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TotalBoat Halcyon Marine Varnish

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TotalBoat Halcyon Clear Marine Satin Varnish

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Product Details

TotalBoat Halcyon Marine Varnish is an innovative varnish that creates a hard, gloss, or satin finish on brightwork, without the painstaking prep, long dry time, tedious sanding & noxious fumes associated with most varnishes. 1-part low-VOC formula offers powerful UV protection to prevent yellowing. Flexible finish prevents cracking & lifting due to temperature changes.

Cures harder than most 1-part varnishes, with superior abrasion, scratch & solvent resistance. It dries fast–recoat in 1 hr @ 72°F, with no sanding between coats. Resealable Pour Pak™ prevents skinning & waste. Soap & water cleanup.

Choose Halcyon (clear amber gloss), Halcyon Clear Gloss or Clear Satin in Pint, Quart and 4 Quart Sizes. NOTE: Satin is not available in a 4 Quart Size.

Tech Specs
Technical Specifications Halcyon Varnish
Thinning Not required, even for the first coat. However, to help create a desired flow, thin with water up to 20% maximum.
Cleanup Soap and water
Application Method Brush, roll & tip, or spray
Application Temperature 50-90°F; 0-90% RH (relative humidity)
Number of Coats (Minimum) 2-3
Accelerated Application If desired, apply a maximum of 5 coats per day. Always wait 12 hours between applying Halcyon and sanding.
Tack-Free Time to Recoat 1 hour at 72°F
Overcoat Without Sanding Up to 12 hours
Coverage 40-50 sq. ft./pint; 80-100 sq. ft./quart
Cured Color Halcyon (clear light amber); Halcyon Clear Gloss or Satin (ultra clear)
Finish Gloss or Satin
Gloss DOI (Distinctness of Image) >90% @ 60°; >77% @ 20°
Info & Guides

No long wait. No sanding. No fumes. No waste or mess.

In our continuous quest for a better marine varnish, we've developed TotalBoat Halcyon, a quick-drying, rapid-recoating, eco-friendly, durable, gloss varnish that takes brightwork finishing to the next level. Its low-VOC, low-odor formula makes it easier than ever to get a nice, even gloss or satin finish on both interior and exterior wood surfaces.

Halcyon dries super fast and doesn't require sanding between coats (for up to 12 hours), so you can apply up to five coats in one day to finish varnishing faster and set sail sooner. The low VOC content limits exposure to you and to the environment, and the low odor makes Halcyon great for use indoors, in shops, or on interior woodwork. Its maximum UV protection, flexibility, and abrasion resistance make it great for exterior woodwork, too.

Available in clear amber gloss, clear gloss, and clear satin finishes. 4 Quart Size is available for Clear Gloss and Clear Amber Gloss.

Our original Halcyon formula cured crystal clear, abrasion resistant, and UV stable. But many of you told us that, while the clear finish was good for some applications, you preferred a more classic, clear amber finish on brightwork. We heard you, and we created a formula with the beauty of a traditional marine spar varnish, but one that cured with greater clarity, abrasion resistance, and UV protection. The clear amber gloss formula goes by the name Halcyon, and the clear gloss formula is called Halcyon Clear. You loved our gloss formulas, but told us it'd be great if we could make a clear satin finish. We're happy to announce that new Halcyon Clear Satin is now available. Each Halcyon gloss formula is designed so that the more coats you apply, the greater the depth, beauty, gloss, and durability. The satin formula is best used as the finish coat over build coats of Halcyon Clear Gloss or Amber Gloss. These innovative marine varnishes are very easy and fast to apply, quick to dry, easy to sand, and clean up fast with just soap and water.

The beauty is in the cured finish

At first, Halcyon varnishes may look a little odd and seem a little different because they come in a bag, don't smell like varnish (don't stink!), and with their milky-white color, don't look like varnish. Until they dry very quickly to a beautiful, even gloss.

  • Compared to oil-based varnish, Halcyon varnishes don't need thinning—not even for the first coat—because they dry phenomenally fast, and don't have to be sanded between coats. They also dry completely clear and hard, but flexible so there's no yellowing, chipping, cracking, or peeling.

  • Compared to synthetic marine wood finishes, Halcyon varnishes can be applied over existing 1- or 2-part varnishes in good condition, they're very scratch resistant, abrasion resistant, and remain clear & glossy, without looking cloudy or muddy after multiple coats. Halcyon varnishes also offer greater UV protection.

  • Compared to water-based marine polyurethane varnishes, Halcyon Gloss and Satin varnishes can be applied to interior and exterior wood surfaces.

Important application note for Halcyon Clear Satin

It is strongly recommended to use Halcyon Clear Gloss or Amber Gloss for build coats, and only use Halcyon Satin as a final coat, to ensure the best finish and depth.

