: my first boat project! so happy to have found this site. any help
: much appreciated.
: ---sealing stain step : instructions picture hair brush -- may I
: use foam brush? I use paint/varnish sparely -- must I "roll
: out" with a "roller" as instructed? may I ALWAYS
: use foam vs. hair?---in mixing epoxy -any guidance on
: containers? enought for now & thanks.
: Susan

Hi Susan, and everyone else as well -been away for a while, but back on board now.
varnishing is a dog of a job if you want a mirror finish. After you take it out and it gets wet in the sun it shines like the best automotive finish whatever you have done. It also gets scratched as you rub on rocks and sand and inconsiderate people sit on it with jeans with studs in the back pockets or drop their kayaks on top of it etc. So don't stress.
Epoxy - you are a woman, so go the woman's route - kitchen scales :-). Get a good electronic set, buy cheap plastic cups with no funny edges in them at the supermarket weigh the epoxy and add the correct weight of hardener. Different epoxy brands will have a different weight ratio, but it is usually printed on the bottles, otherwise on their web site, stir well and you are done. No squinting at cups with lines that disappear in the grunge or lines that are out. No error prone pumps. Simple and clean and have fun.
Cheers
JohnK