Repair & maintenance: Emergency Varnish?

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Emergency Varnish?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9982
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 12:47pm
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Topic: Emergency Varnish?

Posted By: EuropeGBR395
Subject: Emergency Varnish?
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:14pm

Hi,

I am due to take my Europe down to the BUCS event in Plym this weekend however I am having varnish issues!! It is a wooden veneer over fibreglass construction, but the varnish has come off on one patch about 8 inches wide towards the bow.

Apart from it looking scruffy, I am concerned about sailing when the bare wood is exposed. Does anyone have any advice on how to do an emergency repair? Even something temporary to stop any damage during the event.

Bear in mind I still live in my student house so getting it in a shed isn't an option!!

Replies:

Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:32pm

sponsorship/ event stickers, perhaps some sticky back plastic

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Musto Skiff and Solo sailor

Posted By: EuropeGBR395
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:40pm

Would vinyl stickers or something work?? And where the hell would I get that from??

Anything I can pick up at B&Q??

Posted By: kfz
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:54pm

Assuming its a single pack varnish then just lash some International Original on it and bung the a worklight on it. By touch dry in 4 hours.

If its a 2 pack then your got more serious problem Id just leave it bare wood, it will dry out. If its wet for a few hours it wont do it any harm.

Kev

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GP14 Fleet Captain
Liverpool Sailing Club

http://www.liverpoolsailingclub.org/ - Liverpool SC

Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:56pm

Go and buy some fablon from B&Q, its a waterproof sticky back plastic. I have used it loads of times.

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Posted By: EuropeGBR395
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 9:58pm

Its 2 pack unfortunately!!

I will investigate Fablon and see if I can convince my boss to let me leave work early tomorrow so I can make it before it closes!

Posted By: EuropeGBR395
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 10:01pm

Fablon doesnt seem to exist any more!

Would this be a completely rubbish alternative?

http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/wallpaper-wall-stickers/wall-stickers/sticky_back_plastic/Static-Cling-Film-Frost-11807531

Posted By: bert
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 10:07pm

This assumes that the wood is dry.

Lightly Sand the area of the bear wood to key it & to removed the edges of lifted varnish then re varnish with a trad varish that is thinned down with thinners by about 30% let this dry for about 24 hours & this will protect the wood.

Then if you have enough time put a second coat on while the first coat is still a little tackly of the same varnish but un thinned.

If you then put a low watt bulb in the forward tank to help heat the surface from the inside this will speed up the drying time ready for the weekend.

Because you are doing this outside you might be able to use a woodsealant for Ronseal. Quick drying & varnish like finish but only for a temp repair. B&Q might well have that.

I am sure that Nessa, Jim C or Rubert will be able to give better or quicker solutions to your problems but for me that would work as a good water proofing - come temp solution for the week end without defacing your boat with stickers.

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Phantom 1181
AC-227 IC 304
blaze / halo 586

Posted By: EuropeGBR395
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 10:12pm

I won't have time to do that as I work full time and there are no lights at our club in Llandegfedd after it gets dark unfortunately!

Its 2 pack on it at the moment and I can see that the problem was the initial application. The base wasn't 'roughed up' enough and it simply isn't sticking, so its peeling off. Surely a sticker (hopefully I will find a clear one) will be removable, as I will have to remove all the varnish anyway?

Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 10:32pm

A smear of Araldite Rapid. Cured in 5 mins. Used that on the rod ring whippings on my fishing rods in 1988 and have yet to have to do anything else!

When you revarnish treat whole surface with epoxy before varnishing. Then varnish is only there to protect the epoxy from UV.

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Gordon

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 30 Oct 12 at 10:58pm

I'd just brush some more two pot on there and get it under cover as much as possible. Even if you just drape a plastic bag over it and the plastic bag sticks to the varnish all it will do is look ugly, and you'll have the least trouble long term. Get up early and put the varnish on before you go to work:-)

Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 31 Oct 12 at 7:24am

Homebase still sell fablon.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10151&langId=110&q=FABLON - http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10151&langId=110&q=FABLON

It wont look massively pretty but it has done the trick for me several times. I managed to sail half a season in my wooden Phantom with a fist size hole in the side deck (don't ask) with some fablon and a bit of ply wedged on top. It will keep the area dry enough and wont need stripping back like chemical alternatives.

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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Oct 12 at 7:41am

I wouldn't put anything on it sticker wise. The veneers used on Europes are remarkably fine, so the chances are if it gets wet under the fablon/whatever, when you come to pull it off, the whole lot will come away and leave you with a much bigger problem. It might work on ply, but not veneers.

I would go to B&Q or whatever and look for some quick dry spray on varnish and put some of that on. If you can't find that use sadolin or ronseal.

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the same, but different...

Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 31 Oct 12 at 7:46am

I think it would be worth giving this a try;

http://www.ryman.co.uk/1301045180/Tenza-Book-Covering-Roll-500mm-x-1m/Product - http://www.ryman.co.uk/1301045180/Tenza-Book-Covering-Roll-500mm-x-1m/Product

Don't know how well it will stay stuck in a marine enviroment, but you can use it for covering (waterproofing) maps. just be sure corners /edges are not left exposed to lift.

Cheap quick fix and there must be a Ryman's or other stationers fairly nearby for you.

Comes in smaller sizes (A4 etc.) for covering books.

Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 31 Oct 12 at 7:54am

Originally posted by Andymac

I think it would be worth giving this a try;

http://www.ryman.co.uk/1301045180/Tenza-Book-Covering-Roll-500mm-x-1m/Product - http://www.ryman.co.uk/1301045180/Tenza-Book-Covering-Roll-500mm-x-1m/Product

Don't know how well it will stay stuck in a marine enviroment, but you can use it for covering (waterproofing) maps. just be sure corners /edges are not left exposed to lift.

Cheap quick fix and there must be a Ryman's or other stationers fairly nearby for you.

Comes in smaller sizes (A4 etc.) for covering books.

Edit; I wouldn't wish to contradict Nessa (was preparing my offering when she posted). She probably knows more about getting old wooden Moths/Europes on the water, probably at the rate of 1 per week!

If you still wish to chance a sticky covering, I think my solution was what you're looking for.

To protect the fragile veneer you could even put a layer (of paper or such) between the sticky and the bare wood so it is only stuck around the edges on top of the sound varnish.

Posted By: kfz
Date Posted: 31 Oct 12 at 6:03pm

Id be careful of putting any varnish on that you intend to replace at a later date with 2 pac. You will need to ensure you remove it completely before doing so.

Kev

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GP14 Fleet Captain
Liverpool Sailing Club

http://www.liverpoolsailingclub.org/ - Liverpool SC