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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 for TotalBoat Halcyon Marine Varnish

10 of 280 Reviews

September 4, 2024

Water basrf
By Brad from Idaho

Verified Purchase

Very impressive product, the first time I have tried water based varnish it has performed well

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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September 4, 2024

Perfect!
By Bull from Ft. Walton Beach

Verified Purchase

It went on perfectly. I used a HVLP sprayer.

Adirondack chairs made from Spanish Cedar. They have 3 coats of the clear.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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September 2, 2024

I would buy it again
By Jerry joe from Missouri

Verified Purchase

Great stuff and easy to use

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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August 30, 2024

Very good product but pricey
By JIM from Encinitas California

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 31, 2024

Good choice for outdoor furniture
By CoralBay Bungalows Solarte from Bocas del Toro, Panama

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 31, 2024

Good choice for outdoor furniture
By CoralBay Bungalows Solarte from Bocas del Toro, Panama

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 27, 2024

Impressive.
By The rock from MN

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 25, 2024

WOW, totally impressed!!
By OBXMaker from Kill Devil Hills, NC

Verified Purchase

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!!!!

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 23, 2024

EASY TO APPLY WITH ALMOST EXCELLENT RESULTS!
By ED from NORTH FORT MYERS, FL

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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July 22, 2024

Be Aware....More Information Needed.
By Clueless from Colorado

Verified Purchase

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.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend

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