DIY NOVICE ALERT - What could I use to protect wooden sign from mother nature?

[GreenCrayon]

I'm good at lots of things but sadly a total DIY novice so please excuse the question if it is nonsensical and daft but I am a little stuck and figured someone on MN would probably be able to help.

I have a sign someone has kindly made me that I would like to put outside. It's painted and appears to be made of some sort of chipboard type material. I would like to hang it outside but am worried it will get ruined, so am looking to see if there is some way of sealing it to help it withstand the weather.

I've been Googling and wondered if something like yacht varnish might work or is there a really obvious answer I'm missing. Thanks in advance for helping out a totally clueless muppet.

You gave the answer in your post that I was going to say
Yacht varnish is great , wilkos do there own clear silk and matt and a little goes a really long way .
It has a very high VOC and needs to be cleaned of the brush with turps . , it also takes a long time ( at least 10 hrs ) to dry .
All that said it is a great product and is fine to use on painted / untreated surfaces, it also keeps well in the tin as long as you put the lid back on properly ( I have had a open tin for over a year and its still fine )

PS wikos paint brushes with the black / grey handles in a pack of 5 ( or maybe 6 ) are really good , they dont lose their bristles

No I dont work for Wilkos

I came on to say yacht varnish too

Thanks all it's reassuring to know I was on the right lines. I shall get some yacht varnish and apply liberally with a wilko brush.

N. B. I love wilko's too its fab value.

I was also going to say yacht varnish.

Polyurethane varnish- really fast drying.

Do t apply to liberally, it will take days to dry and even though it's clear can look yellowish if it pools even just a bit.

Two or three very thin coats give a better finish, don't worry if the 1st one looks a bit patchy. It will even out .

Wrap the brush tightly in a plastic bag & elastic band and it will still be fine the next day , it saves you trying to clean it inbetween times.
make sure there is no printing on the bag that can come off and get stuck to the brush , cos thatts never happened to me oh no not ever . . . . .

I use varnish every day as part of a hobby, honestly polyurethane is what you need as it's clear and will be dry in 10 mins. I've uses yacht varnish and it's a faff.