Sampson Boat Covideo

Varnish, Paint, and bad jokes! (Rebuilding Tally Ho / EP116)

15 January 2022 · 26 min · 479K views · Sequim, Washington

What this video covers

Restoration of the 112-year-old yacht Tally Ho involves extensive preparation and finishing of the deck structure and planking. The crew sands the entire deck structure to remove damaged varnish before applying new coats.1:00 To ensure a clean finish, they wipe down beams and knees with denatured alcohol to remove dust before taping.13:53 The team applies multiple coats of varnish to the deck beams and beam shelf, utilizing a hot-coating technique where a second layer is applied while the first remains slightly tacky to avoid sanding between coats.22:39 Simultaneously, the crew mills yellow cedar deck strakes, planing them to dimension and cutting caulking bevels and decorative 45-degree chamfers on the underside.7:44 They prime and paint the undersides of these planks white before installation to avoid overhead work inside the boat.8:51 To maintain proper temperatures for varnishing during winter, the crew encloses the boat in plastic sheeting and uses low-level heat.13:09

Watch on YouTube

More from Sampson Boat Co

Tally Ho sails into England after 59 years overseas!Aug 2026A very brief update from the Fal estuaryAug 2026Piracy and Peril - stories from the boatyards of West CorkAug 2026Tally Ho completes her Atlantic Crossing at the Fastnet Rock!Aug 2026

From Sampson Boat Co — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue