I built a Yare out of 4x8 sheets of 1/8" (the stamp said 3mm) luaun ply. I got the luaun ($7.49 ea.) at a Lowe's in Long Beach, CA that had just opened, so all of their lumber was new and not picked over or shop worn. I got some nice pieces without plugs and the core voids were few and small say 1/16". I made the Yare (which tortures the heck out of the panels) with no special precautions and without filling the voids. I did cover the outside with 2.3 oz cloth (design in the "Kayak Shop" said cloth was optional).

Since the Yare tends to want to float upside down I am now making another S&G of more popular design (that is more seaworthy) and have purchased 4mm Okoume 1088 ($25.55 ea. at Bohnhoff Lumber in L.A.). In comparing the luaun and the 1088 ply I noted the outside plys of the 1088 are a hair thicker and there are no voids in the 1088 core.

If I were to make another kayak out of 3mm I would not hesitate using the luaun if I could get the same quality (the quality of luaun varies greatly from lot to lot). To add extra thickness in cloth and epoxy to 3mm luaun to try and equal 4mm okoume would be a case of false economy.

I have also have purchased 1/4" luaun ply at Lowe's. It was actually 4mm ply and measured 3/16" thick. It is definitely not the quality of the 1088. You really have to look around to get luaun with two good sides and no major interior voids. With the deal I got on 1088 I would have to find some really good 4mm luaun to justify using it after considering the total cost of building the kayak.

: Hi, still trying to figure out wether or not to use 1/4 " lauan
: (acutally 5.2mm). Does anyone have experience with this and what was the
: weight of the finnished boat for CH16 or CH17.
: Also - how much epoxy for a CH16?