What varnish is that ??

My varnished teak cap-rails on the IG32 have a problem there are a few bad patch ups from the previous owner that are starting to peel and miss colour otherwise the other 98% are very good and don't need attention.
From what I can see they need rubbing back staining and re coating but I don't know what product was used it could be solvent or water based ?? How do I determine whats on there now so I can match it is there some sort of test I can do ?

Since it is staring to peel, I would strip and start fresh. The odds are, it is vanish, oil based, due to the fact it is peeling.

The patch up repairs are all that's peeling in spots. I don't feel like paying $4500 to fix 98% what isn't a problem .

I have found that there are many combinations of wood sealers that people use, mix and / or willing to pay for. What is important in the end is that it lasts and does it match the adjacent woodwork. Do some reading on varnishes and try some samples "out of the can" to match the current surface. All varnishes, brushes and techniques are not the same.

Some boaters like glossy, some like mat finishes. Some finishes penetrate into the wood, some are like paint and go on top of the wood. I was in the same position a few years ago on my President. A good scraper and sanding techniques got my boats brightwork beautiful. I now know what is on my wood work and how to touch it up if needed.

Greetings,
Mr. G. I would simply pick a good varnish and treat/re-coat the peeling areas. What's the worst that could happen? The upside will be that the wood is protected until such time you strip the whole works down and do a complete refinish.

I second:

RT Firefly said:

Greetings,
Mr. G. I would simply pick a good varnish and treat/re-coat the peeling areas. What's the worst that could happen? The upside will be that the wood is protected until such time you strip the whole works down and do a complete refinish.

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Marlinmike said:

I second:

Click to expand...

I'll third that. Protect the failing areas or it will simply get worse. You may find that you end up living with it.

At the least it will give you time to investigate.

Why not just ask Spencer what he did? Maybe it was the detailers, not Spencer.
A quick fix of failing varnish is a light sand, a quick coat of Deks Olje#1 followed by 2 coats of #2.