Dave,

If you want to reduce the number of fill coats you have to apply to hide the weave, try pre-promoting your epoxy. This thickens the epoxy so you can apply a thicker coat, and therefore, reduce the number of fill coats needed.

To pre-promote, measure out the resin and mix-in about 25% of the hardener needed. Let it sit for a while, about 20 to 30 minutes works for me, then mix-in the rest of the hardener. Your epoxy will be a bit thicker but will cure as usual. This is especially helpful if you use a low viscosity epoxy.

This may be obvious, but I'll say it anyway: Don't do this for the wet-out coat. To saturate the glass, you want your epoxy as thin as possible. Pre-promoting is only for fill coats.

Good luck and let us know how your OI paddles.

Pedro Almeida