: I would like to paint the water line and a name on my kayak before I
: fiberglass. I think I should seal coat before I paint and use epoxy based
: paints, just as Nick recommended in his book. I am thinking about using
: stain on some strips, but have little information, I am wondering has
: anyone had eny trouble doing this?, or has had any fiberglass delaminating
: problems using this technique. I am using western red cedar with pine
: highlight strips.
: Any tips would be appreciated.

As Byron mentioned, you can print onto thin tissue papers and apply them to your boat. I used a thin white tissue "craft" paper like you would find a present wrapped in. It blends in about 90%. If you view them from a very shallow angle, you can just make out the paper, but you really have to be looking for it. I used a common HP InkJet printer with normal ink cartridges. Print the image on a regular piece of paper so you can see where the image will be. Overlay the printed portion with the tissue (with a lot of overlap) and tape it down. Run that "composite" through the printer. Try to trim the printed tissue as close to the image as possible, but don't create any real thin/narrow sections if possible as they tear easily when wet. I applied my images right after a saturation coat (when it was still wet), underneath the glass. I figured I wouldn't sand into it that way. After placing the image, immediately wet it down with very runny epoxy. You want the epoxy to adhere to and possibly soak into the fibers of the paper. After that cures, just sand and glass as normal.

As for color, you might consider wood dyes as well. Obviously oily stains should be avoided. Test some scrap first.

Let us know how it comes out.

Bill