We spoke to a kayak maker this past summer - produced the most beautifully finished cedar strip kayaks I've seen anywhere.
His finishing method - similar to what sailaway describes - was to use an
epoxy coating as a sealant, and then covered it with a UV resistant
varnish. The UV protection prevented the
epoxy itself from turning milky as it is wont to do if left unprotected.
If this method works for something expected to spend time in full exposure - it should do really well for interior woodwork where the exposure is reduced.