> After varnishing the deck of my Pygmy Coho (Captain's varnish), I thought
> it looked really great -- but after using the boat a few times, I find
> that the varnish scratches really easily -- surface scratches as when
> putting a paddle under a bungee, etc.

> Are there any alternatives to varnish that have a harder surface --
> polyurethane, etc.? To me the varnish seems kind of soft for a surface
> that gets a lot of bumps and scrapes.

Tom, I used captains (5coats) on my Coho and have been paddling,rolling, and doing recues for 2 seasons now and I have only a few tiny scratches on the entire boat. I think captains hardens with time. I put a coat on my Wee lassie canoe almost 2 months ago and it still has a little odor. When did you varnish?

Larry C.