using canoe before varnishing

[bobmc3]

Just finished the Merrimac and have a trip planned in a week. I haven't varnished it yet but have taken it out a couple of times. I was wondering how long before the sun starts to damage the epoxy and how long does it take for the epoxy to fully cure (duckworks economy epoxy). I am hoping that I havent compromised the strengh by using it too soon. I did notice that a small area at one end had already started to chip and was easy to peal off. I rolled the last coat of epoxy on 36 hours before taking the boat out, could the
chipping be a result of not letting the epoxy cure long enough? Any input would be appreciated,
thanks,
New Merrimac owner,
Bob

by the way, really love the way the boat looks and performs!

[craiggamesh]

I have built 4 boats and am wrapping up a canoe project now and have only used the Duckworks Marinepoxy (economy resin). I have had great results. The first was a Jon Boat that I painted. I completed a cedar strip kayak 2 years ago and have not varnished it yet. I am still figuring out the optimum locations for rigging it and have done modifications such as adding a skeg. That is why it has not been varnished yet. I have had it out may a dozen times and have not seen any damage to the epoxy. It is always stored in my garage, never out in the sun. I intend to varnish it in the next couple of weeks because I think I finally have everything worked out.

I finished my Sabalo a couple weeks ago and have had it out once. I will varnish that in a couple of weeks when the epoxy has fully cured. My pirogue is what I have put the most miles on and I varnished the outside soon after finishing the build, but I have not yet done the inside. I have yet to see any problems, but I store them all indoors.

Have you noticed a pattern, I don't like to varnish and I get to excited to start the next project. I am thinking of attempting to spray them or pay someone to spray them.

[Guest]

How UV unstable is the epoxy?

[Tor]

A few times shouldn't be an issue and a few months before varnishing should be ok assuming you don't store it in full sun all the time. Epoxy flaking off!! that sounds more like the epoxy not adhering to the coat below maybe a bit dusty or damp?

When I took my DK out before I varnished it, the moisture affected it and I got a blush. I painted it after that and then sprayed on a marine grade varnish, got a lovely finish and was quite easy to do with cheap compressor and reasonable touch up gun.

Tor

[jem]

How UV unstable is the epoxy?

A few days of direct sunlight won't impact it much, if at all. Long term exposure leads to issue.

[bobmc3]

Thanks for the input. I will enjoy the trip on South Slough estuary this weekend and varnish the canoe in a couple of weeks. The epoxy was only flaking in a small area, must have been dusty there, not to worried about that. Thanks again for the reply.

Bob

[jem]

might have been a little amine blush.

Be sure to give the hull a good sanding before varnishing.

[Oldsparkey]

I use all of my boats for about a month before varnishing them. They do get scratched but a light sanding and the varnish makes them look new again.
The last boat I made , the Sasquatch 14 x 30 , has been used , varnished on the outside but not the inside as of today's date. I made it in August of last year.

Chuck.