The plastic sheeting we taped over the freshly sanded railings before the thunderstorm hit the boat yesterday did their job! There were only a few water spots on the boat this morning and after a little bit more prep and cleaning we were ready to put down  a layer of primer!  Now, you might be wondering why I need a primer for varnish… don’t you just brush it on and go on about your day? Not this time!  We’re using a product called “Awlwood” (made by the paint company Awlgrip). It’s a different type of finish.  The primer soaks into the wood and then the top coat will chemically bond to that primer for an ultra-durable and long lasting finish.  We’re talking like 7 years vs 1 year for regular varnish.  It’s more expensive, but I really hate sanding!

The primer went on very easily, just like a normal wood stain (even though it is clear).  The wood is going to look fantastic!  It’s a little darker than your standard honey colored teak, which I really like!

That looks REALLY nice! 🙂 I can’t wait to get the actual clear gloss layer on there and start building some shine and thickness!

…and then do the rest of the boat so it looks pretty as well!