Okoume Plwod--How to be sure????

[Steven]

Here is a link to Word Panel that describes the BS1088 standard. The plys don't have to be the same thickness, but there are minimum thicknesses for outer plys. http://www.worldpanel.com/bs1088.htm

[Rick]

For all I know the ply sheets my friend bought meet the technical specs of BS1088, but those surface plies are as thin as that found on oak, birch or maple cabinet plywood. If you sanded a spot for a minute with 80-grit sandpaper you would be through the face ply into the second layer. From the link to the spec Steven posted above it looks like 6mm BS1088 would have to have a face veneer of at least 1.25mm. There is no way this veneer was that thick.

Even the BS6566 I used on my PK78 was better than this plywood. Most of the thickness of this BS1088 was in the cross-plies. It wasn't good boat-building wood.

My only suggestion was to examine what you are buying closely, or buy your materials from a reputable source (like Jacques). Of course, even from a reputable source I'd still inspect it myself. My friend bought his questionable plywood from Crosscut Hardwoods in Seattle, which is a good, honest, reliable source for hardwood and plywood. The vast majority of their customers are cabinet and furniture makers and finish carpenters, though, and they might not understand what boatbuilders are looking for.

[JimW]

Look for the pinkish hue.