The Varnished Truth

Exterior wood on a fiberglass boat adds a touch of warmth, tradition, and style that cannot be duplicated any other way.

- Steve Zimmerman

From a purely functional point of view, exterior wood makes no sense at all, but for most of us boats are more than purely functional objects. I’ve always thought that for a boat to be the right one for you, it must pass a simple test: when you leave in the dinghy, do you find yourself looking back and admiring her? If you feel compelled to make a lap around the boat before heading ashore, all the better. After all, in addition to safely transporting you and your crew from points A to B, a boat should tug at your heartstrings along the way.

Wood needs attention, and boat owners must choose from a daunting array of care options. Before we look into the pros and cons of the coating choices, we need to look at the conditions that determine the longevity of the finish. Coatings face four threats: UV exposure, abrasion, moisture, and movement. As soon as you apply the last coat of finish, the elements begin their attack. Ultraviolet rays break down the chemical structure of the coating. Paints include pigments that block out UV rays, but clear finishes struggle in this area. Abrasion comes in the form of chafe from lines, salt crystals left to dry, and dirty shoes. Moisture might pose the strongest threat. If moisture collects in the wood beneath the coating, the bond will break down causing discoloration, at best, and loss of adhesion of the coating from the surface, at worst. Finally, movement of the wood surface, especially at joints, can wreak havoc with the finish.