My PS37 has varnish on the cap rail, coachroof grab rails and companionway cover. This doesn't seen like a lot of varnish until it's time to take care of it. Then it's a lot. On other boats, I like the look of lovely varnish. On my boat, I prefer the look of unvarnished teak a little bit and I don't like the work of caring for varnish a great deal.
Has anyone with a similar arrangement removed the varnish completely, never to renew it? Is this even possible to do without a major overhaul (removing everything bolted to the cap rail; a non-starter for me)? If so, what approach did you use -- sanding (what equipment, what about hard-to-reach spots?), chemicals (Westmarine advertises a paint stripper that's safe for fiberglass boats, but is it really?) or heat (and what kind, especially for someone who doesn't have access to shore power -- just the boat's batteries)?
I should note that I must do all work while at a swing mooring exposed to constant swells, and hours from the nearest chandlery (drop a screw overboard, that's the day lost getting a new one!).
Has anyone with a similar arrangement removed the varnish completely, never to renew it? Is this even possible to do without a major overhaul (removing everything bolted to the cap rail; a non-starter for me)? If so, what approach did you use -- sanding (what equipment, what about hard-to-reach spots?), chemicals (Westmarine advertises a paint stripper that's safe for fiberglass boats, but is it really?) or heat (and what kind, especially for someone who doesn't have access to shore power -- just the boat's batteries)?
I should note that I must do all work while at a swing mooring exposed to constant swells, and hours from the nearest chandlery (drop a screw overboard, that's the day lost getting a new one!).