What Is Hydrotech Plywood?

Hydrotek plywood is manufactured specifically for marine applications

Hydrotek is a type of plywood created for marine uses. It is often used by amateurs when building their own vessels. The wood is favored by some because of its uniform color and strength. It is certified by Lloyd's of London.

Meranti

Hyrotek is made of meranti veneers. Meranti is a mahogany from Southeast Asia, with colors which range from almost white to a dark reddish brown. The wood is lighter weight, making it popular for boats, and it has an even grain. Meranti has good durability and insulation properties.

Specifications

Hydrotek uses the United Kingdom BS1088 grading rules as certified by Lloyd's. It claims excellent strength due to using multiple plies in construction. All face veneers in Hydrotek should be free of defects, and the fronts and backs are to have matching colors. Core veneers should be free from any voids. It has a durable rating and a stable movement rating, with good working properties.

Function

A meranti plywood such as Hydrotek saws or bores cleanly, leaving smooth corners and edges. The wood matches well from sheet to sheet, giving a project a unified look. The glue used on Hydrotek is a WBP waterproof and boil proof glue, making the wood suitable for marine applications. It holds nails and screws effectively.

References

• Allied Veneer Co: Marien Plywood Manufactured to British Standard 1088
• Marine Plywood by Homestead: Meranti/Keruing Mahogany (Hydrotek) Marine Plywood
• Boat Builder Central: Meranti Marine 1088 (Hydrotech)