Fan mail
Whoo! I must be getting famous. I got a nice letter today:
"Hi there--
I read your posts on the Wooden Boat website with interest--and your profile says you are a boatbuilder in Maine. I think you would definitely know the answer to my question--
I just bought a (Maine built) boat with a considerable amount of brightwork--yep, part of the charm. The boat is kept outside for the winter (I'm in Connecticut) and now I'm beginning to think about just when I can do the varnishing. She's supposed to be launched in early May...but the yard will be abuzz with all sorts of bottom sanding, etc., going on. I am thinking very bad thoughts about my boat neighbors putting evil grit into the wind that will destroy my efforts at varnishing.
-->Just how warm does it have to be to have varnish set up and dry nicely??? The brightwork is great--I will probably only do one coat this spring and then another this fall. BUT I think it's going to be too cold in April to start the varnishing--what do you think?
Best,
Carolyn"
to which i replied:
Hi there Carolyn,
The manufacturer of your choice of varnish will have the *ideal* application temperature printed on the can (or somewhere else on their product literature). However, the general rule of thumb for varnish is the same as for paint, you want at least 50 degrees (f) for a coat to set properly. One real challenge in spring is the variation between night/daytime temperatures, and the dew that falls in the early morning.
If this is a seasonal touch-up coat, you shouldn't stress too much about your results- the base coats will maintain the "luster", the top coat merely provides the "gloss". Just make sure you scuff the surface well and *really* clean off the dirt, grit, salt, etc. from the surface. I like to lightly scuff the surface with 220 grits 3m paper (others like scotchbrite or various other scuffing agents) and then vacuum it, and THEN use a tack cloth to remove any traces of grit.
If you're stuck in a boatyard environment, the best you can really do is set up a windbreak and pick a time when there is little activity- try late afternoon.
If Connecticut may is anything like Maine may, you should be fine- but do it in the afternoon after all the morning dew has burned off. (And have patience, if you want to do more than one coat, wait for that first coat to set, even if you have to wait more than one day. All tackiness should be gone.)
As a last resort, comfort yourself that you, and only you will be aware of the HIDEOUS, TERRIBLE, HORRIFYING gaps, gapes, smears, streaks and runs in your varnish. All your guests, family & friends will give the customary courtesy glance at the bright work and go back to talking about their jobs/kids/stocks/etc.
As a person who loves wood, remember that varnish is an illusory, temporal distraction. Only the soul of the ship and the wide open sea, are real.
Good luck!
-Cullen T.M. McGough
"Hi there--
I read your posts on the Wooden Boat website with interest--and your profile says you are a boatbuilder in Maine. I think you would definitely know the answer to my question--
I just bought a (Maine built) boat with a considerable amount of brightwork--yep, part of the charm. The boat is kept outside for the winter (I'm in Connecticut) and now I'm beginning to think about just when I can do the varnishing. She's supposed to be launched in early May...but the yard will be abuzz with all sorts of bottom sanding, etc., going on. I am thinking very bad thoughts about my boat neighbors putting evil grit into the wind that will destroy my efforts at varnishing.
-->Just how warm does it have to be to have varnish set up and dry nicely??? The brightwork is great--I will probably only do one coat this spring and then another this fall. BUT I think it's going to be too cold in April to start the varnishing--what do you think?
Best,
Carolyn"
to which i replied:
Hi there Carolyn,
The manufacturer of your choice of varnish will have the *ideal* application temperature printed on the can (or somewhere else on their product literature). However, the general rule of thumb for varnish is the same as for paint, you want at least 50 degrees (f) for a coat to set properly. One real challenge in spring is the variation between night/daytime temperatures, and the dew that falls in the early morning.
If this is a seasonal touch-up coat, you shouldn't stress too much about your results- the base coats will maintain the "luster", the top coat merely provides the "gloss". Just make sure you scuff the surface well and *really* clean off the dirt, grit, salt, etc. from the surface. I like to lightly scuff the surface with 220 grits 3m paper (others like scotchbrite or various other scuffing agents) and then vacuum it, and THEN use a tack cloth to remove any traces of grit.
If you're stuck in a boatyard environment, the best you can really do is set up a windbreak and pick a time when there is little activity- try late afternoon.
If Connecticut may is anything like Maine may, you should be fine- but do it in the afternoon after all the morning dew has burned off. (And have patience, if you want to do more than one coat, wait for that first coat to set, even if you have to wait more than one day. All tackiness should be gone.)
As a last resort, comfort yourself that you, and only you will be aware of the HIDEOUS, TERRIBLE, HORRIFYING gaps, gapes, smears, streaks and runs in your varnish. All your guests, family & friends will give the customary courtesy glance at the bright work and go back to talking about their jobs/kids/stocks/etc.
As a person who loves wood, remember that varnish is an illusory, temporal distraction. Only the soul of the ship and the wide open sea, are real.
Good luck!
-Cullen T.M. McGough
posted by Cullen T.M. McGough at 8:32 PM
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