Growing up, we hear and see the term "Marine Grade" a lot. If we don't come from
a boating family or marine environment, all we know about boats and boat products
is what we read or hear about in the boating circles that we are exposed to - without
any real life experiences or practical applications.
People with small boats have the misconception that "Marine Plywood"
must be used on just about everything on a boat ...... this would be true - IF - you
have a wooden boat with all wood ribs, stringers, floors, hull, panels, etc.
in most areas, you must buy a whole 4x8 sheet of plywood to make a small transom
panel that is two layers thick..... unless you are going to make new decks, seats and dash as well
you could wind up with a lot of unused product (which results in $$$$ lost).
so, for small projects such as transom panels, seats, dash, etc., it is very acceptable
to make substitutes in this particular application and achieve satisfactory results.
Even if you do use Marine Plywood, you still must preserve and waterproof it appropriately
in order to have the durability and longivity that it is known for.
another observation is this: there are so many inferior, defective and counterfeit products
coming from Asia these days it is just rediculous. Chinese drywall is one example.
Lumber Liquidators is having a beast of a time replacing floors that were made with defective
Chinese wood laminates in some of their flooring products.
I have been a member of Wooden Boat for several years and this subject is a hot topic such as
our own TinBoats "how to work with aluminum" as well.
now, there is "Marine Grade" plywood coming from China that is worse than the Luan closet door
in your house. (the one that will delaminate if it gets the least bit wet). From what I have read,
the Chinese marine grade plywood has a "dragon" stamped somewhere on the edge that will
simply fall apart when wet - even after the proper sealing and waterproofing process.
other substandard marine products from Asia aren't marked at all and can very easily be sold
in the Big Box Stores to the uneducated and unsuspecting public consumer - such as us.
There is a guy on the WoodenBoat forum that has taken small pieces of different marine plywood
brands and put them through a rigorus test. Boiling, Freezing, Microwave, Dishwasher, Clotheswasher,
all without any kind kind of additional preservation or waterproofing. When you are building a 40 foot
wooden boat, nothing can be more disasterous than incorporating a counterfeit product into your build.
so it is up to us, the consumer, to do our own homework in the critical areas of modifying a boat
of any kind. Wood, fiberglass, aluminum or duct-tape...... when you are shopping for wood products
( or any product for that matter ) for your supports, decking, floors, transom panels, etc.
it is in your best interest to know what to look for and what to avoid in your building process.
Different brand names are all over the Big Box Stores and some may be of substandard quality for your application.
The same name brand could differ from Florida to Iowa to Oregon. What could be a trusted name brand
in Texas could very well be a substandard counterfeit product sold in Florida.
Bottom line is: educate yourself within the area of your skill level and your project at hand.
You don't have to be a skilled woodworker, carpenter or metalsmith to make some very nice additions to your boat.
just using the correct products for your applications will give you the most favorable results.
Disclaimer: This is just my input to help others avoid potential disappointments in their builds and modifications.
Tight Lines and Safe Boating !!
.
a boating family or marine environment, all we know about boats and boat products
is what we read or hear about in the boating circles that we are exposed to - without
any real life experiences or practical applications.
People with small boats have the misconception that "Marine Plywood"
must be used on just about everything on a boat ...... this would be true - IF - you
have a wooden boat with all wood ribs, stringers, floors, hull, panels, etc.
in most areas, you must buy a whole 4x8 sheet of plywood to make a small transom
panel that is two layers thick..... unless you are going to make new decks, seats and dash as well
you could wind up with a lot of unused product (which results in $$$$ lost).
so, for small projects such as transom panels, seats, dash, etc., it is very acceptable
to make substitutes in this particular application and achieve satisfactory results.
Even if you do use Marine Plywood, you still must preserve and waterproof it appropriately
in order to have the durability and longivity that it is known for.
another observation is this: there are so many inferior, defective and counterfeit products
coming from Asia these days it is just rediculous. Chinese drywall is one example.
Lumber Liquidators is having a beast of a time replacing floors that were made with defective
Chinese wood laminates in some of their flooring products.
I have been a member of Wooden Boat for several years and this subject is a hot topic such as
our own TinBoats "how to work with aluminum" as well.
now, there is "Marine Grade" plywood coming from China that is worse than the Luan closet door
in your house. (the one that will delaminate if it gets the least bit wet). From what I have read,
the Chinese marine grade plywood has a "dragon" stamped somewhere on the edge that will
simply fall apart when wet - even after the proper sealing and waterproofing process.
other substandard marine products from Asia aren't marked at all and can very easily be sold
in the Big Box Stores to the uneducated and unsuspecting public consumer - such as us.
There is a guy on the WoodenBoat forum that has taken small pieces of different marine plywood
brands and put them through a rigorus test. Boiling, Freezing, Microwave, Dishwasher, Clotheswasher,
all without any kind kind of additional preservation or waterproofing. When you are building a 40 foot
wooden boat, nothing can be more disasterous than incorporating a counterfeit product into your build.
so it is up to us, the consumer, to do our own homework in the critical areas of modifying a boat
of any kind. Wood, fiberglass, aluminum or duct-tape...... when you are shopping for wood products
( or any product for that matter ) for your supports, decking, floors, transom panels, etc.
it is in your best interest to know what to look for and what to avoid in your building process.
Different brand names are all over the Big Box Stores and some may be of substandard quality for your application.
The same name brand could differ from Florida to Iowa to Oregon. What could be a trusted name brand
in Texas could very well be a substandard counterfeit product sold in Florida.
Bottom line is: educate yourself within the area of your skill level and your project at hand.
You don't have to be a skilled woodworker, carpenter or metalsmith to make some very nice additions to your boat.
just using the correct products for your applications will give you the most favorable results.
Disclaimer: This is just my input to help others avoid potential disappointments in their builds and modifications.
Tight Lines and Safe Boating !!
.
