: Has anyone tried this stuff yet?
: I am a big RAKA fan, just wondering if the blue resin dries as
: crystal clear as the old clear stuff.
: Thanks
: Matthew

Hello Matthew,

I bought a 3 gal. kit of this UV system from RAKA and applied it to one of my new hull exteriors.
a. When mixed, the color (blue and yellowish hardener) did not clear-up like RAKA told me it would. It did get lighter in color.
b. It was difficult to wet out glass cloth, even when I let it soak for 5 minutes after slopping the epoxy on.
c. After gently squeeging, I noticed tiny shiney print through spots all over the hull, faint but apparent.
I used Noahs 6oz plain weave cloth.
d. Scuffing with 150 grit between coats was very easy. It sands effortlessly so be careful to not hit the cloth.
e. I applied 4 coats so far using West marine lo-nap rollers and tipped off with sponge brushes. When I let it sit to dry I noticed the exagerated orange peel
appearance even after tipping off very carefully (on all coats).
f. The finish appearance; WRC got real dark (graining amplified very nicely, the yellow cedar stripes got extremely yellow and bright.
Judging by the appearance she looks like it could use another 2 coats. I can faintly see the weave but can not feel it when running my hands across the surface.

My novice opinion compared to MAS; MAS has a lower viscosity and wets out better. But this may be due to the inexpensive cloth I got from Noahs.
MAS cured harder and was more difficult to sand, but that is good! I had no orange peel appearance after tipping off with MAS and no shiny tiny spots printing
through with MAS. I chose RAKA over MAS this time because of the UV epoxy protection.
I'll know more tomorrow when I scuff it to apply the 5th application. And the 6th if needed. I will change application technique on future applications; 4 overlapping roller strokes vertically and tip off with foam brushes horizontally. That may help me get on heavier coats of epoxy. After I apply 3 to 5 coats of Epiphanes varnish I could possibly
lease this kayak to Green Peace to ram Whale fishing boats.

Douglas