Hello, What made smoothing the surface easier for me was to start with a Sandvik carbide scraper to remove the worst of the drips and high spots, this is much easier to remove just the high spots without removing to much surronding material. Also wet sanding will be easier and your paper will last tons longer, I find it easy to use a spray bottle to keep the surface wet. Kenny > I've been building a Queeen Charlotte 17 by Pygmy for the last several
> months as time allows and am finally to the point where I have glassed the
> bottom and getting ready to finish up. I would like to solicit some advice
> on sanding and finishing. I've put several coats of epoxy on the bottom
> and am now flipping it over to put more coats on the rest of the boat
> since I only have one coat on.

> What I would like to know is after doing this how much sanding needs to be
> done? This is the one thing that is the biggest mystery when it comes to
> boatbuilding. The manual basically says and now you can sand and varnish
> your boat. It seems there must be a bit more to it than that. What am I
> looking for? I assume a smooth finish and a consistent coat over the
> entire boat?

> Next what methods of sanding should I use hand, random orbit? Maybe a lot
> of this is a personal choice thing. I'm looking for a nice finish not
> something everyone looks at and says, "He should have sanded
> more". So any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

> Dave Caudill