First question - do you let it dry after each of
: those passes or do you do all 3 passes at once? You go on to say that your
: 4" brush dipped about 1/2" into the varnish will cover that
: 16" square area. Is that all 3 passes or each dip covers one of those
: passes? Finally, is there a magic # of coats that one should apply or does
: it vary by brand of varnish? Thanks in advance!

Do all 3 passes one right after the other. When your brush comes out of the varnish container it's loaded. The first stroke (start at the keel or high on the boat) dumps a lot of varnish and successive stokes, with the strips, lay out less and less.

Then stroke across the strips, from top to bottom, pulling the first stroke that was heavy with varnish down to even out the varnish layer.

Then the final strokes, again with the strips, smooths it all out and insures you've not missed a spot.

You should be able to do all this with one dip from your varnish.

I apply at least three coats of varnish.This should work with any brand of varnish but as I said earlier, each brand has slightly different brushing characteristics. This is why I use Captain's varnish. I just like the way it brushes better than any other I've found. I've tried the Flagship but it doesn't brush as well in my book.

Rob
Laughing Loon CC&K