Trojan Boat Forum

Oh yeah - to pick up on Allen's comments, Cetol comes in 'regular' (most pigmented, some people don't like it because it looks orangy to them), Cetol Light (less pigment, see more of the colour variation in the underlying wood and less orangy), and Cetol Natural (which has minimum or no pigment).

Those are the three 'base' or 'penetrating' finishes that you would apply directly to the wood.

Then there is Cetol Gloss - which is a shiny top coat. Not really a varnish, but more like a varathane - it just sits on top of the Cetol layers (I think it actually bonds with them a bit from what I have seen) to make things more pretty and shiny. It can get slippery when wet, so Gloss is not a good idea for all areas. In the wood finishes link I posted before, the bow pulpit has the a few coats of Cetol Gloss on top of Cetol base coats. I am averaging about 3 years on maintenance for the Gloss.. light sanding, add 1-2 coats.

Cetol done right will hold up better the varnish . But it will never come close to the look of varnish . Varnish brings out the beauty of the wood like nothing elses .

prowlersfish wrote:Cetol done right will hold up better the varnish . But it will never come close to the look of varnish . Varnish brings out the beauty of the wood like nothing elses .

I don't disagree... but the question is value based on effort versus look. If I have to constantly be on top of it for it to keep looking good, I can't enjoy the boat enough (having said that, most people in the marina think I am a lunatic for how much time I spend washing and polishing the boat as it is). My aft rails are varnished - they get UV and regular exposure from May to October, but otherwise have basically no wear and tear. I have to do something with them every year or two to keep them up to my standards. That's Lake Ontario... southern boaters would probably have to maintain every 6 months or less.

For interior : my wheel done with Epifanes No Sand Varnish (really a varathane I think) is the most kick-arse display piece on the boat. The wheel was rescued (too long of a story to repeat here) and originally came from my father's '69 28' Trojan Sea Skiff. It is an interior piece that is not exposed to the elements, but varnish vs the Epifanes on it - I prefer the Epifanes.

Bottom line : to each his (or her) own. Put a dozen people in a room, there will be at least 6 distinct different opinions.

I see joan (if that's the real name... ) is Ontario based, so the longevity she can expect for different finishes is probably pretty close to what I get.

Excellent info - thanks. If the previous owner used varnish would it be okay to now use Cetol? I don't know what he would have used.

joanwillison wrote:Excellent info - thanks. If the previous owner used varnish would it be okay to now use Cetol? I don't know what he would have used.

You will want to strip the varnish first. Take it down to bare wood and give it a bit of a sanding with course-medium paper (80-120 grit is fine). Then you are ready for Cetol.

Well, whatever he used either varnish or cetol, there are countless layers on layers at this point. I can't imagine stripping it all. I will just use varnish on the brightwork I guess.

thanks again

If you know how to use a belt sander properly it would make quick work of stripping it down.