Using Ronseal Woodland Trust colour over yacht varnish

[simoncjones]

The planks of wood on my summerhouse have been repaired by a carpenter who has applied a basecoat of oil-based yacht varnish.

I am planning to paint the summerhouse with Ronseal Woodland Trust colour stain. The usage instructions from the back of the tin are here... http://ronseal.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/tin/WT Colours_750_BoP.pdf

As this is water-based and the yacht varnish is oil-based I am concerned it won't stick. The instructions state that all coats of varnish must be removed and the Ronseal colour painted onto bare wood.

Is my only option to sand down the wood? The carpenter mentioned using a primer or undercoat but I'm not convinced this is going to be alright after reading the usage instructions.

What do you advise?

Any help much appreciated.

 

[JohnD]

it won't stick.

IMO yacht varnish is very troublesome, it needs constant sanding and recoating. The water-based stains are far easier to apply and maintain.

If you can be bothered, strip it off. Otherwise, leave it. In 20 years or so it will all have fallen off.

 

[simoncjones]

Thanks - thought so - just hoped there might be a way to avoid sanding it off.