Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don't know why...

[AGalloway]

Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

...you can't buy a half sheet 4'X4' of 1/2 inch (or 12mm) for you younger ones, marine ply. It's not as if a timber yard is going to be lumbered with it....sorry! I don't need a full sheet; I have no other use for the other half sheet and that's conclusive. The cheapest full sheet is £25 odds. I'd gladly pay half that for a half sheet plus 10% for the manually intensive task of whisking it through the mill saw.

In USA it is possible to buy a half sheet no problem but alas in rip off Britain it isn't. It's not the money...it isn't...somebody's going to tell me where I can get a half sheet aren't you? Excellent...

 

[Shantyman]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

I don't believe you can't find a use for the other half sheet.

Put it under the mattress when the springs are Kn******d.

Put a couple of shelves up for SWMBO.

Buy a pair of clogs for SWMBO, then she can dance on it!

Just hang on to it, the price will have gone up more than inflation by the time you need it.

Regards,

Shantyman

 

[bdsweeting]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

You could always try www.robbins.co.uk who sell half or quarter sheets, and they deliver.

 

[AGalloway]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

Shantyman, I "AM" SWMBO!
Thanks, Brian.

 

[robind]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

Most DIY shops will order it in for you but will charge you more than the 10% surcharge. try Champions at new malden or an allsfords regrettably mostly around London ( where are you needing this)
Rob

 

[reeac]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

"My" boatyard [where I keep my boat in the Winter] seem quite happy to sell me any size and shape of marine ply - cut to specified shape if I so wish and even if it's to make a "terrestrial" coffee table rather than for boating purposes. I suggest that you try your nearest yard.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Proper Marine Ply (not WPB) : I don\'t know why...

Howells will sell you part sheets of teak faced. I told them the size I needed for the new instrument panel and they sorted through their off cuts and flogged me a bit that was just big enough - very little waste.

Why BS1088 and not WBF? If I remember correctly the only difference in spec is that BS1088 is supposed not have voids in the laminates. The glue and the quality of the wood is the same. If you only need a small bit, you can have a scan round the edges for any voids (and you sometimes find voids in BS1088 anyway!)

 

[oldharry]

BS1088 v/s WBP

As a matter of fact neither of these standards is true Marine ply nowadays, and stock BS1088 does not come up anywhere near the standard needed for boat building.

You are right John, in saying there is not much difference beteween the two specs nowadays - both are rubbish and suffer from inferior timber grades, poor laminating, and voids.

For marine structural work that is likely to be immersed in water, the ply must be a red hardwood all the way through with minimal voids, and core laminates of equal thickness. This is expensive and hard to come by, but anything less will not survive for long. Certainly, if it only costs £25 a sheet for 12mm, it is most definitely NOT Marine grade ply! The only time a marine grade plywood can have a thinner facing ply is when it has a decorative veneer applied, such as Teak.

Modern WPB is often 'coreboard' - i.e. 1 or 2 thicknesses of whitewood of unknown provenance and durability covered and protected by an outer skin of (marginally) higher grade timber. Being glued with waterproof glues it will tolerate spills and splashes, but will be rapidly destroyed by long term damp or wet. There may often be quite large voids in the inner laminates where the laminating sheets butt together (or do not!), and it therefore can not be relied to take a load. Useful only for minor non structural items. The cores are often softwood, which has little or no rot resistance.

BS1088 should have the same timber in the cores as on the surface, but even then the core laminates may well be substantially thicker than the surface, and of inferior quality. There is no guarantee about the quality or suitability of the timber for long term immersion.

Sourcing good quality Marine Grade Ply is not at all easy! There are just too many inferior imitations around.

 

[doca]

Re: BS1088 v/s WBP

Get the highest quality marine grade plywood possible (hardwood all the way through) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Having spent many many hours (and pounds) constructing a plywood yacht using plywood with a BS1088 kitemark my pride and joy is now in a state of terminal decay. This is after about 15 years of ongoing maintenance. Don't be fooled by a BS1088 kitemark.

 

[AGalloway]

Re: BS1088 v/s WBP

Sounds like the kind of mess a good class action tort lawyer of Grishamesque proportions could have a field day with.
It's more confusing than ever now!
thanks...

 

[ellabbs]

Re: BS1088 v/s WBP

so.... can anyone reccomend a Propper marine ply supplier, i want good quality marine ply to repair a Arnold Laver marine ply wheelhouse....

not botherd with 25 year guarantee 15 will be good enough...

TIA.