A thought comes to mind (as a newbie just starting #1, but well-read and well-surfed): Is it the cloth or the epoxy that's muted the appearance of the grain? Some epoxy systems are definitely clearer than others; see Vaclav's tests of epoxy on the One Ocean Kayaks website, the URL is http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Epoxtest.htm. In addition to what he's tested, I learned from Peter at Classic Boat Kits (where I bought my strips)that he's using a lot of the thin, clearcoat epoxy from System Three; he's found that he likes the handling and the wetout characterstics, and simply adds a couple of extra coats to get to the same fill. I would expect that the glass fabric becomes about equally transparent in any of the epoxy systems, but the epoxy chemistry itself produces differing optical properties; also, Vaclav addresses the issue of fabric "whitening" over time.

What I can tell you from my own experience is that with varnish or oil finishes, there can be significant differences among products in how well the grain shows through.

If you're really curious and you're willing to go to the time and effort involved, trying a few samples might be instructive.

: I have 7mm merantie mahogany plywood on the deck with lots and lots of grain
: in it. We want to put (aged oak) stain on it, East System Epoxy and 6oz
: cloth.On our previous boats the cloth toned down the grain of the wood.Any
: ideas on keeping the character of the wood without losing too much
: strength.
: Bob