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Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
By:John Faas
Date: 3/11/2012, 3:01 pm

I am making progress on my kit boat.
I went to West Marine and purchased some West system epoxy, The hardner that came with the kit (MAS-don't ask how many years I have been working on this) is pretty yellow. Since I can't get it locally I picked up the West system and the hardner (207?) for clear applications. I am trying to get it finished and would like the deck to be as clear as possible. The two epoxies will be separated and the MAS has cured for a very long time. Seems hard to end up with just the right amount of epoxy/hardner/cloth guess I will have to build another boat to use up what I have on hand when I finish this one.
I also got some spar varnish which is packed under the West Marine label, says it is made by
The directions say to dilute the first 3 coats as these are sealer coats.
Question: When I am applying it to cured epoxy is it still a good idea (absolutely required for good results) to dilute a sealer coat(s).

I have applied a 50 dilute mix to the interior of the hull figure the protection won't hurt and a lot easier to do now with no deck on it and I am hoping it will be lighter that another coating of epoxy.
This kit was my first boat. Before I got it finished I built a SOF F-1 at Brian's building class. Goes a lot faster when you have the designer as your teacher and build all day long.

Looking forward to another class this time with Wolfgang Brinck--a Badarka. I think I am being drawn to the SOF side :)

Thoughts, comments or dire warning about any of the above are certainly welcome.
For any of you who will be in San Diego later this month, I will have both boats with me no matter how close to finished the Arctic Hawk is I sure hope I can put it in the water soon,

Thanks to all for sharing all the tips and knowledge, now can someone point me to the kayak building syndrome recovery website?

Messages In This Thread

Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
John Faas -- 3/11/2012, 3:01 pm
Re: Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
Bill Hamm -- 3/11/2012, 4:37 pm
Re: Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
Paul Davies -- 3/11/2012, 4:52 pm
Re: Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
John Faas -- 3/12/2012, 12:32 am
Re: Seeking: UV protection for the finished S & G
Paul Davies -- 3/12/2012, 1:36 pm