Doing the big varnish job. Stripped all handrails and caprails down to bare wood and applied new varnish.

Before:

1. Stripped all of the old varnish with a heatgun and various scrapers

2. Machine sanded with a random orbital. 60 grit, then 220 grit

3. Applied 3 coats of CPES, one right after the other. CPES is very easy to use and the effect of sealing the wood prior to applying varnish results in an excellent surface.

4. Applied Z-Spar Captain's. This shot is after one coat. I plan on applying at least 6 of Captain's (for build-up) followed by 2 Z-Spar Flagship. Captain's is wonderful to use. It goes on easy, flows out well, dries quickly, and is very forgiving. I use it with no thinning or additives and I'm very happy with the results so far. I have completed five coats, roughing up between coats with a fine sanding sponge.

One Coat:

Five Coats:

I noticed that the teak for my rails is a bit darker than teak I have in other places. I also compared it to a few other local GB's. No matter how much I sanded and bleached, the color remained the same. However, I am still very happy with the results and I know the work I've done on this project will last as long as I own the boat.