To me the problem with Cetol is that it looks like Cetol. Instantly recognizable like a Pepsi can. It mellows to a not so ugly orange. Varnish looks like a lot of hard work, time and dedication. It looks like love and damn foolery.

It's been pointed out that the problem with the deteriation of the varnish is not so much the coating but the sun attacking the surface of the wood under the coating. Therefore UV inhibitors of varius sorts that look muddy and orange to protect the wood.

For years Smith & Co have touted their CPES product as a varnish saver. Seal the wood first with penetrating epoxy.

By the way, Smith has a polyurethane varnish they're proud of. I think P,S. tested it or it's being tested for longevity with a bunch of others.

Wouldn't you rather have something easy to sand than some plastic film that cracks and turns milky and lifts but grips hard in hard to scrape places??

Cetol just lays there doesn't it? Never saw it peel.