Captain's Coat..?

Well, talking varnsih here, not the coat with the 4 stripes...

Time for a complete strip job and found a proffesional who is doing an excellent job so far.

He wants to use Epifanes Clear and swear 15 coats will last 2 years, but still recommends 2 maintenance coats per yer.

I am for trying something new, the previous stuff was Bristol Finish and although it last long, it needed careful prep and application.
My previous varnish guy was not up the taks with the Bristol and we got cracks and separation, etc.

So, what is the opinions and experiences with Epifanes in the Florida and Bahamas sun?

Ouch, 2 new coats every second month...?

I worked for Offshore Yachts a few years ago and remember they used Epifanes on the external teak with Polyurethane coatings on top of the varnish.
I could go that route too, but would like feedback from Offshore Yachts owners or captains.
How long does it last in the sun, etc..?

Maintenance coats every 2 moths is too much.

In my younger days in the Caribe on a wooden boat, we used traditional amber varnish and had to lay a coat on every 3 to 4 months.
(Pain in the butt, hoping this Epifanes stuff would be much more lasting)

Hmm, mixing 2 different brand of varnish...?

I am ready for twice a year as well now that I found a guy that is very good, charges a reasonable wage, and is available whenever I need him.

(His phone number will remain a secret... )

Hmm, twice a year in the North East...?

Does it go dull at the end of the season, or is the hard sanding and the 3 coats just preventive maintenance?

I would guess the sun in Florida and the Bahamas would require a doubling of the New England maintenance..

Oh well, not going back to Bristol Finish anyway. That stuff was hard to repair and it got strange blisters that would grow bigger and when popped there was nothing underneat. (No water or air pressure, the stuff just lifted)
The manufactor would probably say that I did not apply it properly and he would be right. Hard to do a perfect job on external brightwork in the tropics except in an air condtioned hangar.
That is where varnish is a bit more forgiving than the high tech coatings who promises a longer life.

My varnish expert promises 2 years with 15 coats of Epifanes. With what I have read here on these pages I would be hesitant to try it.
Right now in the middel of the strip job and the hours are rolling away and we are not even half there yet.

A couple of preventive coats now and then would save another strip job down the road..Way to go and thanks for the comments.

Bingo.

That is the plan:

My varnish man has considerable experience in the field, but he is new to me.
He told me this story when Epifanes first came to the US: The local rep handed him a can and said, try this!
My varnish guy were pleased with the product and never looked back. (Now sure how long ago, but probably 20+ years with using only Epifanes)

He explained how he thins the first 5 coats, gradually increasing to full octane. Then 8 coats of varnish, then he thins again for the last couple of coats.
(Not sure of the logic on that last part, but him being far more experienced than me, I will let him do his own thing.)

This guy have worked on 125' wooden yachts and done as many as 25 coats on a single mast.

Tall stories, but so far I am very impressed with the workmanship and attention to details. He is also a hard worker putting in 8 to 9 hours in the July Florida sun without taking a break.
Based on that, I will let him do it his way and I am fairly confident on the results.

(My varnish guy came highly recommended from my previous varnish guy: A lad I had to fire as he was too slow: 29 hours prep for a maintenance coat and no wet brush yet. We stayed in touch however on him doing other jobs, washing and waxing boats and so on. My previous varnish guy recommended this old timer with the Epifanes experience and that is why I started this thread: Is Epifanes as good as my new guy says.....? Based on the above replies..Perhaps not..?)

Thanks Garry.

I will add your comments to my data base..Every comment on the Epifanes subject is good right now.

(The varnish job is on my own boat, not a client's or a customer's or somebody else's boat)

Man is this a small world or what.

Guess who is on my boat right now sanding away?

Mr. Green

Yes, I am very pleased so far.

He shows up at 0630 every day and keeps plugging along doing an excellent job.

I will say hello from you..

The famous Mr. Green, varnish expert as well as a gentleman

Digging up an old thread here:
Mr. Greene did a nice job.
We put on 15 coats of Epiphanes with 5 more after a few months.
Then from 2007 to 2013, five maintenance coats per year.
The sanding and prep was where the hours went on the maintenance coats, hence I had him do 5 instead of 2.
We did this every May and at the end the varnish was dull and slightly crazed, but I decided to go that route in preparation for the strain summer sun.
It came to $1,000 per year, all included.
Sold the boat in 2013.
Here is recent picture before I sold it:

Me too.
Way past varnished external teak in my life..
That being said, I briefly considered the trawler on the picture, but more teak than God could maintain. $42k is not a bad price however..