Hi Spidey,

Not believing you would steer us all in the wrong direction I came straight home from work and started varnishing the flame boat. I started with a new rag (old sheet) what a mess, back to the brush. I now have some serious sanding to get out the dust. I put a coat on a hatch cover and it looked like the surface may have been contaminated. a little cussing later and a Blue Scott Shop Towel wipe down of the surface (Scott SHOP TOWELS on a roll) I was on to something. That BLUE TOWEL WORKED GREAT!! I went straight up to the garage to the waiting 18' and did the hole hull with the shop towel and I now sold on your method!! I had not yet read your post before I started in, but the suggestions you gave sound good so I'll move on to the deck tomorrow morning with those in mind. I did thin out the varnish a little more and did about the same application method but, boy was I supprised that those paper towels worked so well. Seeing how thin it goes on I think I would opt for a couple coats with a brush first to build up more UV protection and then do the last couple with the rag. The only problem I had was I used a bunch on varnish. Easy solution Don't let your varnish soaked rag fall on the floor.

Later I got a Paddle to carve before the rendez! Thanks for the tips!!!!!