Hi Paul,

It all makes sense when you know ... thanks :-) I have paddled canoes and when I want an easy ride, company (female, non paddler in particular:-) and maybe a picnic ... they are hard to beat. So a double paddle canoe is one designed so one can paddle it as a kayak is paddled, if I caught you correctly. You know I always read your posts when I see then because I get plenty out of them. The boating community is a wonderful place where so many people are friendly and helpful. Maybe because it is so good for the soul and body .... seems to attract all kinds of people, particularly atheletes and romantic intellectuals (although I like of myself as too "smart" to be an intellectual:-) Anyway I have a question of opinion that I would like to put to you. 2 questions really. When I ordered my fiberglass I was too new to consider any other than 6 0z. (I guess it's plain weave) E glass. Since I then have become aware of 4 Oz. satin weave (from this BB). I planed all the strips and have been fortunate enough to have a nice deck coming along now, is it worth it to change to 4 Oz. satin weave now, when I already have all the 6 Oz. to do the job ? Secondly and perhaps more importantly, I was very interested in GR's point about the "inferiority" of the technique of using one (or 2 even) layer(s) of glass and then a "fill" coat of say 4 coats of resin and then a sand to just smooth it out for the final finish (less varnish, of course). He suggested that the epoxy alone is too "soft" to serve as the "final" finish. He suggested that a "sacrificial" layer of glass be put on the hull and then sanding down (into) this "sacrificial" layer of glass, leaving a "finish" surface of a sort of epoxy / glass alloy. The thing that comes immediatly to my mind is how this sanded layer of glass would look. With all the concern I have read here about all the problems of "whiteness" associated with sanding glass, I wonder how this could come out anything like "clear". But I think I am missing something because it does not seem likely that GR would use this process if it resulted in "white" or dicolored hulls. Appologies in advance for "putting you on the spot" and I sure understand if other tasks keep you from getting into this :-)

Arthur