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TotalBoat Gleam Marine Spar Varnish

$124.99In StockSee Product Details

Home / Paints / Varnish

TotalBoat Gleam Marine Spar Varnish Application - Rolling, Spraying and Brushing

TotalBoat

TotalBoat Gleam Marine Spar Varnish

$124.99In StockSee Product Details

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1 gl contains 1 gl

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Product Details Tech Specs Info & Guides Data Sheets

Product Details

TotalBoat Gleam Marine Spar Varnish features a premium tung oil formula, with a phenolic resin base and added UV inhibitors. It's ideally suited for clear coating on interior and exterior surfaces requiring maximum water & UV resistance.

Gleam was reformulated for improved overcoating & cure times, yields medium build per coat, with excellent flow-out, leaving a smooth, durable surface. It can be scuffed and overcoated faster than before to build gloss, as needed. For brushing, thin with TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100; for spray application, thin with TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101.

Available in high-gloss and satin finishes that are weather resistant and easy to work with over new wood and previously coated surfaces.

Tech Specs

Item Number	Size	Finish
TB-3509	Pint	Gloss
TB-GLEAMGQ	Quart	Gloss
TB-GLEAMKIT-G-K	2-Quart Kit	Gloss
TB-GLEAMGG	Gallon	Gloss
TB-3510	Pint	Satin
TB-GLEAMSQ	Quart	Satin
TB-GLEAMKIT-S-K	2-Quart Kit	Satin
TB-GLEAMSG	Gallon	Satin
TB-GLEAMCOMBO-K	2-Quart Combo Kit (1 Qt. Gloss & 1 Qt. Satin)	Satin

Info & Guides

We've reformulated Gleam Satin and High-Gloss varnishes in response to customer reviews to make these formulas better than ever. They still have the same excellent self-leveling properties, and velvety, low-sheen or high-gloss finishes, but Gleam has improved overcoating and cure times so you can finish varnishing faster.

And the Satin varnish provides the same excellent level of UV protection as the Gloss varnish, so it's ideal on exterior as well as interior surfaces.

Gleam Gloss and Satin formulas are available in individual Pint, Quart Kit, 2-Quart Kit, and Gallon Kit sizes.

Our New Combo Kit Creates a Satin Finish with Greater Clarity

You told us you love Gleam's velvety satin finish, but want better clarity. So we've put together a combo kit containing 1 quart of Gloss and 1 quart of Satin that lets you build gloss coats to protect and showcase the wood grain, then finish with a couple of coats of satin to get the smooth, beautiful, non-gloss finish you desire. For the gloss/satin combo kit, select TB-GLEAMCOMBO-K from the product list.

An Easier, Faster Way to Apply Sealer Coats

Bare wood, especially plywood, is very porous and needs to be sealed before applying build and finish coats of varnish. If not, the initial coats of varnish soak into the wood, requiring more varnish (and more money) to apply enough build coats until the surface is uniformly level enough for the final coat of varnish. With unsealed oily woods like teak and mahogany, the varnish's viscosity will not allow it to penetrate the wood grain and adhere properly, which will eventually cause it to lift and ruin the finish—and all your hard work.

For this reason, the first few sealer coats of varnish are typically thinned in order to penetrate and seal the wood. These sealer coats take time to apply, time to dry, and must be sanded between coats. Now there's an improved way to apply sealer coats.

TotalBoat Wood Sealer, is easier and faster than using un-thinned varnish for sealer coats. It seals bare wood grain and smooths the surface on all types of wood, doesn't require sanding between coats, and dries more quickly than thinned varnish. And unlike other wood sealers, it contains UV blockers that protect your beautiful varnish finish down to the wood surface. TotalBoat Wood Sealer is clear, so it enhances the beauty of the wood grain and the varnish finish. TotalBoat Wood Sealer (sold separately) is compatible with 1-part varnish, and is ideal for use with TotalBoat Gleam and TotalBoat Lust varnish finishes. Refer to the Gleam Tech Data sheet for details on using TotalBoat Woods Sealer with Gleam.

Technical Information

Recommended Thinning for Brush/Roller Application

First Coat on Bare Wood: Reduce 25% with TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100
Additional Coats: Gleam doesn't require added thinner after the first/seal coat, for most brushing applications, but if desired, reduce 5- 10% with TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100
NOTE: Do not over-thin Gleam, as it will extend dry times, and will reduce the overall gloss level of the finish.

Recommended Thinning for Spray Application

First Coat on Bare Wood: Reduce 25% with TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101
Additional Coats: Reduce 10- 20% with TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101

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

Data Sheets

TotalBoat Gleam Tech Data

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Additional Gleam Spar Varnish Information

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Reviews

Rating Snapshot

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163 reviews with 5 stars.

29 reviews with 4 stars.

8 reviews with 3 stars.

