Yet Another Ply ?

[capt jake]

I have heard a lot about Okume plywood. I have found a vendor who has Ekaba plywood for a lot less $$. It meets the BS1088 std. It is also supposed to be stroger and more rot resistant than Okume. What do you folks think? I had never heard of it before. 3/8" sheet for $40.20!
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[This message has been edited by capt jake (edited 10-01-2001).]

[Alan Peck]

I have not heard of this type plywood, but can you tell us who the vendor is?

Thanks

[capt jake]

The vendor is Resources International http://www.resourcesintl-wa.com/index.html . Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

[Tom Dugan]

Capt.,

Paul Frederiksen may have something more to say. Check this thread:
http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003313.html

-T

[paladin]

EKABA MARINE PLYWOOD


Description: Marine Grade Plywood AA Panel
Construction: 100% Ekaba Veneers

Ekaba marine grade panels are manufactured to meet or exceed British Standard BS 1088 WBP. As a specie, Ekaba is considered moderately durable, placing it in the same classification as African Mahogany and Douglas Fir. The strength factor of Ekaba compares favorably with Okoume.

Ekaba panels have a wide variety of applications, not limited to marine use. Rotary cut Ekaba plywood can be used in any building project where a top of the line marine grade panel is required.

The Hardwood, Plywood and Veneers Association is located in Reston Virginia but everyone is out for a coference or something until Monday. One well known vender stated that he had never heard of it....and another thinks it is a sub-species of Okoume.......sorry, that's all I got for my two minutes......

[capt jake]

I appreciate all of the input you have given me. I followed the links and actually have a piece in hand. Looks OK. Still haven't gotten a feel from the Forum whether to use it or would the recommendation be to use Okume?

[Paul Frederiksen]

Sounds like nice wood. It is not the plywood I would worry about but the vendor. Resources International really screwed me over. I will tell you more if you e-mail me about it.

[capt jake]

Sorry to bring this to the top again. I have gathered that I need to make the great migration to the metropolis to inspect whatever before shipment. I just recieved another price list and it lists a BS1088 Okume for $80 and yet another BS1088 Okume with the Lloyds sticker for $110.
One, is this a reasonable price?
Two, how do I verify the authenticity of the Lloyd's sticker?
Three, Is it the country of origin that is more important or the sticker?
Four. How do I tell'good' stuf from the 'bad'?
Have I rambled enough? http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Paul Frederiksen]

Here is where the difficult work begins. The problems are actually two-fold. First, the BS1088 certification means that the plywood is manufactured to that standard. The manufacturer puts the stamp on and you have to take his word for it. Usually his word is fairly good, otherwise he will go out of business quickly. But, from time to time manufacturing defects will creap in or be intentionally overlooked at some of the more backwater operations.

Second, there is a great variation in the quality of the wood used, even within a particular species. You could order ten sheets of ply and see dramatic differences in color and even surface veneer quality all within the same shipment.

Having tried to wing it by shoestring, I can tell you that this is not without its risks. Much risk can be avoided if you put your hands on the product yourself. This is also helpful in getting colors to be at least close. But even this may not protect you. My plywood was beautiful and I was raving about it on the forum for several months. Then I found out that there had been a manufacturing defect in the gluing of the face veneers on some of the sheets I received. It didn't show up right away so I didn't know I had a problem until the boat was built. It is a small problem which I can and must overcome, but a downer none the less.

So to minimize the risk either put your own hands on the selection, or purchase from a high volume, high profile supplier who knows boatbuilding. Chesapeak Light Craft, for example, moves so much wood that they have the buying power to pursue better quality control. There are other high volume dealers who are probably in the same situation.

[frameshop]

I am in the same predicament as you. I am planning on building a 22' plywood boat and all I seem to be getting is "NON ANSWERS" on the subject of what to use, and fron whom!!!!
The plans, fron Doug Hylan, specify "meranti" for its better strength and rot resistance, even though it is 20% heavier that "Okoume". The best price I have been able to get is from "Noahs Marine" in Toronto. Their BS6566 meranti is $42.00 for a 1/2" (12mm) sheet. This is significantly less than others are quoting. Has anyone had any experience with this product or supplier

[Don Maurer]

Last I heard, Chesapeake Light Craft gets their plywood from Harbor Sales (www.harborsales.com). Their plywood is manufactured by Shelman in Greece. They sell several grades. The stuff marked BS1088 meets the BS1088 standard and is Lloyds of London certified. It is listed as certified on the Lloyds web site. From first hand experience, I can tell you that the plys are uniform with no patches. I have made 3 orders so far (2 okoume and 1 sapelle) and the plywood is consistently excellent quality. BS6566 has thinner surface veneers and would not be recommended if you have to bend the plywood much. If the designer recommends meranti over okoume for strength, I would definitely go with one of the heavier woods (meranti, sapelle, kahya). All are considerably harder and stronger than okoume. The weight will not be a concern in a 22' boat.

[This message has been edited by Don Maurer (edited 10-05-2001).]

[Nicholas Carey]

Two, how do I verify the authenticity of the Lloyd's sticker?

* Find the Lloyds Registry of Shipping web site: http://www.lr.org

* Rummage around until you find the Type Approval Database: http://www.lr.org/services/type-approval/index.html

* Find the link to the LR Type Approved Products Database (http://www.cdlive.lr.org/information/510tapub/) and search on 'plywood'. You'll probably need to register with them first.


Three, Is it the country of origin that is more important or the sticker?

The certification stamps. You have to jump through hoops to get the certification stamps. Without the stamps you have to take their word for it as to whether they meet the published standards or not.

[capt jake]

Been gone for a few days, glad to see the replies. Thanks you. Judging by the replies, I'll get right to it. Does anybody have experience with Edensaw (based in Port Townsend and Seattle)?? Free shipping and reasonable prices. They state that the Lloy's sticker comes on some shipments but not on others (they never know).
Jake
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[Mike Keers]

Jake,
I bought 90 sheets (over $4000) of Meranti and Okoume in mixed thicknesses from Edensaw in Port Townsend, and had it shipped to Arizona for a boat I'm building....the shipping part didn't go too well due to the truckers, but Edensaw, especially John Montgomery, was outstanding to deal with, some of the best attention and service I've ever recieved from any business. I would not hesitate to buy from them again, altho' the shipping part makes me think twice. No fault of Edensaw's, but they made it right.

As for the wood itself, both 1088 and 6566, I'm exceptionally pleased. I'm a life-long woodworker, and this stuff is a true joy to work with, finest-kind. I'll never waste money on domestic 'marine' fir again.

[This message has been edited by Mike Keers (edited 10-06-2001).]