How important is the varnish coat?

[Eichhornia]

Since it just isn't raining, we keep taking the canoe out instead of sanding it down and varnishing it. How long can we go before the sunlight makes the epoxy all brittle?

 

[oldsparkey]

If you are keeping the canoe inside out of the weather it would be a long time, if it is kept outside .... Not a good thing.

The varnish is sun block for the epoxy and if you have had it for your use over 30 days then I would take a day, lightly sand it and varnish it.

Chuck.

 

[Kayak Jack]

And, Kym, while the sun blocking is going on, it is a self-sacrificing process. IE, it won't last forever, and it wears out at "sun prominent" areas first.

So, just like your own lovely, sun-vulnerable skin, the boat needs some protection.