I have decided to stick with traditional varnish, most likely Schooner 96. I began the project yesterday. Four guys with heat guns stripped it all off by noon this afternoon. When I left the boat today, they began hand sanding the wood with 80 grit to smooth down the scatches from the scraping.
I plan on beaching it out before varnishing. Question is, when to bleach? I suspect you sand it down smooth with 220, then bleach, then sand again to remove the raise grain. Is this the right thing to do?
By the way Robert, that is one hell of a nice boat. It looks like it is finished off like a piano. What kind of varnish?