-
Hi Duncan,
I bought 4mm gaboon from Plyco in Melbourne and have just scarfed and cut out the hull panels for a Chesapeake 17. It's light, and I was happy with the quality - no voids encountered, nice enough grain which I was able to match pretty well between sheets. A lot lighter to pick up a shet than other types of ply I looked at.
You'll want to consider the weight of the finished boat - I don't think the weight difference would make a huge difference in performance, but it may do, and also lifting anything over 20kgs off a car roof may not be fun (try lifting a plastic sea kayak over your head!).
Hope this helps,
Darren
-
Midge is spot on.
Pacific Maple is a Generic name for a whole bunch of timbers related to Meranti - a whole bunch of different tropical hardwoods can be used.
As Meranti addicts will know the density is very variable within one species.
At the moment a lot of the Pac Maple is Keruing species which is twice the weight of Gaboon.
So VERY variable in weight.
MIK
-
I use a a bit of pac maple ply from time to time building cases & the thickness can vary quite a bit.
Ive had 9mm that varied from 9.2 down to 7.8 between sheets.....thtas a pain when you are trying to fit it up to extrusion.
It would also have signoficant weight and strength implications.
I will say I havn't seen too much pac maple that " Is singing Major Tom" though it generaly seems to be reasonably flat and straight.
cheers