: I plan on building a stich and glue kayak this fall, and have been looking
: around for plywood. None of the lumberyards around here (Winnipeg,
: Manitoba) carry okoume or meranti or luaun. One place will order okoume
: for me, but I have to buy a minimum of 25 sheets (ouch!). A few do carry
: 1/8" birch and oak plywood. I believe the oak and birch is just a
: veneer, I'm not sure what the core is made of. It looks quite nice. Would
: this suffice for a stitch and glue kayak? I am concerned that the wood is
: too dense or heavy for such a project.

The birch would be a better choice than the oak. It has a tighter grain and will sand easier, and finish smoother. Klepper has used Birch for their kayaks for decades and believes it it the best material avaialable. You can read their praise at www.klepper.com

There may be a less expensive alternative:

Instead of asking for plywood panels made from a certain wood species, (okume, lauan) try asking the local lumberyards for floor underlayment. It is a common material used in remodeling older homes. Typically this stuff is 1/8th inch or a near metric size. It is tacked or glued to an old, existing floor to provide a flat base for applying new floor tiles, sheet vinyl, or carpet. Since it is frequently used under carpet and kitchen floors, it should be made with a waterproof glue.

Because it is used to sheathe an entire floor, contractors expect it to be a reasonably priced material, so your lumberyard probably buys the stuff by the skid. You should be able to find a sheet of it for around $8 US, or $13 Cdn.

You may have no idea what the actual species is in these panels as the contents may not be stamped on the panel. But frequently they are made of Phillipine Mahogany, Lauan, Meranti, or something similar. In many cases all you can tell is that it is an imported hardwood -- and the lumber dealer will not know the species.

These panels usually have just one good face. The back can have some extreme faults. Sort through the stack for good pieces, remembering htat you will be cutting the panels into strips, and that an extra scarf or two can eliminate some major problems.

A similar product used for resurfacing the fronts of flush doors is called a "doorskin". You might ask if your lumberyard can get these.

Finally, if you can't get plywood, you might consider building a strip-built boat

Happy building.

PGJ