Hi Pete,

The fiberglass cloth becomes transparent when the resin is applied and the wood grain shows through.

With Stitch&Glue (plywood) kayaks it is a good idea to fiberglass the bottom and sides - glassing the deck is optional depending what kind of use (abuse) the boat will get. On strip build kayaks, the entire inside and outside of the kayak must be fiberglassed.

You can stain prior to applying the resin if you want. I find that the epoxy and varnish are enough to darken the wood and highlight the grain nicely. If you want to have a "bright" finish (wood showing - not painted) you should check to be sure that the hardener you are going to use is recommended for clear coating.

The epoxy must be covered with a paint or varnish to protect it from UV. I typically wait 3 - 4 weeks before painting to be sure the epoxy has come to full cure.

The typical paints are not as tough as epoxy and can be scratched. I add pigment to the finishing coats of epoxy so a scratch in the paint is not so noticeable.

Scratches are inevitable, you take as much care as you can but it is going to happen. A couple of scratches here and there shows that the kayak is being paddled - which is good, a pristine finished kayak that never comes out of the garage is a waste.

I fill the scratches and repaint/varnish the kayaks as required before putting them away for the winter. That way the paint is fully cured in the spring when I am anxious to get on the water.

Hope this helps.

Hank