Glen-L.com

Ok I finished putting the hydrotek plywood on my Bullet and I put 3 coats of epoxy on it.
I wanted to finish it bright but the 1 side is noticeably darker than the other, so is there a way to darkin the one side before I put the varnish on? It is just a tint lighter.

Any chance one side of your boat was more exposed to the sun than the other? Mahogany darkens the more it is in the sun. Might be that a little exposure will fix you right up.

KB

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since the wood is now sealed with epoxy the tint would have to happen in the first finish coat and is not always easy for a beginner. what UV finish are you planning on using for your topcoats?
-Billy

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Billy's Belle Isle website

I don't have a top coat picked out yet, but was looking at a rustolum varnish. The wife says it doesn't look that bad but I can tell the one side is darker. I was also thinking about painting in some white lines to make it look like it has been planked, do you think this would help or would it make it worse?

so rustoleum contains UV protection for your epoxy? i have not used that coating but you do need it in any topcoat you apply over epoxy. my suggestion if you want to try making them match is make a batch using something like Solarlux or other tinting stain or lightfast dye mix a small amount and coat the whole topsides so that the same base color is on the two sides then add another coat to the lighter side and see if that gives you the result you want.
-Billy

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(insert witty phrase here)
Billy's Belle Isle website

Ok I might give that a try, and yes the rustoleum is a varnish made for boat topsides, they sell it at lowes. Could I stain the epoxy with a regular stain then cover with varnish, or should I put the stain in the varnish? Thanks for the input.

i would be concerned about adhesion of any stain going over epoxy then topcoated- even more so after looking at their web site info on prep for the product.
If you were using a traditional varnish...
The two products i use in tinting finishes are Solar-Lux and Master Color both made by Behlen. the Solar-Lux as a reducer for alcohol and lacquer bases and Master Color for the rest. They are UV resistant, mix well with finishes and come in the various wood flavors.
-Billy

_________________
(insert witty phrase here)
Billy's Belle Isle website

Thanks maybe I will go that way.