: Also the author nots that you do not really need to stick with the
: traditional marine mahogany BS-1088 but to consider experimenting with
: other plywoods. What does the gang think about this?

I've always thought that using inexpensive meranti, lauan or fir plywoods, or doorskins along with inexpensive polyester resins could give you a stitch and glue boat that would be highly suitable for testing and proof-of-design.

The weight might not be the lowest, and the longevity might be less than with epoxy, but such a boat should give enjoyment for wuite a while, at a fairly low cost, and with a reasonable building time.

Using inexpensive plywood with the more expensive epoxy resin would be a middle course, a compromise of sorts. S&G boats do not need to use as much glass cloth or resin as a stripper, so you keep the costs reasonable.

For a first-time builder the option of using less-expensive plywood can get then started. There is less fear of miscutting, as mistakes would not be so costly, and replacement materials are readily available -- not some special order items.

Go for it. At best it will delight you for years, and you'll wonder why you ever thought of using more expensive materials. At worst it will be the inexpensive boat you built just before you built the boat you really wanted.
Either way,it should float, and paddle just fine.

PGJ