For spars, our spars come of each year and are easily varnished. Moreover, it is extremely useful to be able to see through the coating to inspect the joints in the wood. If one did not want to take the mast out each year, the trade-offs on mast maintenance might be different. 1. Strip and sand the wood. Use two coats of Smith Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer, a two-part system that penetrates the wood and makes a very stable, moisture proof foundation for the varnish.
Many varnishes are possible.
The main thing is that it needs to filter or reflect out the UV from the sunlight. So far, it seems to hold up very well. Apply and wipe off within several minutes. It can be varnished in 30 minutes. Varnish with Flagship varnish.