4 reviews with 2 stars.

11 reviews with 1 star.

Overall Rating

4.5

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Filter Reviews

41 to 70 of 215 Reviews

41 – 70 of 215 Reviews

Medford, Oregon

5 out of 5 stars.

Best Products and shipping!

2 years ago

We have two production wood shops and use Gleam 2.0 and Halcyon on our outdoor projects exclusively! Incredible build up and durability! The clarity is unparalleled as well, as we aim to have as natural as a look as possible!

Helpful?

Indiana

5 out of 5 stars.

smooth, high-gloss and easy to apply

2 years ago

I used this product for varnishing the tiller, daggerboard and thwarts for a small sailboat. The product applied easily and was simple to work with. It easily applied over oil-based stain, as well as over bare wood. Happy with the results!

Helpful?

Pittsburgh Pa.

5 out of 5 stars.

Gleam really does Gleam.

2 years ago

I am verry happy with Gleam varnish. It sprays beautifully, dries quickly and the finish is what I am looking for. Keep up the god work Total Boat.

Helpful?

Ohio

5 out of 5 stars.

Really worked

2 years ago

I used this product to protect using your 2 part epoxy product for a per memorial so the UV didn't harm the stone as it will be in the sun. I put 5 coats on it to insure the result

Helpful?

North west ct.

5 out of 5 stars.

Worked great I had 42 rustic oak benches I made for a countr

2 years ago

I was able to do three coats in one day and sanded between coats with out clogging the sand paper

Helpful?

South Carolina

4 out of 5 stars.

Works great good leveling, been using 3 years will see how i

2 years ago

I have been repairing neglected exterior white oak and mahogany doors on churches. Stripping with total strip, these woods have to be grain filled, stain and 5 coats varnish.

Helpful?

5 out of 5 stars.

Great product

2 years ago

This has become my absolute favorite varnish! Goes on easy, dries quick, and amazingly didn't skin over in the plastic container I painted from.

Helpful?

Grass Valley, Ca

5 out of 5 stars.

Quality product and great result.

2 years ago

Six coats of Gleam Marine Spar Varnish on Red Oak bed kit for 1966 F-100. Applied in my garage ventilated with fans under mild temperatures and low humidity. Was getting bubbles with supplied foam brushes so followed up each coat with light brush strokes with 2"" chip brush.

Helpful?

North East

4 out of 5 stars.

Garage Door

2 years ago

Stripped down to bare wood frame. Replaced the panels with 1/4 inch plywood. The over the counter products from big box stores would give me 2 years of protection before having to do the whole door over again. Researched and came across this varnish. Called the company to ask questions on product, durability and application. The support was friendly and knowledgeable. I ordered 4 quarts as I did not want a gallon thinking it would dry out if not used completely. They recommended the first coat be cut 25% which I did with their thinner. To me the varnish seemed a bit liquid than norm. Cutting it down would only make it thinner. Keeping it from dripping was not easy as I had to constantly roll out making sure dripping was controlled. It rolls out well and magically smooth out to a nice even finish. The order is pungent and would recommend a respirator if indoors. Overall quite satisfied with the product and will see how well it hold up to Mother Nature.

Helpful?

mass

5 out of 5 stars.

yes

2 years ago

I used it on the wood trim on my Marshall cat The dry time is excellent It's Gleamy

Helpful?

Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

5 out of 5 stars.

I would buy this product again

3 years ago

I am using Gleam Marine Spar varnish to provide the UV protection for the epoxy coating I am putting on wood strip canoes I am building. 3 coats of epoxy followed by 6 coats of varnish. This varnish is excellant. Applies smoothly and dries fast as advertised. As this is my first try with it we will see how it holds it up to UV but it has good reviews in that regard.

Helpful?

Pottstown, PA

3 out of 5 stars.

yes

3 years ago

The product is great but JD failed to provide what I paid for in the last 3 or 4 orders! I ordered gallon ""kits"" and not quarts. As a result, you failed to provide the mixing pails, brushes and filters that I paid for. Please review my last 3 or 4 Gleam 2 orders and send me what you owe me. thanks joe

Helpful?

Ada,MI

5 out of 5 stars.

Gleam 2.0

3 years ago

I used Gleam 2.0 on my 32 year old Searay cockpit rail. I had previously used Sikkens and even though I thought it held up well I wanted something that would better show off the wood as it was in good shape. I scraped all previous material with a heat gun, sanded and applied 6 counts of Gleam 2.0. I tested the product first by doing the teak swim platform inserts, they turned out perfect so I was comfortable using it on the cockpit rail. I am very happy with the results. I did watch a couple of JD's videos which were also helpful. I am including a couple of photos which don't really show how good it looks.

Helpful?

Boulder, CO

5 out of 5 stars.

