CRAFTSMANSHIP WOOD FINISHES
Far left: Good maintenance can take less work with the right product Left: The warm glow of conventional varnish on oak
CB ‘Pass’ products and their star rating Stars (*) Test
This isn’t a list of all the candidates; only ‘Pass’ products are listed: Product
ongoing?
CONVENTIONAL VARNISHES Prima varnish
Epifanes varnish
Skippers Starwind UV varnish Hempel (Blakes) Classic varnish Le Tonkinois organic varnish Jotun Ravilakk Seajet UV
Nauteco Coma Bernice TWO-TIN VARNISH UV-Tech two-tin varnish WATER-BASED WOODSEALER Burgess Hydrosol water-based woodsealer EXTERIOR WOODSTAIN
Sikkens Novatech ext’ woodstain Sikkens Cetol Marine
(International Woodskin) Sikkens Filter 7
Sadolin Ultra (two-pot) Sadolin Ultra (single-pot)
TWO-PACK (CATALYSED) VARNISH
Skippers Poliglass/Acriglass two-pack varnish Seajet Polyurethane Gloss
FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE Coelan flexible polyurethane Uroxsys
** to date Yes (series 3) *( *)
Very high ****( of 42 months **** Excess of 54 months (*) Distinction – narrowly missed the next star *** Excess * Excess of 18 months exposure on the test rig ** Excess of 30 months
(z): Based on price, coverage rate and number of coats required. For more information on these products, see the relevant launch features in CB March 2004 (Series 1), CB April 2008 (Series 2) and CB May 2010 (Series 3)
80 CLASSIC BOAT APRIL 2012 ** to date Yes (Series 3) *)
*The Star rating The Star rating works as follows. All star-rated products are also CB ‘Pass’ products.
****
** to date Yes (Series 3) ** to date Yes (Series 3)
** to date Yes (Series 3) ** to date Yes (Series 3)
Moderately low
** *
** ** **
SERIES 2: RESULTS AFTER 4½ YEARS
Cost, applied (by type) z Low
3-Star pass for Hempel
*** **(
*)
*( ** to date Yes (Series 3) ** to date Yes (Series 3)
*) High Very low Very low SERIES 1: UPDATE AFTER 8½ YEARS Two 4-Stars stick it out
When we commenced these tests back in 2003 we never dreamt we’d still be reporting on the first batch 8½ years later. In 2008 we announced our joint winners from this series, the high-solids exterior woodstain Sikkens Novatech and the flexible polyurethane Coelan. They both achieved the highest result to date, notching up 4 Stars. With Series 2 now concluded, this continues to be the highest bar to date.
Coelan had the edge on Novatech as it retained a good level of gloss and translucency, and it still does! For this it was awarded a distinction star. Like austere masters of all they survey these two warhorses remain up on the rig, challenging their successors, because – simply – they won’t go away. Sure, they failed along their sharp edges four years ago but beyond that they carry on undaunted, the defect at the sharp upper corners having not spread much further.
Out the two Series 2 products that achieved CB 2-Star Passes (30 months), UV-tech, the Danish alkyd/tung oil coating, and Hempel (Blakes) Classic, only one, the Hempel Classic, made it through the next gate, at 42 months, thereby achieving its 3-Star Pass, the first conventional varnish to do so. It didn’t make it to the 4-Star level, though at 54 months Hempel Classic was still looking pretty good. It has become frail and speckles of grey wood are just perceptible along the edges and in places on the surface. These are most noticeable when wet. Nonetheless it retains an impressive gloss for a product that has been exposed for so long. As a well-established marine wood finish, it appears to be capable of delivering at least two years of maintenance freedom in temperate latitudes.
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