Told you I'd have questions

[wagonmaker]

Good evening.....Thanks again for everyones input on my questions regarding plywood. It seems everyone has a slightly different perspective. Choices that are based on sound knowledge helped me decide. My skipjack plans call for acx plywood & that is what I bought on saturday. I spent a good amount of time friday searching for any marine grade.....okhoume, meranti or otherwise locally here in San Antonio Tx.

I found none at all & nobody was willing to order such a small amount, said & needed to be closer to the gulf to find on hand.

Anyway , I agree my next boat will be only marine grade. This is my first boat project & I don't want to invest that much into this little day sailer. This is a learning experience for me. I actually had my sights on starting with a trailerable boat in the 20' foot range................but the the value of doing this smaller project first makes good sense to me. I actually saw the wife get involved & even excited about helping me loft & cut the hull on saturday afternoon, so all is well there. Although I have been in the carpentry/builder business all my life, I have to say I can't remember when I had so much fun cutting wood, it has been years. When it comes to cutting some wood for me it is usually work related for money or at home for maintenance & no compensation...........something you gotta do. This boat project is going to be alot of fun. I can see where it gets into your blood maybe. More later...... Wayne

[wagonmaker]

Good evening.....Thanks again for everyones input on my questions regarding plywood. It seems everyone has a slightly different perspective. Choices that are based on sound knowledge helped me decide. My skipjack plans call for acx plywood & that is what I bought on saturday. I spent a good amount of time friday searching for any marine grade.....okhoume, meranti or otherwise locally here in San Antonio Tx.

I found none at all & nobody was willing to order such a small amount, said & needed to be closer to the gulf to find on hand.

Anyway , I agree my next boat will be only marine grade. This is my first boat project & I don't want to invest that much into this little day sailer. This is a learning experience for me. I actually had my sights on starting with a trailerable boat in the 20' foot range................but the the value of doing this smaller project first makes good sense to me. I actually saw the wife get involved & even excited about helping me loft & cut the hull on saturday afternoon, so all is well there. Although I have been in the carpentry/builder business all my life, I have to say I can't remember when I had so much fun cutting wood, it has been years. When it comes to cutting some wood for me it is usually work related for money or at home for maintenance & no compensation...........something you gotta do. This boat project is going to be alot of fun. I can see where it gets into your blood maybe. More later...... Wayne

[Charlie Jones]

Oh it gets into your blood alright. Yeah boy it does.

I'd bet you don't build just one

[wagonmaker]

Good evening gentlemen, Well I have started my small 12 ft skipjack day sailer. I lofted & cut out the hull, went very well. I was holding off on ply for the deck, bulkheads, & topsides while conversing with the members here on the possibilities. The plans call for 1/4 inch acx, however I opted for 1/4 luan underlayment instead & purchased what I needed yesterday. All day today it worried me because that stuff just doesn't seem right to me. True it is glued with exterior glue ,& I have read on here of some builders using it with success. As for me I am not going to use it. I knew it was wrong for me when I strapped onto my truck & the nylon ratcheting tie downs rubbed off the face veneer, that outer veneer is "paper thin".

I am a first time boat builder , but life long carpenter & that stuff is just not quality, for underlayment, yes. Boats? ....not for me. I appreciate everyone's help & input. Wayne

[Charlie Jones]

Wayne- YOu CAN buy Fir Marine plywood in Rockport- that's about 3 hours south of you. I get my plywood in Houston though and don't use US made stuff. I'll be heading over there next week I think for 16 sheets of 4mm Okume and 4 sheets of 6MM Okume

That's at Houston Hardwoods, out on the west side of town

[Barnacle Jim]

Ahoy Wayne,

You made the right choice by not using the poor quality luan. Like you, seeing the paper thin veneer would have made me very nervous. Luan comes into a wide variety of qualities. Indeed, I have seen some selections which were not much better than cardboard.

Good luck on your boatbuilding!

[Frank Hagan]

Yep, a good choice. I haven't looked at it in a few years, but I remember the last time I looked at Home Depot's luan underlayment, the veneer on either side was respectably thick, about the same as standard plywood. It only had two center plies, which I thought would make it hard to bend.