The epoxy continues to shrink over a few weeks until it reaches full cure. If you sand and varnish before then, you may start to a slight weave pattern develop over time as the epoxy shrinks into the cloth. It's very slight, and nothing another coat of varnish wouldn't cover. But, it's easily avoidable if you wait a couple weeks after the final epoxy fill coat before sanding and varnishing.

Ross

: I have a couple of questions. I am about 90% done with my second kayak, and
: arctic tern HI.
: I had ment to get it into the water on jan 1st, like I did last year, but
: luckly I was too hung-over for that. (I can hear the announcer now:
: "Welcome to the second annual new years day kayak launching, followed
: by the 100yrd_ swim_to_shore_pushing_a_flooded_kayak at beautiful lake
: Its_so_cold_youll_be_infertel_for_a_month.)

: "A friend" once told me that it is recommended to wait a few months
: before finishing epoxying and varnishing, to let all of the reaction
: finish etc. I have not heard about this anywhere else, and have closely
: read system3's book and directions on their varnish with out seeing this.
: therefor question is "is this BS?"

: My next boat will be a morris designed greenland SOF. I am planning to use KD
: Fir for the long members (keel, stringers, and sheer) (are there problems
: with this?) and am thinking about cedar or ash for the ribs. I can get
: green cedar at the local Home Despot. It seems to me that ash would be
: better (as in harder and stronger), but it is a lot more difficult to get
: around here. thoughts?