: foam rollers to apply varnish

I've used the Gougeon Bros. rollers to varish furniture with pretty good results. You have to tip the finish to eliminate the bubbles (air).

The static thing makes sense, if I remember what I learned from my daughter's science fair project! Epoxy, being plastic should make a good static electricty generator. We made a static detector out of a peanut butter jar and some aluminized mylar. I'll have to try it on an epoxied hull. I don't think just grounding wires would work, but perhaps a grounded foil brush like those used in copier machines might discharge the hull.
Keep thinking!