Sale of Oil & Clear Varnishes for Boat
Are you looking for reliable protection from water, salt and ultraviolet radiation for your yacht? The topRik marketplace has already selected for you transparent and oil-based varnishes from the best manufacturers of paints and varnishes for sea and river vessels. Properly selected oil and clear varnishes will not only protect your yacht, but will also give it a spectacular and luxurious appearance.
You can get a free consultation on any product from right now – through the website’s feedback form or by calling the number listed on this page. Or you can send a message to [email protected].
Benefits of Oil & Clear Varnishes
Varnish is a transparent coating, essentially paint without pigment. It is the solid substance that remains after the liquid mixture of resin and oil dries. The transparent composition protects the wood without hiding the natural beauty of the wood. In the universal scheme of processing wooden surfaces: cleaning, protection, preparation, decoration, finishing - varnishing corresponds to the fifth and final stage.
If wood is not protected from water, wind, sunlight, aquatic microorganisms and bugs, it will eventually rot, dry out or be eaten away by insects. So the first reason why the wooden surfaces of a yacht are varnished is protection from harmful influences, and the second is to preserve the aesthetic appearance of natural wood.
Correctly selected oil & clear varnishes for yachts are exactly those compositions that provide:
- UV protection. From constant exposure to the tropical sun, wood loses its natural moisture, resins and soft core. As a result, decks and other parts of the yacht become deformed and lose strength.
- Water resistance. Most of the time the yacht is in the water, and in salt water, which has a destructive effect on the tree. Water of any salinity contains microorganisms that spread over the surface of the wood. In an unprotected tree, mushrooms take up residence, mold grows, and woodworms infest. All this very quickly leads to the destruction of the wooden parts of the ship.
- Preservation of the natural beauty of the tree. Almost all of the above harmful factors violate the integrity of wood fibers, deform the wood, change its radiant color, leave unevenness, traces of rotting, etc.
Oil and clear durable varnishes for yachts will relieve their owners for several seasons from all problems associated with the negative effects of atmospheric phenomena, and will protect them from aquatic microorganisms and wood-boring insects.
How to Choose the Right Varnish for a Yacht
The correct choice of varnish determines whether you can maximize all of their above advantages. Therefore, you should know the main types of varnish coatings that are used when caring for a yacht.
The most important thing is that you should choose a product from manufacturers who produce paint and varnish compositions specifically for vessels. Any yacht varnish is suitable for construction needs, but not all products are suitable for a boat. The elasticity of the varnish coating is considered an important parameter: some elements of the deck and other parts of the yacht are subject to vibration, but the coating should not crack. To choose a yacht varnish, you need to pay attention to the composition, properties and understand what it will be used for.
Types of Varnish Coatings
There are several categories into which varnishes are classified. We are interested in classification by chemical composition, since the scope of application of varnishes depends on it.
Yacht varnish mainly consists of four ingredients: resin, oils or drying oils, solvent and additives. The main component is polymer resins: alkyd (based on phthalic acid), urethane, polyurethane. Oils are considered the second most important element. The highest quality varnishes have a higher oil content. Instead of drying oil, they use boiled linseed or tung oil. Less expensive products use drying oil or cheaper oils.
The solvent is most often white spirit or naphtha (a general term for mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from natural gas condensates, petroleum distillates and the distillation of coal tar and peat).
There are water-based varnishes too. Their solids content is low, so to fully protect wood with a water-based product, you will need to apply twice as many layers as a solvent-based product. As a rule, water-based varnishes are not used for treating boats and yachts.
UV stabilizers are used as additives to increase the resistance of the coating to sunlight.
When choosing a varnish, it is important to pay attention to the composition, but another important selection parameter is the dry residue indicator. This is the content of dry substances in the varnish film as a percentage of the composition of the varnish in the can. It is desirable that in one-component formulations this figure reaches 40%, and in two-component formulations – up to 80%.
Varnishes are classified according to the main component included in the composition - synthetic resins: alkyd, alkyd-urethane, urethane -alkyd, polyurethane.
Alkyd
As a rule, alkyd varnishes are used to treat wooden surfaces of boats and yachts. They are a mixture of synthetic alkyd resins with organic solvents. Alkyd varnishes have the following advantages:
- fit well, adhere firmly to the wood;
- characterized by high moisture resistance - this is the most reliable coating in terms of moisture resistance;
- increased resistance to vibrations;
- lack of adhesive properties. Individual wooden slats treated with alkyd varnish do not stick together;
- good transparency - emphasizes the texture of wood without clouding;
- ease of application - the thick consistency allows you to evenly distribute the composition over the surface without the formation of drips.
After curing, alkyd varnish forms a durable film of high hardness. The downside is that alkyd resins take a long time to polymerize, so drying takes a lot of time. Some manufacturers introduce special additives into the composition that speed up the drying rate of the layer.
Alkyd-urethane
This type of varnish based on alkyd-urethane resins is cheaper than alkyd, but it reliably protects the wood from blue stains, mold, rot, fungi and insects. It can be applied not only to wooden but also metal surfaces.
Advantages of alkyd-urethane varnishes:
- compatibility with most paints and materials - alkyd, epoxy, urethane-alkyd enamels;
- resistance to adverse factors: water, wind, chemicals; after treatment, the vessel can withstand fresh and salt water conditions;
- high wear resistance, coating service life - at least 5 years.
