense. In my case, the wood was very thirsty. Varnishing requires a Herculean effort the first time around but after that it only requires a light sanding and one coat. Ultimately in my opinioin less work than Cetol which never lasts.

[CalypsoP35]

This past spring I added some protective coats of varnish to my interior teak. I used the most expensive West Marine varnish (5 star premium varnish). It was made by Epiphanes. All the language other than the name was identical to the Ephanes language on their can, but it was a little cheaper per quart (after converting from liters to quarts) than the Ephiphanes. I'm assuming it was the exact same varnish with a different label. Any thoughts as to whether the West Marine varnish I used was exactly the same as the Epiphanes?

[Surfesq]

That would be good to know. It's $10.00 cheaper per quart than Epiphanes.

[CalypsoP35]

Originally Posted by Surfesq

That would be good to know. It's $10.00 cheaper per quart than Epiphanes.

I don't remember the difference in price being that significant. Make sure you're comparing the WM 5 Star Premium price and not the WM Admiral's Varnish price.

[Surfesq]

Sorry $6.00 cheaper. 29.99 v. 35.99

[CalypsoP35]

Originally Posted by Surfesq

Sorry $6.00 cheaper. 29.99 v. 35.99

Not to be picky here, but I will be, unless you've already converted the price. The WM price is per quart 946 mls while the Epifanes price is for 1000 mls. So the price of the WM for 1000 mls would be $31.70.

It's really annoying as to how difficult they make it to do a true price comparison.

[TrueBlue]

Surf,

I truely am envious of the effects your Epiphane varnish will produce on all that exterior teak. I am also one of the first to admit that Cetol really cannot compare to the beauty of a high quality varnish - IF properly applied.

Therein lies the problem with so many varnish jobs gone bad (including Cetol for that matter). The endurance of varnish relies strongly on proper surface prep, thinning initial coats as you mentioned, adequate sanding/dust removal between coats and the application of at least 12 coats initially within a short time frame.

If the wood is allowed to weather for a duration before 12 coats are applied, the previous varnish coats will delaminate & blister, or allow water to enter beneath the varnish. Weather also plays a role in the success of a varnish job-sometimes delaying a proper completion.

Additionally, in warmer climates, expect to apply at least two coats each season. After just 5 years - at least 22 coats are required - certainly a lot of work and many quarts of varnish at $35.00/qt.

With boats that have a ton of exterior teak, like mine, the choice was made to use a finish which requires less coats. There are negatives to Cetol, but with only 4 initial coats needed and 1 annual maintenence coat + touch-up, after 5 years I will only have applied 9-10 coats total. With me the decision was simple - use Cetol or go grey.

[Surfesq]

I cant believe you would take that Yacht of yours and junk it up with the Big Orange. Its like buying a new Mercedes and handpainting flames on it. It just looks hoakey. By the way, Ephiphanes recommends two thinned coats and five final coats. So a total of 7. So for three extra days work you could have a boat that looks like what it cost you.

[drewdunnrespect2006]

guys who evr said take me mate out on a five force gale had the right idea,
cos thats what a did and i also took the girlfriend with me.
so what I did was a tuaght him to steer and sail then went below and had some with the misses and he walked staright in on us so that soon changed his mind on me being gay any ways cheers for the replys and the laughs.

You want beleive this but johnny the guy who siad i was gay for liking sailing. Has just phoned me to ask me to go yacht hunting with him cos he wants to buy one and join me living on the tees what a change around.
That still has not regestered with me that that has just happened. We have a convert in amongst us what a day
o yes i having sailing for the last week and the only reason i have tinternet is cos i docked at alacanty marina spain (e.g. the medatarrianian) which has an internet broad band huck up as part of huck up package cheers drew dunn.