Technical Information

Halcyon Varnish Features

  • Clear amber gloss (Halcyon), Clear gloss (Halcyon Clear Gloss), and Clear satin (Halcyon Clear Satin) finishes accent wood grain and character.
  • Hard, UV-stable, finish is abrasion, solvent, and scratch resistant.
  • For interior & exterior (exterior above waterline) on all types of wood.
  • Convenient, resealable bag makes it easy to pour and easy to store.
  • Won't skin over in the cup while you're using it, or in the bag while you're storing it.
  • One-part formula is easy to use, no mixing or measuring.
  • No mess, easy soap and water cleanup, and no waste.
  • Low-odor, low-VOC formula is eco-friendly and user-friendly.
  • Choose from Clear Gloss and Amber Gloss - Pint, Quart and 4-Quart Sizes; Clear Satin - Pint and Quart Sizes

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including n-methylpyrrolidone, which is known to the State of California to cause developmental toxicity. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

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Reviews

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226 reviews with 5 stars.
36 reviews with 4 stars.
18 reviews with 3 stars.
7 reviews with 2 stars.
6 reviews with 1 star.

Overall Rating

4.6

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Filter Reviews

1 to 10 of 293 Reviews
1 – 10 of 293 Reviews
Michigan
5 out of 5 stars.

Easy to work with

4 months ago
This varnish is so easy to work with and get the results you want. Clean up is a breeze.
Helpful?
Idaho
5 out of 5 stars.

Water basrf

6 months ago
Very impressive product, the first time I have tried water based varnish it has performed well
Helpful?
Ft. Walton Beach
5 out of 5 stars.

Perfect!

6 months ago
It went on perfectly. I used a HVLP sprayer.
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Encinitas California
5 out of 5 stars.

Very good product but pricey

6 months ago
We need tro buy in gallons not pints so the pint price is too high for our commercial use - no larger quantity prices offered on website.
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Bocas del Toro, Panama
5 out of 5 stars.

Good choice for outdoor furniture

7 months ago
I used this varnish as a first attempt for my outdoor furniture and the sunbeds. I live directly over the water in the Caribbean part of Panama, where the weather conditions are very difficult for outdoor furnitures. After several weeks I can recommend this product. It is much better than all the other products I bought. It lasts much longer, is easy to handle and even with seven to eight coats a sunbed is finished after one day. You only need to do this at the first time. Then later you can paint it without sanding every six months.
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MN
5 out of 5 stars.

Impressive.

8 months ago
The Halcyon Marine finish laid down nicely on the Southern Yellow Pine that I used to make the Grand Daddy of Adirondack chairs. Total Boat was right~ each coat brought out more beauty in the wood. I used three coats and the customer was very impressed when he saw the finished results ~ so was I. It's not a boat and here in Minnesota there is no salt water but we do have weather extremes that are unpredictable every day. The real test is Mother Nature and time. I'll review next year with an update, but until then all has been great.
Helpful?
Kill Devil Hills, NC
5 out of 5 stars.

WOW, totally impressed!!

8 months ago
I am blown away by TotalBoat Halcyon Marine Varnish! It is so easy to apply, easy to clean up and dries in a flash. I use this product for wood coasters and it has allowed me to quadruple my production time because of the ease of applying and dry time. 100% recommend!!!!
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NORTH FORT MYERS, FL
4 out of 5 stars.

EASY TO APPLY WITH ALMOST EXCELLENT RESULTS!

8 months ago
USED HALCYON TO REFINISH THE TEAK FLOORS ON OUR KADY KROGEN 42. AFTER COMPLETELY REMOVIING THE OLD VARNISH FINISH TO BARE WOOD I APPLIED FOUR COATS OF HALCYON. THE PRODUCT LAYED OUT FLAT WITH NO BRUSH STROKES EVIDENT. RECOATING IN ABOUT AN HOUR MADE FOR EASY FLOOR REFINISHING. NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH ODOR WAS A PLUS AS WAS THE BAG PACKAGING. GLOSS WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN REGULAR VARNISH BUT BETTER THAN ACCEPTABLE WHEN WEIGHED AGAINST EASE OF USE. FINISH APPEARS TO BE HARD AND RESISTANT TO SCUFFING.
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Colorado
4 out of 5 stars.

Be Aware....More Information Needed.

8 months ago
I totally sanded and refinished my daughter's cedar adirondack chair while she was at a wedding for a surprise. All of her outdoor furniture has a matt finish, so I ordered the Halcyon Marine Varnish in Matt. Unfortunately, reading the directions on the container, Totalboat highly recommend applying the Amber finish first before the Matt finish. Too late to order the Amber and meet my deadline, so I applied 5 coats of Matt and found out why they recommended the Amber first. I just ordered the Amber and hope its not too late to achieve a quality and good looking finished chairs with lots of coats of varnish. Maybe I missed their recommendation on their website, not sure.
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Whitefish, MT
5 out of 5 stars.