According to statistics, this product is considered one of the most popular. Buyers are attracted by the low cost of the product, as well as its increased wear resistance.
Urethane-alkyd
In urethane-alkyd varnishes, the dominant substances are urethanes. Advantages of urethane-alkyd compounds are:
- plasticity combined with strength;
- resistance to temperature changes - does not crack when heated;
- durability - the coating can last up to 10 years.
By reducing the amount of alkyds and increasing the more flexible urethanes, this product is less toxic and can be used for interior and exterior applications.
Polyurethane, or Oil-based vs. Clear Varnish
Polyurethane varnishes are produced on an oil and water basis. Oil-based polyurethanes form a harder finish and last longer, but may crack. Older versions of oil-based polyurethanes tend to give the wood a slightly yellow color. Modern transparent polyurethane varnishes do not turn yellow and are very resistant to most chemical loads.
Water-based polyurethane varnishes are a little softer and do not last as long as oil-based ones. They are completely transparent, without a yellowish tint. When varnishing a surface, allow one coat to cure completely, then lightly sand it before applying a second coat.
One-, Two- and Three-component. Which is Better?
One-component yacht varnishes are not as durable as two-component yacht varnishes. They are known for their ease of use, but may not last as long in harsh environments.
The advantage of two-component compounds is that they last longer and are much more resistant to abrasion.
Nowadays, even three-component yacht varnishes have appeared. They form an ultra-hard coating with a good appearance. At the same time, it is more difficult to work with them, and the resulting coating is hard, but less plastic. If the part is bent, the three-component varnish may crack. It is better to treat fixed parts with three-component compounds.
Coating Preparation and Application of Oil & Clear Varnishes
Every 7-10 years the old paintwork must be removed. This is done using a gas torch, blowtorch or effective solvent. Once all the coating has been removed, the freeboards are treated in the same way as on a new wooden boat, including antiseptic soaking, priming and sanding.
The underwater sides and bottom are washed with a stream of water under high pressure, thoroughly cleaned with a stiff brush and also washed with fresh water. If the coating on the bottom peels off, make a selective or complete repair. The soft coating from the bottom is removed with a cleaner; hard and self-polishing coatings are easier to remove with a solvent. The surface is then thoroughly washed with fresh water, sometimes with a small amount of ammonia added, and finished with a fresh water rinse. After this, the bottom is treated in the same way as on a new vessel.
Alkyd-based compositions are recommended to be applied with a brush with natural bristles. Consumption – 1 liter for approximately 10-13 sq. m. Work is carried out at a temperature not lower than +10º C. Drying time for one layer takes no more than 4 hours at a temperature of +20º C and a humidity of 65%. Complete polymerization occurs within 5 days.
Alkyd varnish is distributed evenly over the surface, leaving no uncovered spots in 2-3 layers. Sometimes it is necessary to perform interlayer sanding.
The drying time for alkyd-urethane varnishes to touch-free at a temperature of +20°C is at least 30 minutes. Drying time at +20°C is 6-8 hours, the second layer can be applied after 24 hours.
If you are varnishing a layer of paint, the smartest way is to use a compatible varnish on the same base.
When varnishing bare wood, you can use almost any varnish, but before starting work, carefully read the instructions for use.
The choice of a one-component or two-component composition depends on the preferences of the buyer. In theory, two-piece ones require more work initially, but they last longer and reduce maintenance work later.
One-component yacht varnishes are easy to use and will allow you to get the job done faster: multiple coats can be applied without sanding.
Two-component varnishes must be mixed before use. In most cases, the base and hardener (activator) are in separate jars: you need to pour the contents of one container into another and stir well. It is important to keep the proportions correctly. In most formulations the proportional ratio of base and activator is 1:1.
Two-part varnishes contain isocyanates, so many of them are intended to be applied by professionals. They can be applied by brush, using standard precautions: gloves, eye protection, respirator. Isocyanates are not recommended for spraying because small particles can cause lung damage.
Due to the high hardness of the coating, a two-component varnish cannot be applied over a one-component varnish - they are incompatible with each other.
FAQ
Which varnish is best to choose to protect a wooden surface?
It depends on what effect you want to achieve. Carefully read the characteristics of all types above and choose the one that suits you.
How many layers of varnish need to be applied
It depends on the type of varnish and the condition of the yacht - from 2 to 8. The instructions for the composition must describe the technique of applying varnish, including the number of layers.
Do I need to sand the surface between coats of varnish?
Yes, this is necessary to increase adhesion between layers and strengthen the entire coating.
How long does the varnish drying process take?
Depending on the type of varnish, the drying process can vary from several hours to several days.
Can I use oil or clear varnish inside a cabin?
Both types of varnish can be used to decorate cabins. The main thing is to choose the right composition. The more oils it contains, the more suitable the varnish is for exterior finishing, since there the wood is less stable and more prone to change in size.
If the varnish contains more resins, then it is more rigid; such varnishes are usually used for finishing cabins and indoor objects, for example, furniture, etc. - these objects are less susceptible to changing their size.
Modern varnish compositions from the best manufacturers do not contain harmful substances, which previously limited their use inside cabins. But if the description indicates precautions, they must be strictly followed.
How to protect a varnished surface from scratches and wear
To protect the varnished surface, our marketplace offers a large selection of wax-based compounds.