I thought I was crazy - now there is another builder out there with the same problem! Sorry to hear you have bubbles, but glad to hear it is not only me. I have tried badger brushes, different brands of foam brushes including the recommended Jen, cleaned the shop, installed air filtration, have tried the straight stuff right out of the can, filtered some, thinned some, warmed the can, and I still get the damned bubbles. It is bubbles, not dust. I looked with a 20x magnifyer - bubbles confirmed. My latest thinking is even though the varnish in the can is warmed, the hull is still quite cool. Even though I can (and do) heat the shop, it still takes several hours for the temperature of the shop and everything in it to equalize. I have another boat on the strongback that will need varnish in a month or so. Hopefully the weather will be warmer then, and the flow out will improve. The varnish I use is Captain's.

: I have a devil of a time getting a smooth varnish coat. Tried the rag, didnt
: work for me. Sorry Spidey! I use a good brush, and stroke / spread it
: evenly and correctly. But it looks for the world like contaminate, either
: from the air or the brush. Tiny bubbles, or specks like sawdust.

: My boat has Epifanes on it, Ive used Interlux, and Z-spar too. Same results.
: I even added dust collection and air filtration to the shop, but tonight
: re-doing hatch covers (with Pettit, they didnt have Epifanes) got similar
: results but not quite as bad. The surface was sanded smooth, 150 grit wet.

: I just dont get it. Perhaps I'm destined to have a speckly boat (or three...)