Plywood Boat Building - Choosing the Correct Plywood For Boat Building

Plywood is considered the skin of your boat in boatcrosshatch construction or lap streaking is used. This
building. It is what connects the skeleton of the boatinvolves layering your marine grade plywood at 45
and provides the strength and the outside surface ofdegree angles and gluing together with weldwood
your boat. Choosing the correct plywood for buildingglue. Ninety percent of these boats use 2 layers
your boat is determined by the type of usage asalthough there are plywood boat builders that use
well as how much use and the type of storage ofmore. Weight is also an important factor.
the boat you decide to build.Weight and horsepower ratio is imperative to get
All basic boat construction starts with a skeleton. Thecorrect to prevent your boat from sinking. For
skeleton is placed and built on your jig and consistsinstance a light boat with a high horsepower engine
of the keel, the transom (or stern) the chins, ribs andmay not fare well in an emergency stop and be sunk
finally the rails. This is the framework that theby its own wake when it catches up with you.
plywood will be attached to.Basically just remember to properly ballast your boat
Plywood is compressed sheets of Douglas fir. Therewith a high horsepower engine. Depending on where
is also mahogany veneer which is beautiful foryour stern is pointing a properly ballast boat will not
aesthetics but I strongly recommend against thisswamp as easily by a passing wake anchored or
unless you are in love with labor. Mahogany isen-route.
extremely high maintenance and is not recommendedWhen considering which fasteners to buy that will
for anyone who is actually going to put the boat inhold your plywood to the skeleton of your boat they
water.should be stainless steel screws as your number one
For all practical purposes Douglas fir plywood is whatchoice. The number two and three choices for
boat builders use and 3/8" is the thicknessfasteners would be silicon bronze screws and copper
recommended for its flexibility and ease of workingmarine nails (serrated edge nails) respectively. Note
with. Plywood sheets come in 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 inchthere is a huge difference between silicon bronze and
thickness.brass. Brass should not be used.
Seasonal or weekend boats can get away with usingRegarding the coast guard and your boat this is the
construction grade exterior plywood or CDX.general rule. Private boats do not have to be certified
Construction grade plywood for boat building will cutby the coast guard but a boat that will be carrying
costs considerably and is sufficient for boats that willpaying passengers must be certified each year.
be used in either salt or fresh water that are dryNow that you have taken in all of the considerations
stored. This is for and kind of boat you choose suchof the grade of plywood involved in your boat
as a duck boat, bay skiff, small run-a-bouts, fishingbuilding and a few other tips enjoy the process.
boats for light bay or coastal use.There is nothing in the world like christening and the
For boats that will have heavier usage and stored incelebration of your new boat that you built on its
the water the only plywood for your boat buildingfirst launch.
should be marine grade. Marine grade plywood is highThe tremendous satisfaction of knowing you built a
quality sheets of Douglas fir without knots that areboat from scratch is very rewarding. The thousands
laminated together with waterproof glue. Again theof dollars that you saved is also a good feeling. Oh,
thickness recommended is 3/8 inch.and the best part is having a beer with friends and
When building a plywood boat that will experienceautomatically having bragging rights about your first
heavy usage such as rough water crossing,plywood boat building adventures.
circumnavigating the globe or commercial fishing