: "Can Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane be used on my kayak or do
: I need to get a varnish that says MARINE VARNISH?

Good question. To me "Helmsman" implies marine usage, so I would assume it is meant to be a marine varnish. Unless you plan to leave your boat in the water all the time, any varnish with UV protection should do the job

: Also, a quart of Helmsman cost about $7 while some of the varnishes used on : : this board are about $30. What is the difference?"

I can't say for sure, but I suspect that traditional varnishes are more expensive to make. Hamilton Marine up in Portland, ME has the best varnish prices I've seen, though I haven't made an exhaustive search. A quart of Epifanes cost me twenty bucks. I haven't heard of anyone else here using it, but I surmised that it was because it typically sells for $32 per quart.

: John