Beautiful finish

3 years ago

I sprayed this product on with an airless sprayer, which definatly had its learning curve. But once i dialed this in and had everything setup it was giving me great results on a full set of bamboo cabinets.

Helpful?

Upstate New York

5 out of 5 stars.

Great gloss depth and easy application

3 years ago

It is thin, so you have to take steps to ensure you don't let it run on you. Dries fast and that helps with the surface uniformity if you allow for it. Applied 6 coats to a small sailboat rudder and dagger board. Looks great. I'll have to wait until the water softens up to see how it performs late this spring.

Helpful?

Magnolia, TX

1 out of 5 stars.

Super thin like water

3 years ago

I don't recommend this product. It's super thin like water. Runs are impossible to prevent. I tried brushing on and spraying. The Behr spar urethane from Home Depot is exponentially better and about half the price.

Helpful?

Mundelein, IL 60060

5 out of 5 stars.

Great Product

3 years ago

The product was everything that all the videos say it is. The product worked great and made my project turn out wonderfully.

Helpful?

Lakeville Massachusetts

5 out of 5 stars.

Great product -have used on multiple outdoor projects

3 years ago

Love the finish. Sprayed well. Dries fast - able to apply 3 coats in a day. Finish seems durable. Touch ups were easy and blended well. It's now my go to for all outdoor furniture.

Helpful?

Bangor, Maine

4 out of 5 stars.

Great product

3 years ago

I am a novice. Wanted to make a live edge outdoor bar on my new deck in Maine. Used this product and it came out better than I expected. When applying I found that the first coat looked not great and slightly rough. After the third coat it felt so smooth. I'm very proud of how it came out with my skill level. Used Total Boat Flexible Epoxy to fill all holes in board and the dark brown amber, almost black looks amazing.

Helpful?

Petaluma, CA

1 out of 5 stars.

Great, except it runs.

3 years ago

Great, except it runs. I'm using it on my boat, so not all surfaces are flat.

Helpful?

Edgewood, NM

1 out of 5 stars.

Consistency like water

3 years ago

This varnish is as thin as water. Why you would even have a product for thinning it is beyond me. It can not be brushed on as it runs (cuz it is like water). I have used Fine Paints of Europe yacht varnish and it is thick and you do need to thin it. But it flows on nice and is easy to apply multiple coats. I have been a professional painter for 50 years and have never come across a varnish as unusable as this. I am extremely disappointed as I had great expectations for this product.

Helpful?

Selinsgrove, PA

5 out of 5 stars.

Great product, consistent results

3 years ago

Total boat gleam system is easy to work with and produces professional quality results,

Helpful?

Lockport, NY

5 out of 5 stars.

Strongly Reccomend if time is not on your side

3 years ago

I havent had too much experience with other varnishes out there, but this one is awesome enough that i bought another gallon already, and likely will get another soon. This already has become the single go to varnish for the commercial boats i work on and basically dont plan to use anything else again.

Helpful?

Milwaukee, WI

5 out of 5 stars.

Great for my non-boat project

3 years ago

Was taking some ash slabs and building a cart that would be outdoors. Wanted something that would add a little color and stand up to the weather. Ended up going with the Satin. First time i've ever varnished, so I tried to do some research. I mixed the first coat with mineral spirits maybe 60/40 and then did a second that was 85/15. Then 2 more coats with just the varnish. Used a paint filter for the varnish as well. Used it within an open garage, but still had to use a filtered mask. I was really happy with how it turned out without being an expert.

Helpful?

Fort Collins CO

5 out of 5 stars.

The front door looks better than new

3 years ago

Easy to apply. Time between coats and drying time was great when compared to other big box products. Did 7 coats with three sanding coats. Thanks for the advise. Joe

Helpful?

marshfield, ma.

4 out of 5 stars.

yes

3 years ago

I ended up striping the seats to bare wood , applied 5 coats hope it lasts longer 2 years

Helpful?

Arkansas

5 out of 5 stars.

Great Product. Always great results.

3 years ago

Used this on four exterior doors I built from eastern red cedar. Easy to use and looks great. I use it on all my outdoor wood furniture as well. I build the coats with gloss and two final coats with satin. Just the right sheen.

Helpful?

Austin

4 out of 5 stars.

Looks great after about 5 coats on new wood surface.

3 years ago

Used it to finish some oars. They look great after about 5 coats on new wood surface. One negative, but nothing to do with product quality: The can had a quite a dent in it when I received it. I examined the shipping box and it show no signs of damage, so it appeared to me to have been dented before shipping. Seems like the person putting the can in the box should not have shipped that can. Luckily, no leaks and I have been able to secure the lid each time I use some, but I have to be careful when I do.

Helpful?

Gig harbor,WA

2 out of 5 stars.

Can damaged

3 years ago

The varnish can was damaged presumably during shipping. And the top would not seal properly. Loss of product.

