Varnish is bad word in our vocab, particularly outside. We use Burgess Woodsealer outside and steps inside. It is water based can be applied multicoating every 20 mins or so in dry weather. Not as shiny as varnish but only ever needs a light sanding and further overcoating pretty rarely.Exterior use (5 coats) on washboards and tiller have lasted for years with hardly any attention. Interior, where heavily used, needs overcoating more often. Waterproof but breathes. Needs to go on bare wood. So quick and easy.
Decorative interior wood simply gets Teak Oil.
Chris. Elsa S/S 103.