What Varnish Do You Like For Teak?

Its not varnish but I have our brightwork done with Awlgrip Awlbrite only.

I'm no expert but my experience is a definite, yes.

I do a few double coats of Z-zpar/Pettit Captain's varnish. Double meaning Two coats between sanding. Once the first coat gets close to dry , with out sanding, do another coat. So you can do two a day. Get to six with Captain's . Sand the area smooth. Then two or more , single coats of Epifanes Clear Gloss varnish. Looks great on all of my teak trim/toe rails/door etc.
I'm not a fan of Awlbrite, or any two part varnish. It's to brittle for me here in the North East with the change of seasons it tends to crack. It may work better Florida etc. with better warm steady weather.
Apply the varnish with Jen-Poly foam brush ONLY, the other foam brushes stink! Foam is the way to go with varnish IMO, but must be Jen brushes. Have a few at the ready, toss it if it feels like its getting limp. I get a lot of millage out of one brush. Toss them when your done a grab a fresh one when ready. Cheap and easy. No brush clean up required.

I do one coat in the spring, and one in the fall to keep it up. Bing, bang ,Boom...and it's done.

I'm also in the North East and have not personally seen any of those issues with Awlbright. We multi coat our bright every couple years.

I ve tried a number of coatings over the years including Clear Awlgrip over West 105/207, Ceylon, Bristol and various varnishes

For the last 4 years or so I ve switched to Awlwood Great product. Put a coat of their clear primer then a few coats of gloss. You can recoat in as little as an hour and don’t have to sand until the last couple of coats. And it s a single part product. Downside is $80 a quart.

funny thing is that it’s not very well know

I own a Flexible Flyer! I need things that give a bit. I've got lots of teak trim. Around the bridge, entire hull, toe rails , door. For me ,Two part varnish tends to fail at the joints where two pieces or more wood meets. That is where I've had problems.

Your Donzi, just has toe rails in varnish? Or more areas of varnish?

Hmmm, was just reading the reviews on Awlwood on Jamestown Dist. site. You got me rethinking my way of varnishing. Thanks for the tip Pascal. Primer comes in color hues? What did you use as a primer color ?

Dockmaster, I would try the Awlwood. Sounds like good stuff.

All my bright work is in the cockpit, window trim and salon door. My past boat had teak toe rails and plenty more. Never again.

I have always had great success with Epifanes varnish on my Egg Harbor and my Chris-Craft boats.

i always use the clear primer

Can it be applied over a good coating or does have to be applied first to bare wood?

You don’t need the primer if using Awlwood on a solid coating. I ve used it over existing epoxy/awlgrip. Not it works over varnish. I think the documentation lists compatible products

Longlasting varnish comes down to proper prep, including any joint repairs, and if raw teak, sealing the teak. Good sealers include catyalized sealers too. For Alaska, be sure to be in temp. and moisture range and do finish early. I use Epiphanes in summer and AwlGrip M3131 in winter as it is faster drying. Look for a good weather window, prep, tape on,and go for it.

I have extensive experience with external teak and varnish, unfortunately.

On the last boat with exterior teak I used Epifanes and had a Pro apply and maintain it:
He stripped everything in 2007 and applied 12 coats of Epifanes.
It will last exactly one year in the Florida/Bahamas sun: Every May we did (he did) hard sanding then applied 5 coats over the next 6-7 days.

I have also tried Bristol Finish, but not a good product for my use: It would crack at joints, then rain water gets underneath and the area turns black.
Also it needs close to perfect conditions during applications, no wind, no dust, no sun, no nothing.
It probably works great in a lab, or in a paint shop.
It would last over 1 year before it got dull, but not my cup of tea. Stripped it all off and started over with Epifanes.
There is an old thread on these pages about my boat and Mr. Greene, the varnish man.

Awlwood

I just recently started to like Epifanes PP-Extra with 2 finishing coats of Epifanes 2K-Polyurethane clearcoat. Will see how long the new love for that stuff lasts...