Source for Le Tonkinois

[Tom Galyen]

Gentlemen,

I realize that there is another forum for products, but I have not yet received any help there, and thought that since more people look at this one that someone may be able to help me.

I am looking for a North American distributor of a French Linseed based Varnish called Le Tonkinois. I see it advertised in Classic Boats and in Water Craft magazines both printed in Great Britian. People who have used it on their boats claim it is very good and quite easy to use. I would like to try some. In one write up they said the French Navy has used it for 200 years.

Thanks for any info http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

Tom G.

[paladin]

izzat anything like Le Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club?...been there, done that...even got the hat and "T" shirt.

[Concordia41]

www.letonkinois.nl (http://www.letonkinois.nl)

But you'll need a translator site like Babblefish. Another option, put Le Tonkinois in the Google search engine. It came up with several dozen hits, most of which were in French, but at least one came with a translate option.

And for the record, I'm not about to try it.

[jeff pierce]

Margo-
Say it aint so. Where's that sense of adventure I've come to know from you? http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/wink.gif

[John R Smith]

Our local chandler, good old Mark, has got this stuff, but so far I haven't tried it. It is a bit more expensive than Epifanes, which has been my preferred option. Must say I like the funky square tins, though.

John

[Concordia41]

My sense of adventure is off licking its wounds and not expected back anytime soon. http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/rolleyes.gif

- M

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Concordia41:


www.letonkinois.nl (http://www.letonkinois.nl)

But you'll need a translator site like Babblefish.

You don't need a translator -- just click on the Union Jack (British Flag) in the lower left corner and read it in English.

[Hans-Henning Lassen]

Tom,
as I have not used the stuff on solid wood I can only report that on marine grade ply (oak), deks olje had a nicer touch and feel to it - I tried both products on scrap pieces first. Used it on both a nutshell and a pooduck skiff. Beats varnishing anyway.

[Colin Stone]

It apears to be good stuff - I have a selection of hardwood (Idigbo) pieces hanging in the garden to test weathering over the winter - and the Le Tonkinois certainly has a good finish and was easy to apply. People I have spoken to reckon it beats varnishing hand down - 3 coats and it is good for 5 years before recoating is required - good bye to lifting varnish and grey patches on the wood. It does not have any solvents - like most marine varnishes - so a solvent does not rush into the wood instead of the varnish. I also tested some on veneer and it dried glassy smooth without a brush mark. If there is no US distributor, an email to the NL site might well result in a request to become a US distributor. Jotun make a similar product - Ravelakk at a similar price.

[Hedzer]

Le Tonkinois seems a very good product. They have made an iside-version for wooden floors etc. My experirience goes with Owatrol D1-D2 systems for the hull of my douglas-fir. Keeps up very well and you dont have to sand between layers!!! How easy do you want to get it.

Good luck!!
Hedzer