> properly epoxied and sanded deck? 2. Should I apply another coat or two of
> epoxy and sand again, but less aggressively? (There is one coat on the
> under side and there was two on the top).

>Would additional coats of epoxy
> make the deck more durable, more ridgid?? I have some Captians varnish to
> apply to the deck once I have it ready. I will paint the hull white.

Go with the touch test. Gently touch the wood, caressing it with your fingertips like you would stroke the skin of a loved one. If it feels rough, sand it. If it feels smooth, quit sanding.

Use a fine grit sand paper and go lightly. Assuming your wood was smooth before you applied the epoxy you should need very little sanding. The spoxy that soaked into the wood may raise the grain a bit. If so, then you will want to remove the high spots if you are looking for a 'coffee table' quality finish - which is not really necessary.

The resin that soaks into the wood makes the top few thousandths of the wood into (effectively) a layer of plastic, which can be smoothed really well. just don't get too aggressive with coarse sandpaper. Take your time, wear a respirator, use a light touch, and I sure hope you enjoy sanding.

Your first few coats of varnish will do a bit of leveling, too. Sand them gently, too.

Best of luck on this.

Paul Jacobson.