The gesso was applied in three to four coats. The second coat was half as dense, sanded wet, until it was smooth. This priming process takes three days with sun drying. Six years ago I painted on hard pressed masonite and it was also perfect. Looking at paintings painted twenty years ago, they don't look a day old.
Life is good.
Weight was the reason I switched to plywood from masonite. I paint from my van and carry all my supplies, all the time. This is an acrylic painting of the waves at Aloha Point in Kaupo. The chalk drawing was done over the graded blue water. I've explained the five phases of a wave under the section Painting, Water.