: Varnish is much easier than epoxy to sand and recoat and refresh. And varnish
: is
: designed to brush to a level smooth surface.

Rob, I expect you have far more experience than I do. But in building just one kayak, I had the opposite experience. After using just one brand of epoxy and one brand of varnish, I'd prefer to epoxy than to varnish. I'm in a very hot and humid place, central Florida. Thin coats of MAS epoxies went on with a thin nap foam roller, and produced what is for me a showroom finish without even tipping the epoxy. Too bad the epoxy could not withstand UV. After several varnish coats I have yet to get one I like. I don't l ike the experience of putting it on. And, I don't lioke the results. The best I got was by thinning it by 25% and applying it with a lint free rag. Even then, I'd rather epoxy than varnish. Those last thin coats of epoxy were fun to put on and simple to prepare for the next coat. The varnish was a bear.

Just one other person's experience.