Hi Scott, I was a longtime lurker before building my Tern 17 last year, so I thought I'd jump in ahead of the experts here...I suggest you do a sealcoat, then next day very lightly run a 4-inch razor scraper over the surface to shave off the grain spikes, so the dry glass will "flow" over the curves and angles. Use a high-quality 6-inch bristle brush to smooth the dry glass, it's fun! I had best luck using the 9-inch very thin foam rollers Pygmy carries. I also used 4-inch foam rollers from Home Depot that have a round foam end, good for inside the hull. But these HD rollers, while very dense, are thicker foam, and you *will* waste considerable epoxy within the foam. Enjoy!

: Hi everyone - I've been lurking for years and years (literally) and have
: finally taken the plunge and purchased a Tern 14'. So, in addition to my
: first post here, I'm also spending ALOT of time scouring the net to get
: tips and pointers...

: I thought I would be fine with the epoxy stage until yesterday; that's when I
: started to read too much on the net and get conflicting opinions. I'd
: hoping for some guidance for a first time epoxy guy...

: Question One: The pre-coating of wood is optional but probably a good idea
: for a first timer like me. Correct?

: Question Two: Brush or roller. I had always throught a foam roller was the
: way to go, but yesterday I started reading that using a brush reduces the
: air-bubbles and was better for fill coats...