• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sozo Fire

A Hot Spot of Knowledge

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Family
    • Health
    • Technology
    • Financial
    • Business
    • Marketing
    • Transportation
    • Lumber
    • Construction
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Considerations When Shopping for Marine Grade Plywood

October 5, 2011 By Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

When you have a project that will be used on a boat or in another marine application, you likely will start looking for marine grade plywood. J. Gibson McIlvain (web link) recommends learning all you can about this type of plywood before you invest in it.

What Is Marine Grade Plywood?

Marine grade plywood is a product that is treated so that it can be used in marine applications. In order to be called marine grade, the product must meet the standards set forth by the APA’s Engineered Wood Association. However, those standards are not much higher than those for exterior grade plywood, which makes sense. While marine plywoods will be in contact with water more than the average exterior grade product, the other stresses they must endure are fairly similar.

So, what do these stipulations mean? In order to carry this certification, the plywood has to be free of any voids in its core, which could trap water and cause rot. Also, it will have few repairs to the core. Any glue must be weather and boil proof (WBP), so it can withstand the stresses of being used at sea. All of these stipulations are aimed at making the product as water resistant as possible.

What Is It Used For?

The most common application you would think of for marine grade plywood is boat building, and this is a common use. However, it is not the only one. There are numerous circumstances where the water resistance of marine grade wood would be ideal.

For instance, decking materials on the water, such as a fishing pier, should be marine grade, or at least have close to the water resistance of marine grade. Also, exterior woods used near the shore, such as in seaside homes, are exposed to a significant amount of water, even if they do not reach the waves directly. The water from the air and the sea spray can create problems in these areas, so marine grade products are quite important here as well. However, in these applications where the wood is not submerged, a few voids are allowable, and thus the buyer can save money while still benefiting from water resistance by choosing the plywood carefully based on the specific application it will be used for.

Shopping Tips

When shopping for marine grade plywood, make sure that the supplier is willing to ask about the application. This will help you save money while also giving you the right wood for the job. These questions help ensure that you do not greatly over pay for factors you do not need, while also ensuring that you do get the features to allow you to reach your goals for your finished product. The right supplier is the key to staying in budget and creating a successful marine based building project.

Read more about plywood

  • Do you exterior plywood or marine grade plywood?
  • Bruynzeel marine grade plywood is perfect for boat building
  • Hardwood plywood core comparisons

Filed Under: Construction

Additional Articles

concrete flooring in parking garage
What to Look for in an Industrial Concrete Flooring Contractor
Going Beyond Lumber Grades, Part 2
Going Beyond Lumber Grades, Part 1
Why Teak Becomes Discolored & What You Can Do About It
Teak in Focus: Questions To Ask Your Supplier

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

16 − 11 =



Primary Sidebar

Jackrabbit Class Software
Lyon Financial

Popular Posts

  • Berg Furniture Children’s Furniture Lines: Options and Space Savings, Galore
  • Dream Furniture for Your Child, Part 2
  • Tropical Decking and Ipe Alternatives
  • Dream Furniture for Your Child, Part 1
  • Benefits of Going on a Mission Trip
  • Why Walnut Gets Special Treatment, Part 2
  • Business Flash Drives
  • Custom Wire Oven Racks by Three M Tool for Bakeries
Jackrabbit Dance Software

Recent Posts

  • Gunite Pool Owner’s Guide to Swimming Pool Repairs
  • Fiberglass Pool Owner’s Guide to Swimming Pool Repairs
  • Key Differences Between Pool Safety Covers & Winter Pool Covers, Part 3
  • Key Differences Between Pool Safety Covers & Winter Pool Covers, Part 2
  • Key Differences Between Pool Safety Covers & Winter Pool Covers, Part 1
  • Control All Your X10 Units With Your Smart Device with X10’s WiFi Unit
  • What to Look for in an Industrial Concrete Flooring Contractor
  • Revolutionize Your Home Automation & Security Systems With the X10 WiFi Unit, Part 2
  • Revolutionize Your Home Automation & Security Systems With the X10 WiFi Unit, Part 1
  • Teach Your Daycare Kids to Care About Sharing
X10 Home Automation

Recent Comments

  • Sozo on X10 GSM Home Security Systems
  • Michael Cobb on X10 GSM Home Security Systems
  • Rachel Lannister on What You Need To Know About Kiln-Dried Lumber, Part 2
  • Rachel Lannister on What You Need To Know About Kiln-Dried Lumber, Part 1

Copyright © 2021 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap