What prevents shady timber-merchants from selling cheap plywood as marine grade?

[dancrane]

I may be looking for some soon...but there's such a price-disparity between the ordinary grades and the presumably much more durable marine ply, I'm wary of shelling out.

Hard to believe that stamps or 'brand' markings on wood can invariably be trusted...faking them must be tempting to the fraudulent.

Is there any such thing as a list of thoroughly reliable timber merchants?

 

[sarabande]

Robbins of Bristol are reckoned to be pretty good. They certainly know a lot about selling wood, and have a decent stock.

Real marine ply is unbelievably expensive !

 

[dancrane]

Robbins seems to be a big name in wood for marine uses...and I'd assume that anyone who particularly stresses maritime suitability, wouldn't risk supplying anything substandard.

I had been thinking I should find a more local timber merchant, to reduce delivery cost.

 

[sarabande]

are you near Bristol ?

 

[dancrane]

Hampshire, often veering towards West Sussex.

 

[Afrenny]

Hi, no idea on price but Wenban Smith in Worthing or Horsham do marine ply.

http://www.wenbans.com/sheet-material-en/plywoods/marine-plywood.html

They have depots elsewhere I believe so may be near to you. Good luck

 

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

You're right to be wary. Many a sheet of cheap ply has been stamped BS1088.

In wooden boat circles, the absolute best marine ply is considered to be Bruynzeel from the Netherlands -- http://www.bruynzeelmultipanel.com/products/search/cid/3. But any other marine ply sold through a reputable company should be quite satisfactory.

Mike

 

[dancrane]

Thanks gents. :encouragement:

 

[tillergirl]

Years ago when I replaced TG's laid deck with a high quality sapele marine plywood I went to Silverman who have now been taken over by these people: http://www.timbmetdepot.com/index.php

 

[dancrane]

Thanks again.
This is a bit off-topic, but glancing through these merchants' stock lists, I begin to wonder whether deck gratings might be better and more easily made from slender pieces of something like iroko, than plywood with grooves sawn in it to let spray drain through.

And decent ply seems damned nearly as expensive as some hardwoods, which are presumably immune to the type of deterioration that afflicts ply...any views?

 

[Tranona]

Thanks again.
This is a bit off-topic, but glancing through these merchants' stock lists, I begin to wonder whether deck gratings might be better and more easily made from slender pieces of something like iroko, than plywood with grooves sawn in it to let spray drain through.

And decent ply seems damned nearly as expensive as some hardwoods, which are presumably immune to the type of deterioration that afflicts ply...any views?

Not quite sure what sort of gratings you are talking about, but if it is a cockpit grating then plywood is a most unsuitable material - just think of all the exposed end grain to soak up water! The proper stuff is teak, either slats on a strongback or a grating built up from castellated strips. other durable hardwoods such as iroko or the better mahogany types can be used as can pines and cedars, particularly in working boats.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks Mr T. That sorts out the plywood-quality question for me, then...I'll buy hardwood instead. :encouragement:

 

[scottie]

I may be looking for some soon...but there's such a price-disparity between the ordinary grades and the presumably much more durable marine ply, I'm wary of shelling out.

Hard to believe that stamps or 'brand' markings on wood can invariably be trusted...faking them must be tempting to the fraudulent.

Is there any such thing as a list of thoroughly reliable timber merchants?

Removal of any branches and leaves wood let some light on the matter perhaps

 

[ripvan1]

Thanks Mr T. That sorts out the plywood-quality question for me, then...I'll buy hardwood instead. :encouragement:

Second hand furniture shops - good size hardwood panels, cheap as chips.

 

[dancrane]

I hadn't thought of that...quite a resource, if indeed the quality is as one would wish!

 

[VicS]

I may be looking for some soon...but there's such a price-disparity between the ordinary grades and the presumably much more durable marine ply, I'm wary of shelling out.

Hard to believe that stamps or 'brand' markings on wood can invariably be trusted...faking them must be tempting to the fraudulent.

Is there any such thing as a list of thoroughly reliable timber merchants?

If you dont want large quantities, whole sheets that sort of thing, it might be worth trying the wooden boat specialists .

Nick Gates in Emsworth perhaps or Tim Gilmore at Birdham

 

[Sheppie]

I think you just did a right thing. Asking here. Do a little research online then post name of the companies here and see what people have to say. Internet tentacles reach far, far away and you will come up with results almost always. I also believe that a bunch of people here are much more reliable than internet advertisements and reviews.

 

[Seajet]

Dan,

this may be a real red herring and certainly requires the severest of checks, but if it's gratings you're after I was in Homebase Horsham last week and they had rather attractive linen baskets made entirely of boat style proper gratings, about 3' tall and 2' square very roughly from memory.

£40 a go, I stood looking for a while thinking ' I must be able to use that for something ! '

Of course the big question is ' what sort of wood ', but if you want gratings it would be worth a look and query.

 

[Tranona]

Although they look good they fall apart if exposed to the type of use Dan is after. Can be tolerable in interior applications where they don't get really wet.

 

[Seajet]

So you have checked the wood type of the actual things I mention, or tried them ?

Or is this by assumption ? I agree it's a long shot, but unless you have actual knowledge of the Homebase things I mention, it's worth checking out just in case !