: I am just starting to build my first stitch and glue boat. I decided on a
: Pygmy Osprey HP. My first mistake was building a table to work on, it was
: 2 ft to short, Doh! I know this is a premature question, but can one stain
: the wood before you cover the hull in epoxy and fiberglass cloth? Has
: anyone installed the Pygmy hatches and bulkheads? They do not look they
: wood be terribly effective in keeping water out especially if the water is
: rough. Thanks in advance.

Brian--
You've decided not to stain, based on one of your posts. But you still have some choice as to color. Varnishes apparently differ in how much color they add. I used Z-spar Flagship (2015), which had a reddish color to it. This darkened the appearance of my Osprey to a very nice color, in my opinion. (See pic.) Others may have suggestions on other varnishes that have more or less or different tints to them.
Bob