Pete,

Sorry to dash your hopes of painting under the epoxy, but your boat will be stronger if you epoxy the fiberglass cloth directly to it. This way the coat of epoxy that soaks the fiberglass also soaks the wood at the same time and bonds the two together. If done as you are intending, a good bonk on a rock will separate the epoxy/glass layer from your painted hull.

Your best bet would be to paint your boat (after it's built) with a UV-proof 2-part polyurethane paint. Betsie Bay Kayaks here in Michigan uses one of these paints called AwlGrip that holds up extremely well. Probably the next best thing to the hard gel-coat that fiberglass boats have. I have seen many of their plywood boats at symposia and they continue to look like new. I'm doing a stripper now and plan to use a 2-part poly clearcoat on it. Don't spray the stuff unless you have a full pressurized fresh-air suit -- the stuff is toxic when atomized. Apparently it coats your lungs and you sufficate. You don't need that protection if you roll it on with a foam paint roller, but I would still wear a charcoal filter anyway. After you roll it on, use a dry foam brush to 'tip it out' for a nice, smooth, near-spray-on-quality finish. Then go bang the boat into rocks.

Dean

> Hi folks,

> Nxt on the list is paint. I want to paint the wood, then cover it with
> glass and epoxy as opposed to painting ONTOP of the glass and epoxy, which
> leaves the fragile paint more vulnerable to scratches. I would rather have
> the paint encapsulated and covered with glass cloth. Heres the question
> tho... what kind of paint does one paint on the UNepoxied wood? Procedure
> ? Do I seal the wood first with a coat of epoxy and then paint? Schade in
> his book mentions "epoxy based paints"... whats that? At
> anyrate, I'd like the paint to be as permanent and protected as possible.
> Lastly, does a painted hull weaken the epoxy bond if painted on wood
> first, then glassed and such? If so, would pin striping be ok done this
> way if the process weakens the bond?

> Thanks all! Youve been very helpful.

> Pete