Seems my note left some issues unclear. I'll try and explain some.
I took an old bed sheet that had been washed (read very clean). After spaying off sanded epoxy, I sponging the yak with water running over it, I wiped off the drying surface with several rags (sheets)in a swirling motion (polish-until they became soaked and I got a new rag-overkill) so as to rub off any sanding residue compacted in the pores. The cups were new and I'm used to molding chemicals/agents, none here or in the liquid transfer items. Yak built with epoxy over fiberglass, and a final finish coat of epoxy ready for varnish. Never did varnish. 1 month epoxy cure pushed me into winter (rain) that year. I blew off the varnish in the spring. Used 8 times that year. Winter. Now spring. New coat-fisheyes.

After all this, I think the problem is river residue that wouldn't sand away. I must missed a needed solvent wash.

Thanks to all for your bits of wisdom :-)

: Background: S&G Pygmy. Perfect finish 1.5 years ago (note pride here..lots of
: kind remarks). Lots of scratches developed with use(played in the shallows
: too much). Sanded whole boat with 120 grit open paper to smooth/roughen
: the surface for the new coat. Never did do Varnish coat, but it was
: limited use (15 times? not a lot of sun). Sponge bathed yak with water and
: then a follow-up wash and rinse with water and lint free sheet polish. Let
: dry overnight inside clean garage.

: Took out System3 epoxy and it had chrystalized. Soaked both resin and
: hardener in hot tap water for 1 hour, spinning occasionally (like the
: college beer days). Let cool for about 45mins. Looked good.
: Then rolled onto hull with a brush smoothing follow. Fisheyes with every
: stroke.

: Any ideas what happened and how to avoid repeat?