: Hello fellow yakers

: I've just started a Redfish Spring Run, and want to make a few accent stripes
: in paint. Is it best to put it under the glass, or over the top but under
: the varnish?

: I presume the paint to use would be epoxy based?

If you put your paint over the epoxy then it will protect the epoxy from UV exposure. If you put it over the epoxy and the varnish then it will have the most vibrant color. Putting varnish over paint tends to give the paint a yellow tinge.

Oil based varnishes stick to epoxy very nicely. Boat deck paints and enamels and oil based enamels also bond nicely to the epoxy and/or the varnish.

You have to assume that at some time in the future you may need to touch up the lines, no matter what level they are applied. Accept this as routine maintenance.

Personally, I'd put the paint on last. It would be bonding to the varnish, which should be fine, and it would help to protect the epoxy. It owuld also look nice and bright, and if it got scratched or dinged I could easily touch it up.

If you are thinking of stripes, though, why bother with paint? Automotive stores have thin decorative strips which are applied like tape, and which look like fancy pinstriping. The cost is reasonable, the stuff is durable, it resists UV damage, it can be removed, repaired or replaced easily, and people who have used it say that it holds up. You might want to look at this before you buy your paint.

NAPA has 1/4 inch and 1/8th inch pinstripe tapes for under US$2.50 for a 36 foot roll. That is a lot cheaper than a pint of paint.

Here is a VERY LONG URL to their website:

http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/NAPAonline/search_results_kw.d2w/report?CATALOG=&org_string=pinstripe&search_string=Pinstripe%20Kit&MAKE_ID=&MODEL_ID=&YEAR_ID=&ENG_ID=&ENG_VIN_ID=&SUBMODEL_ID=&BODY_STYLE_ID=&TRANSMISSION_ID=&BRAKE_SYSTEM_ID=&DRIVE_TRAIN_ID=&ENG_ASP_ID=&ENG_FUEL_DELIV_ID=&ENG_FUEL_ID=&STEERING_ID=&SUSPENSION_ID=&START=11&sort_flag=&lookup=NONAPP

Hope this helps

PGJ