Originally Posted by
Boatmik
Howdy,
Downside of Hoop Pine ply is the sheet size - it is a decidedly un-international 2400 x 1200 which is shorter and narrower than international sheets - so none of my designs are set up for the small sheets.
Bruce is spot on ... if you want the boat to be light and last you can get the Joubert or Bruynzeel plywood from Tasmania, though some like Duck Flat in Adelaide distribute it as well.
If you want to go cheaper any good looking exterior or marine plywood. Look for nice faces with no knots and very few voids visible looking at the sheet edges in the shop.
Some of the Chinese gaboon ply is OK, most is terrible, so you really have to see it and get a guarantee you can return it if there is a problem with waterproofness (boil an offcut for 20 minutes and then let it dry, repeat) or you find voids in the middle.
Look for 2440 x 1220 sheets, though quality gaboon is 2500 x 1220.
HOpe this helps
Michael