Helpful?

Mount pleasant Texas

5 out of 5 stars.

Performed as advertised

3 years ago

Performed as advertised, Ended up with a gorgeous finish on mahogany brightwork.

Helpful?

41 – 70 of 215 Reviews

Questions

1 - 10 of 76 Questions

Q: null If I purchase gleam quart gloss/satin combo Saturday night when is the quickest I can get it delivered to Beaufort sc.

11 months ago

1 Answer

A: Hi there! Shipping to South Carolina generally takes about 3 business days.

11 months ago

Helpful?

Q: null What stains types/brands work best with Gleem.

a year ago

1 Answer

A: TotalBoat does not test stains for compatibility. However, you should be able to use it with the Interlux and Epifanes stain listed on this website. Whatever stain you use you should do a test piece following directions provided under the product support tab at the top of the screen.

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null Sanding off old varnish from wood transom. Boat located in So. Florida. Which would work better; Gleam or Halcyon

a year ago

4 Answers

A: I love Gleam Have not tried Halcyon so cannot comment Pete G ?

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null When spraying, what is the typical coverage for a quart and a gallon of TotalBoat Gleam?

a year ago

2 Answers

A: 80-100 square feet per coat per quart and 320-400 square feet per coat per gallon

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null I purchased Gleam 2.0 with the intention of varnishing the ash gunwales on my canoe. The gunwales were oiled with Watco Danish oil over 1 yr ago, but does not hold up well to the outdoor elements. What is the proper prep before applying Gleam 2.0, I have sanded off as much as possible already.

a year ago

3 Answers

A: Mario,I've had some experience with overcoating a Watco finish with solvent-based (""oil-based"") varnish.I have successfully applied solvent-based varnish over Watco coated walnut. Since Watco is a polymerizing penetrating coating, it's important to be sure the Watco is fully cured, but if a year has passed since its application, that shouldn't be a problem. Based on my experience, I'd say go for it! Good luck.

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null Is Gleam a good choice for use on a cedar plank floor in a 3 season porch? It gets some rain, snow and sunshine through the screened windows. I've looked at several exterior varnishes and polyurethanes and all are not recommended on floors.

a year ago

1 Answer

A: Hey Eldin. Thanks for asking. The reason most varnishes are not recommended for floors is usually because the high gloss finish can be very slippery. Gleam gloss will have this same issue, but the satin will be less slippery than gloss and could be used as a top coat to reduce sheen and slip. However, it's still important to use good judgement, especially in high traffic areas, and also to remember that varnishes are not generally suitable for water exposure for over 24 hours, so you'll need to make sure water and snow don't accumulate on the surface and sit for a prolonged period.

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null I plan on putting the Gleam 2.0 over the outside of my drift boat. Can you paint over the Gleam 2.0 with Wet Edge topside paint?

a year ago

2 Answers

A: Hi Walter. Thanks for reaching out. Yes, you can paint over Gleam 2.0 with Wet Edge, but if you haven't applied either yet, only one is necessary. To use Wet Edge over Gleam, let the Gleam fully cure for 5-7 days, then sand the surface lightly with 220 grit and clean with denatured alcohol before applying Wet Edge.

a year ago

Helpful?

Q: null Can I brush coat gleam 2.0 spar varnish on wood in 55-58 degree outside weather or do I need to wait 2 weeks or longer until weather temps reach 65+ degrees outside? I'm not working in a controlled inside environment. Thanks

2 years ago

2 Answers

A: Generally the best option is to wait for ideal conditions but you can apply Gleam in 50 degree weather. It will extend the cure time. Start early to take advantage of the warm part of the day. If temp drops below 50 while curing it may not set up. Sometimes it helps to use spraying thinner instead of brushing thinner in cold temps.

2 years ago

Helpful?

Q: null I could tell the can wasn't full. gleam 2.0 . Anybody else notice only 26 oz. in the quart?

2 years ago

1 Answer

A: I've purchased Gleam varnish several times & the can has always arrived ""full to the brim"" Very Truly Yours,Robert 

2 years ago

Helpful?

Q: null I'm interested in refinishing a park bench with wooden ""slats."" also, a 100+ year old bench swing with wooden slats. What refinishing process should I use? I see maybe the penetrating sealer may be the first step in the process. I'm also interested in a satin finish, not gloss. Is that available? Thanks, Bob

2 years ago

1 Answer

A: I had the same problem with a much more contemporary park bench that took a lot of Florida sun. I used satin marine spar varnish as you suggest you might do. It worked well for about five years and now needs to be re-done if I want to keep the bench. The wood deterioration stopped. You will definitely need at least three coats, the first to seal the wood, the second to smooth the surface, and the third to begin making it look good. If you love it, you might go to five or six coats. If it gets a lot of sun exposure, plan on re-doing the project in 5 years.

2 years ago

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