I think you spelled it wrong - it "brutal" not "brittle" at around 15 times the cost. I built a stitch and glue last winter using 1/8 Luan. I paid around $7 for a 4 x 8 and bought one extra sheet to cover me for the voids. That's $28. I stripped the deck. The veneer on the good side was excellent. and the bad side had no veneer voids. I actually couldn't believe the quality. I glassed the outside hull with 6 oz as well as seating area inside the cockpit. Only coated the rest of the inside with epoxy. Solid bulkheads. The hull is very strong. Okume is better quality, no doubt but for a stitch and glue that you are going to glass anyhow - why do it? Plus it's so hard to get.

: is okume less brittle than luan?

: Sage