Meranti or Okoume

[marvinwus]

I was planning on using Okoume for my CS17, but meranti is almost half as much as Okoume. $46 vs $75 and $56 vs $100. How much heavier would meranti be? I really like Okoume and have used it on several boats. What would you recommend?

[Brent]

Okume is lighter (about 70% of the weight of Meranti IIRC) and bends easier. Both will work for a CS17. It is possible to use both - for a blended solution - Meranti might be a good choice for the bottom of the hull aft section and the seat tops.

[Charlie Jones]

One other point to consider. Okume panels are longer than 8 feet by an inch or so. Meranti panels are exactly 8 feet. So take that into consideration when planning- you'll have shorter scarfed panels using Meranti.

Wouldn't make much difference on the CS17, but it could on other designs.

Just something to keep in mind.

[Tom Lathrop]

One other point to consider. Okume panels are longer than 8 feet by an inch or so. Meranti panels are exactly 8 feet. So take that into consideration when planning- you'll have shorter scarfed panels using Meranti.

Wouldn't make much difference on the CS17' date=' but it could on other designs.

Just something to keep in mind.[/quote']

Charlie, That may be a little misleading. Some plywood panels, including the majority of occoume, are made to English measurement and are 48" by 96". Some imported plywoods are of metric measure and are 1.25 by 2.5 meters or 49.2" by 98.4". This is probably the ones you are referring to. There may be other standard plywood dimensions, but I am not familiar with them.

[JeffM]

My Joubert (French company) Okoume was 4'X8' exactly.

[Charlie Jones]

Thanks Tom. Yes I wasn't totally clear. Should have said "Some panels"

Though the panels I have out in the shop are French made- 48 by 98 inches. Can't shut the tailgate on the truck - plywood is too long.

[Greg Luckett]

For what its worth, I like Merianti for hulls on boats bigger than 12 feet, if the added weight is not a problem.

[BillB]

I have purchased Okoume ply from difference sources, one was the slight oversize version and the other standard 4x8 sheet.

I was told the oversized sheets came from Israel. When I went to purchase ply from them again, was told there was a problem (getting it) due to the war. Since then I have just assumed the larger sheets came from European mfg.

Anyone know for sure?

Bill

[Terry Dunn]

I bought 12 sheets of okoume from Edensaw 4 years ago. They were shipped and I picked them up at the freight yard. I discovered they were two different sizes when I tried to put them in my minivan and some of the sheets did not fit between the wheel wells.

I think Joe (CS 20 #35) used meranti.

[Charlie Jones]

The 4 x 8 foot 2 inch panels were ShellMarine by the way.

[P Doug (WA)]

There must be a big difference in Okume plywoods. I was in Portland, Oregan, last weekend and went to Emerson Hardwood. 4mm Okume was like $53 a sheet. I didn't may much attention to what 1/2" was. The 4mm was three ply, is that any good?

[Charlie Jones]

Just went out and checked through my stacks of Okume. All is as follows-

4mm- 3 ply

6 mm- 5 ply

8 mm- 7 ply

12 mm- 9 ply

Meranti- all I have is 8 mm- 7 ply