> 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

I use a Makita random orbital sander with 80 grit. It does a good job of smoothing up drips, with a minimum effort. Also, I have read that you do not need to get the epoxy any smoother thah 80 grain for varnish. Use the 150 and up between varnish coats. Though my Cape Charles hull is painted, it looks fine with 80 grain on the epoxy. I used a filler coat over that, though.