I'm interested on advice about avoiding drips in the final finishing process.

I am about to sand again and then varnish, but feel I'm in an infinite cycle of drips. Any advice welcome.

By the way I have experience finishing fine furniture and was going to rub out the final coat of varnish with steel wool or possibly sand with 400 then 600 and rub out with pumice, as you might on a dining room table, to create a hand rubbed gloss. Is this normally necessary or do you just brush on the varnish and leave it? THanks,

There a LOT of variables here.

First, If you have drips, you're applying too much. A thin coat applied with a roller and tipped off with a foam brush should produce a coating similar to applied varnish.

If you've run into the glass in your sanding, adding one new coat of epoxy will not ensure it won't happen again. Two new coats should give enough epoxy depth to prevent running into glass again.

Every epoxy is different. Temperature effects epoxy cure greatly. Fast curing epoxy and excessive heat can leave a rough cured surface. A slower curing epoxy with the right temperature will leave a smooth surface requiring very little sanding.

For details see - http://www.laughingloon.com/epoxy.html

Applying varnish is very similar. Check with the epoxy manufacturer to ensure you use a varnish which is compatible with the epoxy. A varnish which is not may not cure properly.

Apply the varnish with a varnish brush and learn how to clean the brush. Thin coats will not drip or run. Too thin and you'll see dry spots. Too heavy and you'll have drips or runs. Start dryer and learn the correct amount to apply. Most people apply too heavy a coat and get drips and runs.

Varnish, like epoxy can fool you. When you first apply it, it looks great, then later, you come back to find drips and runs. Start applying less and work up to the amount which looks great.

If you will only hang your boat on the wall then rub out the finish. If you plan on using the kayak it will get scratched up quickly. I'd suggest you invest all the time you'd put into rubbing out the finish into learning how to apply a beautiful brushed varnish surface AND cleaning the brush properly.

Then you'll be able to refresh the varnish quickly any time you want your boat to look brand spanking new again!

Your choice!

All the best,
Rob