Sick of Brightwork ?

[defever]

i am!!! so, i painted (no, i don't want to hear from you folks who talk about the sin of painting teak) most of it. yup, after many, many years of scraping/sanding/painting the brightwork, i got sick to death of it and decided to paint the majority of it w/ ezpoxy gloss white (primer plus 3 coats) it looks great and makes my old trawler look like a modern vessel, vis-a-vis just a little teak.

first, i took pics of the boat and photoshopped the area that i wanted white. after coming up w/ the look i wanted, i roughed up the old finish and painted primer on. then 3 coats of gloss white and, voila, a great looking finish that, hopefully won't need much attention for years (i did this to the swim platform last year and after several thousand miles it still looks great. i also painted my "mast" 5 years ago and still don't need to put on another coat.

i put 3 coats of cetol natural teak and 2 coats of gloss on the toe rail/hand rail/eyebrow/doors and their trim and , overall, the look is really spectacular. sooooo, if you're not a purist or don't have crew to do the dirty work and are as sick of brightWORK as i am, give it a shot. if ya don't like it, you can always get out the ol' scraper and do it over. what have you got to lose??

[jackiepitts]

So where are the pictures?
Jackie

[gettinthere]

hope it lasts!!

[David M]

You have my sympathies about doing britework. For me its a hateful job and a big waste of time.

I painted my exterior teak a wood color and never regretted doing so. The paint has lasted three years now. It's time for a fresh coat which should take me a half-day to do the masking, a light sanding and brushing...and then nothing more for another three years.

[capt_douglas]

I don't find the task of maintaining the brightwork drudgery. I very much like the look of a nicely varnished cap rail, eyebrows, hatches, or coamings. I find it very satisifying and relaxing.

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by jackiepitts

So where are the pictures?
Jackie

Jackie,
Don't even think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It would be a crime against humanity.
Vic

[bljones]

Some people fish, I varnish. Brightwork is nautical zen for me. I confess, on days when the lake is like glass, i'll head out, set the sails, set the autopilot, and lay on another coat of my secret high quality low-cost varnish to the brightwork in need.

[jackiepitts]

ahhhh Vic....don't worry I am not serious about it. Just curious if it looks as good as the OP seems to think. Truth be told I don't mind varnishing and am somewhat addicted to the high I get when I see beautiful varnish work.
Jackie

[PamlicoTraveler]

We have a boat with a lot of teak and thus a lot of varnish. We like it that way and enjoy the process, but I will say I can understand those who don't. I think it's beautiful, but if it keeps you from sailing as much then it could be a negative.

Some of my boating friends have very strong feelings about this and are quick to tell you they wouldn't have a bit of teak on their boat.

Suum Cuique is what I say!

[tager]

Tell me, is your secret high qual low cost varnish helmsman? Or what?

[boatman61]

You varnish teak...???
Man... what a load of heathens... teak should never be varnished... or painted...
It has natural oils that will keep lifting varnish etc...
Theres only one way teak brightwork should be treated and thats with teak oil.... a wipe over every 6mths or so is all it needs... why do folks insist on making work for themselves... is it worth the effort to be the 'Sparkliest Boat' in the marina...??
Bit like the old best garden in the street addiction...lmao

[bljones]

Originally Posted by tager

Tell me, is your secret high qual low cost varnish helmsman? Or what?

Nay nay, my friend. But, if i told you, it wouldn't be a secret. I'll give you a hint- it is Canadian, available at a HARDWARE store, likely close to your HOME.

(I say, boy, I say, if you don't figger this one out, we're gonna have to discuss your status.)

[jackiepitts]

It is true I enjoy things that are pleasing to the eye.
Guilty as charged.

[NotQuiteLost]

It's funny that teak, the sole wood choice for those who don't like to varnish, ends up getting varnished by everyone because they don't like the dry, weathered look of it.

Ah well, it really is about what turns your motor, so if the payoff for varnishing is higher than the cost and aggravation of doing so, more power to ya!

[clsailor]

I started using a product called Honey Teak about 9 years ago. It is a acrylic urethane enamel. I had alot of people ask me what type of varnish I was using, it looks that good. I have a 1977 Cheoy Lee Clipper 36 with alot of exterior wood, mast, booms, cabin sides, toe rail, etc. I just re coated this year after 9 years of doing nothing other than admiring. Will post pictures tomorrow. This is a great product and is easy to use. Ten to twelve coats all in one day.