Varnishing a Keel

[SouthernKevlar]

I am beginning restoring the woodwork on my Northland canoe by varnishing the keel. Currently have put on 6 coats of spar varnish. My question is:

How many coats of varnish should I use before the additional coats become redundant?

I would assume that after a certain level of protection is reached, the "Law of Diminishing Returns" will come into play, but what is that level? I am curious how many coats of varnish the canoe maintainers, repairers and restorers of this site use.

Thank you for your help.
David

 

[patrick corry]

Varnish? Why not paint? Take no offense… if it‘s an aesthetic choice, then as has been said many times, “it’s your canoe”. It’s my impression that most keels are painted.

 

[Dave Osborn]

I varnished the keel on my first restoration in 1999. I’ve painted every one since. I think the paint is a better protectant.
I do varnish outer stems. I think it’s a classy look.

 

[MGC]

118 years and never a touch of paint on it. Varnish will hold up just fine if you decide to use it.
I'm not a fan of keels, but I almost always replace them if they are original to the boat. Like Dave, I generally paint them.
If the canoe has unpainted outside stems, then I will not paint the keel I think that the unpainted wood looks better and especially if you have made them from a decent piece of cherry or other attractive wood.
The keel on this boat is maple and as far as I know, original. 

 

[Dave Wermuth]

I echo the answers. Many canoes have been through the kingdom of derelict canoe whisperings in Lovely Lapeer and only one was varnished. AS far as how many coats, I think that you will know when you get there. For me, I generally give up before I should. It's a personal choice you have to make. Canoes tend to not get as many coats as a wood boat, like a Hacker, for example.

 

[SouthernKevlar]

Thank you for your replies. The current six coats are looking good, but I will probably add another couple coats today.

I have only seen photos of 3 Northland canoes where the keel was visible and all of them have varnished keels. I also examined the keel closely for signs of any paint, but found none. There were some remains of varnish in the nooks and crannies, so I took this as another sign to varnish. With a canoe made in 1970, who knows if the keel had been totally stripped or even replaced in it's lifetime; the keel was in good shape but lacking in any coating when I bought it.

If anyone has a Northland canoe or remembers having a new one in the past, I would love to know how it originally came from the factory; painted or varnished?