: I'm building a cold molded mahogany runabout, and for the topsides and
: transom i want a very transparent epoxy glass layer....this clearcoat
: sounds like just the solution, with a light layer of glass....

: by the way, what weight cloth should I use??? i'm not looking for structural
: strength, just some added protection to the surface of the wood

Defender has some very lightweight cloth in the 3/4 to 1 ounce range for under a buck a yard. If you buy a gallon of resin from them they have a deal on 10 yards for either $7.50 or $5 (depends on where in the catalog you see the deal.) If you are planning on using lightweight cloth anyway, the price of the "deal" might be significant. Their catalog is now online.(www.defenderus.com)

Other places that sell lightweight glass cloth seem to be marketing it to model makers, and selling it at a premium price.

The advantage to using a thin layer of glass cloth is that it serves as a thickness gauge for your exterior finish. Fibreglast says its 2 ounce glass cloth is 0.004 inches thick. 1 ounce glass should be about half that thick. -- depending on the weave. (www.fibreglast.com) When the resin is thick enough to fill the weave of the cloth then it is at least as thick as the cloth is. Of course a heavier cloth would need a thicker coat of resin to fill it.

pgj