Thanks a lot Pete, that's just the sort of experienced insight I hoped for when I put this question to Dr. Rot and here. I had followed the thread where you talked about CPES and that really got me interested again:-) I remember you told me about this "Blush" effect on the other thread and that was another reason that Dr. Rot's answers were a surprise when he said there is never a concern with preparing or washing CPES prior to overcoating it with another epoxy. I think the idea of sealing with CPES is great for many reasons, but I have learned that for me in boat building it goes: Knowledge, method, technique. And I don't know very much about CPES and the advice on method and technique has varied in important details given only hours apart by the "expert" in the field. This makes me decide to understand this "new" product or just have to skip it (don't want to do that) because I would rather skip it than cause more problems than it's worth out of ignorance before the fact (been there done that too many times). Now thanks to this board and Pete and PJG I have learned two important things so far that I would NOT have EVER learned from the "expert" Dr. Rot: DO NOT seal CPES with regular epoxy UNTIL the solvents have been well evaporated (especially in my case with the other side of the wood already fully sealed) AND Blush or no "Blush" I am going to "wash" and dry the CPES thoroughly prior to putting regular epoxy over it. So I am on the learning curve here already. It seems better to allow the CPES to fully "cure" (days NOT hours) and it needs to be treated as if it "Blushes". This is good and seems safe, only leaves the "loss" of "chemical" bond and leaves the mechanical bond which may be akin to the debate I have read here so often about "chemical" versus "mechanical" bond on regular epoxy. And if I understood the outcome of that debate it was" "Chemical" bond is better if you can manage it (can't here with CPES apparently), BUT "Mechanical" bond is ok, you just need to give the under coat a good sanding. How does this strike those with more experinece with epoxy than me?? Thanks because after I know as much as I can I will write or call Dr. Rot and check it out with him again (found he answers e-mails right away and isn't shy with writting a "full" answer, even ending each of his letters with "IF you have any more questions come back" If I ever make sense of this and after I get back to Dr. Rot I will post what turned up from all the help I was given.

Joe

Joe