Varnish: Prevention is the best medicine

One of the most stunning elements of your Morris Yacht is the contoured varnished teak trim. When properly maintained, glistening teak preserves the boat’s value and is a source of pride.

Teak is biodegradable. To prevent discoloration, cracking, or worse yet, replacement, teak requires protection from the elements. Marine varnish is widely accepted to provide the best level of protection for your teak. Varnish is a sacrificial product with a limited lifecycle that requires maintenance. The environmental effects of ultraviolet radiation and thermal cycling break-down the varnish and it becomes brittle. If varnish is allowed to break-down long enough, micro fissures develop and the protective properties of varnish become compromised. This condition called ‘crazing’ is best repaired by heavy sanding the affected areas followed by the application of several coats of varnish. This process, though eventually necessary, can be delayed by taking certain preventative measures. All the efforts and expenses spent maintaining the varnish are simply to stay ahead of the environmentally induced degradation process.

Prevention is the best medicine to protect your teak. As a minimum for northern boaters, an annual varnish maintenance program is recommended. Varnish degrades in as few as three months. Southern boaters may require a semi-annual program. Morris has seen excellent results in the northeast by applying a mid-season coat of varnish. Boats that have participated in this highly recommended practice typically enjoy less expensive varnish bills in the off-season. Through years of collective experience, Morris Technicians have developed unsurpassed expertise in the science and application of marine varnish. We can develop a custom tailored program that’s best for your boat and best for your budget. Please call or email the Morris Service Team so we may assist you in preserving the integrity and beauty of your teak.

To give you a sense of the process and for those you might want to try their hand at this, I have briefly outlined the process we follow included the materials.

Exterior Varnish
1. Examine your teak find where water may have migrated in and caused the varnish to lift. The varnish will have a light look and milky color. Tape edges with 3M 1" or 2" Yellow vinyl Tape # 471
2. Lightly scrape lifted areas with a Red Devil 1" paint scrapper. Only remove the dead varnishes. Be careful not to damage the wood.
3. Let the affected areas dry out
4. Sand affected area with a 180 grit 3M sandpaper Gold or Trimite is preferred. Sand 3" beyond affected areas removing all hard edges.
5. Wash with Sterling denatured alcohol and a clean white T-shirt type rag.
6. After alcohol dries, coat the affected area with one coat of Epifanes Gloss varnish thinned 100% with Epifanes brushing thinner using a badger-hair type brush sized accordingly. This is your sealer coat. Let sit 24 hours at 70 degrees.
7. Scuff area with a 3M red scotch bright pad and touch up with Epifanes wood finish gloss straight out of the can. Then let sit 24 hours at 70 degrees and repeat a total of three times.
8. Sand touched-up area with 3M 220 Gold or Trimite sandpaper. Sanding 3 "-5" beyond repair.
9. Repeat step 7 until grain is filled and touch up has blended together.
10. Let repair area dry for two to three days at 70 degrees then sand wit 320 3M Gold or Trimite finding a good place to start and stop.
11. Vacuum up dust. Clean as in step 5. Then use a painters tack rag as a final clean.
12. Apply one final coat of Epifanes Gloss vanish with a badger-hair brush and let dry.

If you have any questions please give me a call and we will do all we can do to help.

Thank you

Glendon Stanley
207-244-5511

The Morris Service Team at Morris Yachts

This is the second in a regular series of Service Enews. Please feel free to email suggestions to service@morrisyachts.com