: I have both 4 and 6 ounce cloth.
: If I use two layers of different weights, is it better to put the heavier
: over the lighter or the lighter over the heavier for strength?
: Seems like the heavier on the outside would provide better gouge resistance
: even tho lighter weave outside would be easier to get a smooth
: fill/finish.

I really don't know that it would make any difference which went on first. You may be right, Lee may be right. I think it's 6 of one, half a dozen of another. The thoughtful, careful combining of materials and methods is a big part of the strength, scratch and gouge resistance. I still think that the hardness and/or other characteristics of the fill coats and finish coats is also a big part of the scratch and gouge resistance. This also may be a case for a little thicker fill and finish coat IF, and only IF, you are going to need such added scratch resistance to keep the damage away from the layers of cloth. My next marathon boat will be with s-glass and additives (probably cabosil) to the fill coats. I don't care about getting scratches. I just want to keep them out of the cloth. By the way...I sand (repair) and recoat several times a year on my makeshift marathon boat. No varnish...just epoxy.