Top Coat Clear over Epoxy

[XstreamVking]

Like Gary said, the Awlgrip clear is really good stuff for wood finishing where the finish might get wet intermittently. Spar varnish will never give the same hardness and water resistance the clear grip gives. I have done teak doors on yachts and even open center consoles that still look the same as the day they were coated. Some 10 yrs later!

[brocluno]

You don't need to kill yourself on the first few coats of Spar Varnish. Yeah sure, level it down reasonably well and build a tooth. But the thing is to get some build height before going full bore on the final sanding.

I usually get four coats down before I get really into sanding to a visual plane and reflection checking. Then two to look good and polish

Agreed that Spar Varnish (even Poly versions) will not equal the hardness of Awl-Grip. But they are designed to do different things. Spar varnish is supposed to remain slightly flexible to move with wood.

Awl-Grip is pretty hard when cured. Over a glass structure that really does not move - OK cool. And your board would be such a structure with the epoxy/glass work.

On non-glassed wood, I'll stick with the Varnish

[FMP]

http://www.vevo.com/watch/the-beach-...n/USUV71302579

[Stoker1]

Thanks guys for the fantastic feedback and have heeded your azimuth point. Finishing is a total pain and I've learned a lot. Can't stress that statement enough... LEARNED....

As mentioned earlier, I wanted to stick with a waterbased poly and bought the Minwax. After four coats of letting it dry plenty (12 hours each coat and then 48 hours total), it looked like pure garbage. Got pissed and wet sanded it all off and started researching a good spar varnish.

Really didn't want to go with a vanish initially as I've read that it will add a honey color and didn't want to darken the wood. No choice now as my wits have met their end.

Well, just got through laying the first coat (Rustoleum brand has decent reviews, just takes forever to cure) and I'll admit that it looks pretty good and the honey color brings a richness to the wood. It flattened out pretty good as well.

Its not the most expensive but figured give it 24 hours to cure and see how it turns out. if it looks like garbage as well, THEN I'll eat some major $'s and go with Interlux or another big dog brand.

Hopes are that only two coats are required but if more are needed, then I believe my patience have finally taken hold to get the desired results.

Say a prayer....

Btw, I live on the Alabama Gulf Coast so surfing is possible on good days, just that they're too few and far between. I personally like (liked) wake boarding and slalom skiing but after a mountain bike accident broke my collar bone and tore up the rotator cuff, fishing and boating is priority.