Check out this website...

[Anau]

Can you tell what kind of plywood they are using just by looking at the pictures? I assumed it's lauan because well, they're in the Philippines and because they already used lauan for the carved bottom of the canoe.

http://www.coconutstudio.com/Boats.htm

The things the author mentioned that caught my eye were that (1) they used lauan, (2) she never mentioned anything about fiberglass, (3) the boaters dry out the boats after going in freshwater and (4) the boats last a long time.

It also seems that those boatbuilders who advocate the use of marine grade plywood over lauan often (1) are building large or ocean-going boats (2) are able to afford it (3) are building boats for customers, and/or (4) plan on passing it down to their children and grandchildren.

So, considering the small boat I plan on building will encounter a similar situation to those on the website and considering I am not in the same situation as many of those who advocate not using lauan, I have now completely forgotton what my question was going to be.

I guess I was just trying to find a way to justify why I want to "cheapen up" things by using lauan (although I would certainly still use fiberglass tape).

What do you think about those boats in the Philippines? If they can get away with not even using fiberglass and still be able to boat out kilometers from shore every day, it seems perfectly fine to use lauan plywood for use in near shore and inland.

[Grant Nelson]

They use marine plywood... I quote from the site:
'The hull has a carved hardwood (usually red or white lawaan) base, the kasko. The hardwood side ribs are inset on the kasko, and ½" marine plywood panelling is bronze-nailed to these. The hull also has a hardwood rim and stem and stern posts. All the nail holes, cracks, and joints are caulked and sealed with marine epoxy.'

Indeed, no fiberglass covering or epoxy impregnation, but they do say 'and the boat is painted and sealed inside and out'.

[Anau]

Aha, I missed that! I will have to email the person to see if they used the actual stuff we talk about here. Wow, I need to go the Philippines for my boat if you can get a 45" outrigger built for you with 1/2" marine ply for only $500-$600 without engine.

[Billy Bones]

This is, I believe, the same stuff we in the west refer to as Meranti, which is available as a marine plywood and has a good reputation for strength and rot resistance--well superior to that of okoume. It's a bit heavier, though, not least because the plies are thinner and there are more of them, hence using more glue. Good luck