Plywood plank seams

[DavidS]

Looking at several of the Glen-L designs for small runabouts, the side planking is made from 2 8ft. or 10ft. pieces of marine plywood (or a single 16ft. plank if you can get this).

In the case of joining the planks with butt joints or scarf joints, there will be a seam where the wood grain will not match. Assuming that the hull will be finished with epoxy and fiberglass, is there a way to hide this seam (short of actually painting over it)? For example, if a dark stain is used on the mahogany plywood does this make the seam less noticeable?

Thanks.

[JimD]

Only way I know of to reduce the noticability is to do as careful a scarf as you can.

[Graham Knight]

The best way to hide it is to apply veneer planks over the ply. I've never seen a completely invisible butt or scarf joint, I painted my hull and kept the fancy woodwork for the deck.

[Mike Vogdes]

What Graham said... Paint the hull and save the bright work for the coamings and rails ect.

You will be glad you painted your hull after a season or two, trailering and docking takes its toll.

[Bruce Hooke]

One "partial" solution is to paint the outside and plan that scarf so that on the inside it is hidden behind something like a frame (if that is possible). Then you can at least varnish the inside if that is your desire.