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I'm revarnishing the outside of my Sea Coaster and have a question about CPES on the transom. I have some small hairline checks in the seam where the boards are glued together. Will the CPES seal this. Also, should I stain before applying the CPES or after. I'm afraid the CPES will darken the wood. Can I used thinned Varnish as a sealer instead of CPES?

I would stain before sealing any wood. I use only thinned varnish as a sealer for the first coat then full strength thereafter.
Varnish should fill tiny hairlines.

CPES is the consistancy of water.

Andreas