FL Project #9 Refinishing dragonboat rails and seats

 FL Project #9  Refinishing Dragonboat Rails and Seats

John and I volunteered at the Dragonboat Club meeting to resurface the gunwhales and seats of at least the small boat we use the most and which has the most need.  He had two handy little palm sanders which took off the flakes and loose varnish.  Then we wiped it down well and used a rag to put on the base coat of polyurethane exterior varnish.  After 4 hours drying time, we came back when the sun was behind the trees and brushed on a good coat.  

It dried overnight and we came back the next afternoon and put on another.

The third and fourth coats I put on because his wife got sick and he missed some days of activity.  In the end the rails and especially the sternpost, which was the barest wood, look great and I think will last a while.  We used a quart of varnish.  The seats look good too and will last a while.

Our thinking is that we can come back in December and see how it all held up.  Then we can do the other two boats.

Ultimately we should probably put a touch-up coat on each fall when we come down.  It wouldn't take long and might obviate the need for the sanding and priming.

We'll see.