Caring for a wooden boat can seem like a big task, but it’s essential if you want the boat to look as intended and last for many years to come. While it might seem like a lot to handle, wooden boat maintenance becomes much easier when you partner with an experienced professional and perform maintenance regularly. A large part of maintaining any wooden boat is regular varnishing. Varnishing should be done at least once per year, and the varnishing process is crucial to your boat’s appearance and performance. In the long run, allowing a professional to regularly apply varnish to your vessel will protect the wood from rot and/or damage, and in the short run it will keep your boat turning heads every time it’s on the water. Our company specializes in working on wooden boats and in this article we will detail our varnishing process. While it might seem simple - prep, apply, repeat - the difference in partnering with a professional is evident and we have the skills and experience to perfectly apply varnish to your boat.

Preparation for Varnish

Correct preparation for varnish to be applied is time consuming and requires a great deal of practice and skill, but it’s the prep work which will ultimately make the varnish effective. Preparing a boat for varnish involves ensuring the surface of the wood is even, able to absorb new varnish and is free from older varnish, paint and other debris. The way to achieve this prepped surface is through many hours of sanding, applying heat and/or using the right chemicals to remove everything and get the surface completely ready for new varnish.

Application of Varnish

Once the wood is ready for varnish, it’s time to apply the right varnish for the look of the boat. We have a great deal of experience in varnish application, and we can ensure your boat has the right color and right type of protectants to give it the look and protection it needs to thrive. When we apply varnish, we use the best brushes and a master technique, which makes all the difference in the final finish of the vessel. A proper finish separates great looking wooden boats from average ones, and we guarantee a perfect finish on each boat we apply varnish to. Perhaps the hardest part of varnish application is learning to be patient, since there needs to be at least twelve hours between coats.

Repeat as Needed

Once the first coat is done, it’s time to repeat the process with a couple modifications. When applying the second coat and each subsequent coat after, the goal is to slightly rough up the surface so it’s able to accept a new coat, but not to scratch the varnish so it shows through on the next coat. This unique balance is hard to achieve, but we have the right experience and equipment to ensure a great finish. We are proud to have many clients who bring their vessels back to us every year for varnishing, and we would love to help you as well with any wooden boat needs. To learn more about our services, book a consultation on our website or give us a call today.