Finishing up my 3rd Chesapeak, this one a WestRiver 180 from plans, my first attempt at no-kit. Anyway all is well w/ structure but this stain stuff still has me perplexed. I used a dark walnut "water based" of course and got a consistant stain. After expoxy, 3 coats, the sanding begins. I did come up with a few spots on the deck throught the epoxy to wood giving the light color back. This has happened befor, so now to match the light spot w/ the stain. It seem the sanding w/ 220 gr. after the stain gets the wood so fine that the stain does not run deep. Should I go back and use a rougher grain? Any ideas?

Mike