I managed to finish up this project yesterday. I sanded out some rough spots and applied a finish coat of epoxy to clean up the look a little better. I will not varnish the thing until the fall. I want the wood to become more sun-faded because it is showing discolorations where the old maple leaves used to be. I tried to cover the spots with the new leaves but did not quite succeed with that. I expect to wet out the hull with some real live West Coast salt water come Feb 29th when Linda and I tie the knot at Ucluelet, Vancouver Island. A couple of days later, fair weather assumed, we will paddle the Ucluelet Harbor. I suppose I should name this pretty beast but I haven't thought of any appropriate names. I imagine the kayak will let me know what she should be named.

Robert N Pruden