Kevlar canoe refinish

8 months ago
I've been impressed with the outcome of recent projects using water based products so I thought I'd give Total Boat Halcyon varnish a try for a restoration of my 1983 Old Town Canadienne. It's a Kevlar boat with no gel coat so the varnish is important for UV protection. After stripping years of assorted varnish layers, doing some epoxy repair on the hull, replacing some rotten gunwale, and adding Dynel skid plates I was ready for varnish. Applied with a roller the Halcyon went on smoothly. It has a nice viscosity and you do need to be mindful that it dries quickly. I chose the amber product (I like the oil based varnish look) and am pretty satisfied with the result. 3 coats on the outer hull in one day is a nice bonus too. Water based technology is getting pretty good so don't be afraid to make the switch, although you do have to adapt your application technique a bit. All products for this project came from Jamestown Distributors.
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1 – 10 of 293 Reviews

Questions

1 - 10 of 117 Questions

Q: Would this product be a good choice for a DIY vintage truck bed project, material is red oak, and it has recently planed and is ready for sanding and treatment. I like the fact that it cleans up well and has low odor.

3 months ago
3 Answers

A: No, in my application the (exterior) product did not last more than two years. I have gone back to traditional marine varnish.

3 months ago
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Q: Can Halcyon marine varnish be applied over decoupage?

4 months ago
2 Answers

A: I've only used it on wood, but I would see no reason why it wouldn't be able to be used except for the fact that it is water base. I think it might affect paper the way water would, versus how an oil base would.  ?

4 months ago
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Q: Can Halycon be applied over urethane products?

5 months ago
1 Answer

A: Hey there, thank you for reaching out. Typically it can once the urethane is fully dried and prepped per previously coated instructions. It can of course vary with different brands, so we always recommend testing first.

5 months ago
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Q: I am going to be foam brushing Halcyon clear gloss on a wood slab coffee table and do not want brush strokes. While I have learned that the first coat should be thinned to help penetration, can I thin the remaining coats as well? What is the recommended (distilled) water-to-Halcyon ratio? Thank you for your time, concern and prompt reply, Mark Talmo

6 months ago
1 Answer

A: You can thin with water but the ratio will vary depending on the tools you are using and environmental conditions. Halcyon dries very quickly so generally is best to lay it on a little thick, don't spend too much time brushing the varnish and let it level itself off. I use foam brushes myself but you can also get excellent results if you spray it.

6 months ago
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Q: What is the coverage area for one quart of the halcyon for one coat?

7 months ago
1 Answer

A: 100 sq feet / coat

7 months ago
Helpful?

Q: When do you expect Halcyon Clear Satin Varnish to be available again?

7 months ago
1 Answer

A: Hey Steve, thank you for reaching out. Halcyon Satin is currently available

7 months ago
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Q: What is the color chart included on the website images for the Total Boat TB-7712 TOTALBOAT HALCYON CLEAR RUGGED GLOSS VARNISH representing? Do multiple coats turn darker over time? Is that what it's showing? Is there any way to avoid this? I'd like to maintain the natural color of the door. I've already applied the first coat of gloss and like it but I don't want it to get any darker with additional coats. Thank you for your help!

9 months ago
1 Answer

A: The piece in the photo is a display used at live events so customers can see both the color and the sheen in person. The left panel shows the light amber gloss. The middle panel shows the clear gloss. The right panel shows the clear satin. More coats of clear should not change the color. Most varnishes and urethanes will change color slightly as they age. That's why it's important to do regular maintenance coats to refresh the top layer.

9 months ago
Helpful?

Q: I noticed several users mentioned sealing prior to applying Halcyon. Is sealing necessary?

a year ago
1 Answer

A: Hi Jeffrey. Sealing is optional. It's not required, and if you don't want to purchase the sealer separately or wait for it to cure, I recommend thinning your first coat or two of Halcyon 30% with water to allow it to soak in and seal the grain a little on its own.

a year ago
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Q: I used this product on some teak furniture I restored and it looks great. Very easy to use also! Since I had some left over I tried applied to an outdoor end table. I'm not sure what kind of wood, it's something softer and fine grained. The 2 coats looked great. I waited several weeks before I decided to apply more coats. The coat I applied 3 weeks later is peeling off. Should I have applied all the coats within a few days or is something else going on? It all looked great until I noticed some residue on the surface. I scraped it with my fingernail and most of it is coming off. Any ideas what I did wrong?

a year ago
1 Answer

A: If you wait longer than 12 hours to recoat, you should sand with 320 grit. When properly sanded the surface should look like a frosted mug,

a year ago
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Q: I'm just finishing a teak furniture project using Epifanes Woodfinish. I just ran out of Epifanes and after learning about Halcyon this sounds like a better way to go so I'm buying some for my next project. Can I finish the current project with Halcyon? I only have some small bits to complete and they are on the backside/inside of the chair so not a big deal if the finish doesn't match. Thank you!

a year ago
6 Answers

A: You're right, they're not gonna match. you didn't say if the Epifanes is gloss or matte . . . if its gloss, the Halcyon will never match because the Halcyon is water based and is by nature a satin finish. As far as I know, no one has been able to make a high gloss water based varnish no matter what the advertising says. My only problems with Halcyon . . . 1. Certain chemical cleaning products will soften it . . . 2. It has a shelf life; once you open the container, use it all . . . 3. No Gloss! . . . 4. doesn't wear as well as Spar varnish.

a year ago
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1 - 10 of 117 Questions
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