Varnishes

1K or 2K clear coat?

1. 1K varnish, such as Epifanes Boat Varnish Clear or Hempel Classic Varnish, air-dries and is easy to touch up. That is why it is the most popular varnish for woodwork on board.
2. 2K varnish, such as De IJssel Double Coat, Epifanes PU Karaat, Epifanes PP Varnish Extra or Nelf Nelfadur Varnish 2DN, hardens with a hardener. That layer is harder, more wear-resistant and stays beautiful longer, but requires careful application.

You usually cannot apply 2K varnish over 1K varnish.

Outside, inside or on the floor

For outdoor woodwork, choose a varnish with UV protection and build up five to eight coats. Inside the cabin, three to four coats of an interior varnish, such as Epifanes Aqua Marine Interior Varnish or De IJssel Double Coat Cabin Varnish, are often sufficient. For floors and stairs, there are hard floor varnishes, such as Nelf Nelfalin Hard Floor Varnish.

Teak and stain

Teak contains a lot of oil, which can hinder the adhesion of varnish. Therefore, degrease the teak just before varnishing, or choose an oil or sealer treatment such as Epifanes Teak Oil Sealer. If you want to give the wood a warmer colour, use a stain first, such as Epifanes Teak Stain or Mahogany Stain.

This is how you get a smooth varnish layer

Sand bare wood up to grit 180, thin the first coat so that it penetrates the wood and sand between the coats with grit 240 to 320. Do not varnish in direct sunlight and stop in time before the evening dew. You can read all the steps in Clear varnishing of woodwork on board. Varnish brushes and sanding materials can be found at brushesand sanding and grinding.