Uses for Marine Plywood

Marine plywood is used in boat construction.

Marine plywood is mainly used in the manufacturing and construction of all types and sizes of boats. It is also the wood of choice for projects that may be highly exposed to moisture from the environment or man made sources. Marine plywood is best known for its resilience to all types of moisture including inclement weather conditions.

Other Types of Plywood

Depending on the project at hand, many types of plywood are available. Special types are available for aircraft construction and a wide range of grades in softwood and hardwood can be found for other types of construction projects. There are a large number of plywood types including aircraft plywood, softwood plywood, hardwood and more that are used in specific applications. Plywood is popular in furniture construction because of its exceptional strength and resistance to cracking, shrinking and warping.

Basic Plywood Construction

Plywood is so called because it is constructed of thin wooden layers called plies. To make the finished product strong, the layers are glued together at 90-degree angles. The number of plies in a sheet of plywood is normally an odd number because warping is less likely if this balance is maintained.

Marine Plywood Construction

Marine plywood construction is unique and superior to exterior grade and treated plywood. Unlike treated plywood, marine plywood has no voids in its layers; the full layers are glued together. The glue used in marine plywood protects it from decay and insects; treated plywood glue is only insect resistant.

Types of Wood Used for Marine Plywood

The wood of cedar, cypress, spruce, Australian eucalyptus, Douglas fir and longleaf yellow pine trees is used in the manufacture of marine plywood. The type used for large, heavy boats is made from cypress, Australian eucalyptus, Douglas fir and long leaf yellow pine. Smaller and lighter boats are most often made from marine plywood made from cedar and spruce.

Marine Plywood Costs

Although marine plywood is commonly two to three times the cost of exterior grade plywood, most builders still buy it based on its durability. Since it is free of the interior voids between layers common in other types and grades of plywood, its durability is far superior to the other grades. The atmospheric moisture created by the interior voids in other grades causes the plywood to rot from the inside out within ten to 20 years. Marine plywood is nearly immune to this decay based on the way its plies are glued together.

References

• Marine Plywood Uses and Information