...where there just isn't much other brightwork.... so just about anything that looks decent gets complimented.

I actually had folks visit me the first few months on the dock and shake their heads at the amount of brightwork I have to maintain. Some of these guys have since come back with hearty congratulations. But truth be told, most of my work looks best at least 5 feet away. GRIN

When I go over to "The Yacht Club" for races, I gaze in awe at some of the brightwork there... The stuff there is flawless and deep... I can only wish.

No doubt some of it is professionally maintained... but indeed I have seen an owner or two out there with a brush from time to time.

Little by little I keep improving my techniques and remove older varnish and sand out stains... The regular maintenance makes it just a bit better each session.

I was recently rewarded by returning from a trip where mud from the anchorage landed on the deck in various places, and on the toe rail and bow sprit; this was augmented by copious salt deposits from waves driven by high winds and square seas... I was dead tired when I got in, and just "parked" the boat and took off for a warm shower and big bed. The next day I came back late and started cleaning up... eventually running low on time, I quickly hosed off the brightwork and deck. I came back the next morning and the brightwork looked great... it bounced right back from all that punishment. The decks still needed a good scrubbing.