Cost wise- best place to purchase marine grade plywood

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Privilege

Just offering an alternative view here...there are many applications in boat building where expensive marine ply and epoxies are just not necessary. All ply will eventually rot when exposed to moisture so your goal should be to have all non-decorative wood encapsulated in glass anyway. Therefore, many applications will not require marine ply.

Most boats are made entirely with polyester resin, not epoxy. Polyester resin is at least a quarter the price of epoxy. It's perfectly normal for all hulls, decks and internal structures to be made with polyester.

Most new boats are vinyl ester. Polyester is prone to blistering. US Composites 635 THIN resin in quantity is very affordable.

[Privilege]

I'm not a boat builder so will bow to better knowledge but the Google suggests that 95% of boats under 60' are still built with polyester. Either way, my point is that expensive epoxy is not necessary in most boat building applications.

[coastalexplorer]

The North American wholesale supplier for Bruynzeel marine plywood made from light weight Okoume Gaboon from west Africa. is>


The J. Gibson McIlvain Company
1-800-638-9100
info@mcilvain.com


Their stock has a Lloyds of London BS 1088 certification.


Many of the offshore producers in the orient claim that their materials are manufactured to the BS 1088 certification. but that does not mean that they are certified by Lloyds.

[Cheechako]

I hope you know what you are getting into.
Be careful to not buy too many things too soon. It's amazing how plans change and the "bargain" windlass you thought you wanted 2 years ago isn't what you want now.etc.
Open a builder's account for marine items. Some stuff is 40% off that way. Others not much at all.

[coastalexplorer]

shaysky. In north America USA in particular most people say that they are about to pull the trigger on something that they are considering buying.



My curiosity question is why are you considering building your own Catamaran?


I especially ask this question because you have stated that you are NOT presently a boat builder.


IF it should be that the answer to this question is a notion that you will save any money by building your own boat?


Perhaps in that case you should reconsider your position. and refer to your opening statement. which was ->



(I'm about to pull the plug on a catamaran build)


You asked about plywood so I have answered that question.
IF you want to teach your self wood work and boat building, good luck to you.

IF you do not have family and friends to help you yet you proceed I can predict that this will take you a number of years and cost more than a down payment and a bank loan on a new boat which can be sailed immediately

[lady sophie]

If you are in the southern Michigan/Ohio area here is a website:

Homestead Hardwoods

I built a 33' bluewater boat and got all plywood (BS1088 - Hydro-tek) Marine Plywood by Homestead - "Hydrotek" Mahogany Meranti / Keruing

You can also get it at Public Lumber in Detroit but call before you make the trip. They don"t always stock all sizes.

[ohgary]

In ohio Lumber Company | Lumber Yards - Keim Lumber Company is great for many wood products. Also its in the heart of amish country so its a nice drive as well. They may need to order in a bulk shipment of marine grade but a good start.

[lady sophie]

Homestead Hardwoods stocks HydroTek from 1/4" to 3/4" (or metric equivalent). They also stock a CCA plywood rated "Extreme Duty". I used this for the subflooring in the cabin.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by shayski

I live in the U.S. Ohio/Michigan area.

Do a google search for marine plywood in Ohio. I have. You will see a number of dealers, if you pick it up yourself you are going to save money, a factor that’s going to affect overall price. Having it shipped from other states will probably negate any initial price savings you are going to have.

[lady sophie]

A lot of places claim to have "Marine Plywood" but it should meet British Standard 1088. That is the Lloyd's rated marine plywood.

[john61ct]

But as stated, that standard is only enforced in Commonwealth markets.

Especially African / Asian sources, without a brand identity to maintain, and selling into markets like the US without strong regulatory protection of consumers, can slap that label on anything without consequences

[lady sophie]

take a look at it. try it.

[Hoosierdoc]

just wanted to say I'm impressed with your initiative and ability to do this. Best of luck!

[moseriw]

I think marine plywood is only necessary on deck but not inside as should be duly glued and painted and therefore it should be ok.

Not sure if it is ok in the tropics but elsewere it is fairly ok.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by moseriw

I think marine plywood is only necessary on deck but not inside as should be duly glued and painted and therefore it should be ok.

Not sure if it is ok in the tropics but elsewere it is fairly ok.

Being marine ply does not mean it is water resistant. Marine ply is consistently more structural as the inner layers are made without voids.