: Looks like these are my only local options in marine plywood.

: Douglas fir A/D quality 1/2" is $55 a sheet

: Another supplier has Meranti or Okume but only 3/8" thick or 3/4".
: 3/8" Meranti is $97.50 and okume is $112 a sheet.

: I have someone asking me to build them a boat. I am trying to decide on which
: plywood to use. I am leaning toward the 3/8" Meranti because I feel
: like it will be better quality ply. Playing with some 3/8" plywood
: mockups I don't really think that is going to be an issue. If were were
: beating around the surf then maybe.

: The Douglas fir is much cheaper but it is A/D quality and I am afraid the
: core will have voids in it. I don't know this of course, just a feeling. I
: realize I could turn the A face toward the cockpit and put the ratty side
: away but I don't like having a ratty side period.

: Given these choices what would use? Shipping in 1 or 2 sheets of plywood will
: not save me anything. Shipping costs are just to high. So I need to buy
: local (for now).

If you're not really concerned with how it looks and the weight, you might try MDO plywood. I know several people on other conventional boatbuilding sites that have used it on boats. Personally I'd want to entirely coat the surface with epoxy to make sure it stays dry inside. Stuff does work nice being much less prone to splintering while cutting or drilling.

Btw, MDO = Medium Density Overlay

Bill H.