Hmm, what book and what epoxy are you using? I'm not super exerienced, I've built one canoe and one kayak. I've used West on both, and tried both methods without real problems.

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

Pre coating helps with bubbles from gas escaping from voids (so I'm told), it also helps to prevent starved areas, where the wood can draw epoxy from the glass.

It is an extra step, I've caused myself grief the one time on the inside of my canoe when I put a layer of fiberglass down on epoxy that was to green, it was just slightly tacky, and it made for a world of trouble (It took me about 3 times as long to get the glass layed out and epoxied, and I ended up with ridges, and having to cut darts to remove them.

: 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...

The foam roller, can cause bubles, esecially on fill coats when there is some texture from the glass. The think to do is to use a brush (I used a foam one) to whipe over the epoxy after it has just been rolled on to knock off the bubbles.

It is a thinner coat and does help to prevent the drips and runs, but sometimes it will require an extra coat of epoxy depending how thin the layers went on.

I used the rollers on my canoe, and like it. On my kayak I used a brush, and liked that too. It seemed a lot faster, I'm not sure if it was though, as It was done two years later.
I used cheep brushes from the dollar store ($1.50 Cdn) for epoxy they work well, just make sure you spread it out well, to prevent runs.

How's that for not answering your qestions.

Just make sure you have brushes on hand even if you use the roller, as you need them to tip off the epoxy. And make sure you have extra rollers. oh and make sure the roller is either the thin foam kind, or the thin knap (not fluffy) kind (and have extra kicking around)

Myrl