You're one up on me. While I have used aniline dyes for other projects, I have not tried them with kayak construction. I'm curious though. How even did the finish turn out, especially around the joints that need to be rounded over? I know what you mean about the bubbles showing up over a dark surface. I have used mother-of-pearl inlay that shows the bubbles more if you look real close.

Ted

: I stained the hull of my s&g Merganser with black waterbased aniline die from
: Lee Valley before I glassed. I also stained my recessed deck fittings
: black to contrast with the brass rods thru them. I was intending to see a
: little grain in the hull but it came out very dark. I like the look
: though. Having a dark substate under your glass does show up any defects
: in the glassing job, like small air bubbles etc. that you wouldn't see
: over plain wood.