: If you apply varnish within a month of your last fresh coat of epoxy the
: still curing epoxy will interact with the varnish. Some varnishes will cure
: properly and some never will.

: I suspect you have an incompatiblity issue. You can find out quickly
: by contacting the epoxy manufacturer and ask which varnish you should
: use with their product and if Epiphanes would work.

: Or you can do a test piece. Apply a thick coat of your epoxy to
: a flat panel. Give it a day to cure then apply your varnish to it.
: Do all this and keep it, in a warm place.

: Let the varnish cure for two days. You can tell if the varnish is hard and
: cured by sanding with 220 grit. If the sandpaper clogs fast it is not cured.
: If the sandpaper does not clog the varnish is cured
: and your problem is all temperature related.

: I use System Three epoxy. Z Spar Captains varnish cures well over fairly
: fresh coats. The first coat of varnish will always take twice the normal
: cure time over new epoxy, usually two days at 72¢ªF.

: I have a friend who kept telling me about how great "Epifanes" was
: so I
: tried some. I applied the Epifanes on epoxy about a week old in 75¢ªF
: temperatures.

: After five days it was still tacky. It was easy to remove with mineral
: spirits and steel wool. So much for that experiment.

: Rob

I tried Captain's for the first time, have always used Pettit's and/or Interlux marine paints, and am sold on the product. Very easy to use and seems to hold up well.

Bill H.