Question about Cetol

[Rob Richardson]

What is the take on Cetol. It has been used on "Whale" in the past and looked OK. I understand the maintance is much easier. Question which Cetol is the Cetol of choice Satin, Gloss Overcoat or Marine Satin Light Finish? Thanks Rob Richardson Bristol 29.9 "Whale"

[dasein668]

Ahhhh, Cetol.

This stuff has started more flame wars on various sailing bulletin boards than probably any other topic

"The Take" is based very much on personal preference. I myself am what some might call a purist?and others might call a stodgy old fart?as I think nothing looks like real varnish except real varnish.

That said, Cetol does a good job of protecting the wood, provided you keep up with it?same as varnish. Some people like the look, some people use it because they think its easier than varnish.

I don't see that the maintenance on Cetol is really all that much easier. You still have to tape off, which to my mind is the worst part of varnishing. And you still have to apply the stuff, just like varnish. You don't need as many coats as with a traditional varnish though, so that can cut down on the total amount of work. Although up here in Maine where the UV levels are relatively low and the season is relatively short, I only find that I need to add a couple of maintenance coats of varnish each winter, which is really no different than Cetol.

I have heard that the Cetol Light has less of an opaque orange-ish look that allows the natural color of the wood to come through more, but not having actually used the stuff I can't say for sure.

[windrose]

Well, here in southern MD, where we have a 7-8 month sailing season and lots of high humidity 90* days in June, July, August (even early Sept), varnish lifts like crazy. I don't have ANY varnish on any of my boats. I am slave enough to my boats (don't tell anybody, they follow me home like puppies, I wonder if folks "put" them "out" by my house).... I like the UV protection and the forgiveness of Cetol.

Nathan needs another project. However, I've gotta admit..... varnished mahogony, ahhhh!

[dasein668]

Nathan needs another project. However, I've gotta admit..... varnished mahogony, ahhhh!

Well, this project isn't finished yet, and my wife has commisioned a lobster launch after that, so I think I have my hands full.

[Tim]

Cetol is in the eye of the beholder. I have used it, and, frankly, I found absolutely no pleasure in applying it--it smells bad, it looks nasty in the can, and doesn't flow on smoothly like tung oil varnish. I love the smell of varnish, and actually enjoy the application process.

Varnish is a way of life, though. There is never a final coat, it can get away from you and fail, it can be awful. You have to enjoy the process as much as the final result. It's beautiful, but you are truly beholden. There's nothing worse than seeing a boat with failing varnish. Once you start, you can never stop.

If you want the look of real varnish, nothing else looks like varnish except varnish. All the other products look like they look, and none of them look like varnish.

Cetol looks better than badly weathered teak, but then so does paint...which the heavily-pigmented Cetol resembles. It's more like a semi-opaque stain, really. It's the pigment that makes it easier to apply and makes it last longer in the UV rays.

Cetol looks better on teak than on mahogany, I think. Mahogany really needs the amber-reddish tint of tung oil varnish to look its best. The golden hues of teak look OK with the orange-y Cetol pigments.

Choose your poison. There is no easy answer, nor does one size fit all. Use what fits your needs and lifestyle. Just don't expect anything other than varnish to truly look like varnish, and you'll be happy.

[Rob Richardson]

Thanks for all the replies. Question to Windrose, what type of Cetol do you use and recommend? Here in Arkansas we have hot hot hot summers and high high high humidity. Yesterday at 5pm my thermometer read 102 and the humidity was around 80%. Our hot weather last from mid May untill Mid September. Thus I feel Cetol is my best alternative. I would rather have the luster and depth of varnish but I don't need the maintenance nightmare -Rob Richardson

[FloatingMoneyPit]

Since Cetol is compromise product, I went for the full compromise effect and actually applied several (4-5) coats to many external teak parts that were removed from the boat.
I'd slap on a coat of Cetol to cockpit seat hatches, handrails, dorade covers, and companioway trim just after joyfully applying a shimmering coat of Epiphanes to the interior teak I'd removed from the cabin.

The result is that, I think (and boatyard gawkers have agreed), more coats of Cetol are one acceptable approach. Looks like brown paint instead of orange (better), and you trade grain visibility and extra initial coats in return for much-reduced long term maintenance. It has been exposed for two humid NJ summers and 3 tarped winters without a hint of deterioration. The coamings & toerail, with only 2 coats, are starting to fade.
I intend to sand them down mid-summer and try the Cetol gloss over Cetol light and see if that's any improvement. If not, I will become a varnish slave...or suck it up and buy a wood-free bunterlina.

[tartan30cirrus]

I continued the Cetol usage of the PO's and like the stuff...I find it easy to apply and tough and when enough coats are built up and gloss applied has a nice glossy, brown glow. If I wanted too I could probably not do a maintenance coat EVERY year and still have nice wood. I have now decided that with a career change in progress and a little tike in my life the extra forgiveness is welcome. Here is a picture of Cetol on my toerails...note two piece on either side of the companionway are varnish (don't know what kind)



Cheers,
Clint Chase

[Figment]

My boat had been sitting untended in the MD sun for a few years before I found her. It was pretty clear what was Cetol and what was varnish.



Right now the only cetol left on the boat is on the companionway drop boards, and I gotta say they still look alright.

[Peter]

My choice on 'Adios' was Cetol Marine Light. The opaqueness was an asset for me, as I was using old teak, new teak, and other un-named woods. The Cetol gave the whole works a more uniform color.

Only time will tell how long it will stay looking fresh.