The hunt for wood - Plywood

 The hunt for wood - Plywood 

 

 

being of plywood construction the 5.8 requires 23-25 sheets of 9mm 3/8 marine or a split if it’s 8mm (topside) and 10mm (hull)plywood. From what I have found in Canada to date it is relatively easy to get meranti marine ply which looks to be made in Indonesia or south-east Asia.

it’s harder to get the Okoume and it’s more money which looks to be made in Europe.

I'm linking this post below because from what I have read its a good summation of the two types of wood I could use. I can not use Fir, which I have tried to use before and have not been happy with it, the sanded finish was not great. Reading these blogs now I see why namely the type of wood and the process to make it.

I will look harder for Okoume for the topside and interior fit-out but I'm pretty sure it's going to be all 9mm 3/8 Meranti

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?6830-Okoume-and-Meranti-Plywood-vs-Fir-Plywood

" There is no comparison between what they call "fir marine Plywood" these days and meranti or okoume marine. Like different products all together but fir does have its uses. Like Gert and Jim have said, rotary sliced fir will not give a good finish. Meranti and okoume will finish very smooth. Meranti and okoume are a bit more splinter prone than fir so a good quality plywood saw blade with a high angle ATB bevel is manditory to get a clean kerf. For bending situations okoume is much better than meranti. Okoume is also a bit lighter weight if that is important. Both come in 2 grades 6566 and 1088. 1088 is about 40% more expensive. I have used both and have found almost no difference in the 2 grades until you get above 9 mm.

As far as stength goes from strongest to weakest, the order is fir, meranti and okoume. Weight from heaviest to lightest is Meranti, fir okoume.

In my boat, I used fir marine for some interior structural bulkheads in the lazerette and engine room because it is a bit better at noise suppression, less expensive and don't show. Flat surfaces that are painted or veneered are meranti and all the deck skins and cabin trunk are okoume for the weight savings and bending quality. "

update 2021 02 06

It would seem Okoume is the only choice as I can not find a supplier who can give me a certificate of conformation with BS1088.