: I used colored canvas
: and want a clear finish. The dope looks nice because it fills the canvas
: and only needs a few coats (I'm ready to be done with this boat)but it's
: too cold to do it right now and I don't know if I can wait 'til Spring.
: Some articles recommend 8-10 coats of varnish with sanding to get a smooth
: finish that I'm guessing would mimic the dope.

If the canvas was NOT coored I'd say paint the thing, but since it is, then going with a clear finish is the thing to do. Since you are worrying about fumes, I'd suggest a waterbased polyurethane, and two or three coats. If you are working outside in old weather, then acheck the label on an oil based polyurethane., since it has no water it will not freeze as easily, but you want to check if it will set up properly in cold weather.

If you are using cotton canvas then get an anti-mildew additive from your paint store. pour out a quart of paint and add the mildewcide to it. Test it on a scrap of fabric to see if it stays clear when it dries. If it does NOT stay clear, spray as much as you can on the inside of the boat, letting it seep into folds and crevices. If it stays clear you can apply it ot the outside of the boat, and it should wick through the fabric enough to give some protection. If you are using polyester canvas, you can forget this step.

Putz suggests that although canvas covered boats look really good with 6 to 10 coats of paint or varnish, it is not necessary to put them all on the first year. Start with a base finsih, and add a coat or two every spring before putting the boat in the water. This not only keeps the boat looking fresh, and builds the finish, but it seals any small cracks that might have developed in the underlying paint/varnish layers. His book has a picture showing how new paint seeps into those cracks and seals them.

Hope this helps

PGJ