Any texture left on the epoxy will be telegraphed through the varnish. You want to make surface as smooth as practical before varnishing.

I find a rasp very effective for removing drips.

> Hi. I'm building a CLC Chesapeake 17 and having a lot of fun doing it.
> This is my first boat. I have a total of 4 (lightish) coats of epoxy on
> the hull -- and I've got some runs here and there despite being obsessive
> compulsive about such things. My questions are these: how smooth can I
> expect to sand down those runs, and how smooth does the hull have to be
> for a good paint/varnish job? (I haven't yet decided whether to paint or
> varnish the hull.) What should a final sanded epoxied hull look/feel like?

> Thanks to all who respond!!

> John