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I was also thinking about Thompsons Water Seal

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Helmspar is a Spar Varnish. Spar varnish is a long oil varnish, made with UV filters, Ideal for exterior wood items. The ratio of oil to resin makes varnishes suitable for different uses. The longer the oil to more flexible the finish. Exterior items are subjected to humidity and temperature changes in a much wider range and that requires a finish that is flexible....spar varnish. The drawback is the surface is softer and easier to scratch. Short oil is very hard, but not flexible. Medium oil is a compromise, a little more flexible than short oil, but still harder than long oil.

So how do you know what's what? Most of the time the can will say "ideal for interior projects" = short oil, "for wood floors" = medium oil, "for exterior wood products" or "Spar" = long oil.

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Not a fan, tried it on cedar and it only lasted a year but that could be the conditions here.

I need to add that any varnish, on outdoor projects will eventually need sanding and recoating......where Tommy's idea of Thompsons Water Seal will simply need a recoat.

All this talk sucks.

After our next racetrack event, I have to pull all the deck railing by sections, haul it downstairs and spray it with transparent stain.

Sucks, sucks, sucks

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And you can pump it outa your garden sprayer.

And yes, Bill, it needs to be recoated on a regular basis.

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Yea, like I said, I got one year. I switched to transparent stain (Olympia, IIRC) and got 4 years (rough ceder clapboard on the shed).

I have 4 years on the redwood railing but this time I'm spraying instead of doing it with a stain sponge.

Thompsons is thin to say the least. I've brushed it on. That is, soaked and directed it on the wood with a brush. I guess I could spray it with a spray bottle. Wooden yard stuff doesn't last but a few years down here before the ants start gnawing on the legs. On concrete or on blocks the legs do better but will still succumb eventually. Blocks keep the wood off the wet ground. I could paint it but I like the wood look. It looks more country.