Glen-L.com

I've got some pine planking that was varnished several years ago, and the varnish is cracked and pulling off some places. They get a lot of direct sun, and sanding and re-varnishing doesn't last more than a year--even though I use a marine grade varnish with high UV protection. A complete sanding down to bare wood isn't really practical--so I'd like to avoid it as much as possible. Is there any way to prepare the wood for another coat of varnish that will make it last better that doesn't involve sanding to bare wood?

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One-Armed Red

Yes and no depending how good you want it to look. It is possible to sand off the bad areas and feathering the edges of the varnish that is still holding. Then apply a thined coat to the bare areas after which you would sand all the hull and put on a second full strength coat. After years of fighting the same problem on my bright work I have gone to a two part varnish. It can not be put over old one part varnish so first time it is a bit of work. The transom on my boat get the sun from noon on and is still looking good after two years. This fall I will give it a light sanding and re coat and it will be good for another two or three years.