BS1088 has thicker surface plys and void free interior plys so it bends much smoother and is stronger. I have built a kayak with lauan plywood in the past with minimal problems but lauan has gotten so poorly constructed I have had full sheets break in half just picking them up. Thickened epoxy can be squirted into voids and the exterior plys can be epoxied coated (and even glassed) before cutting panels so the panels are strengthened before bending. Other more common plywoods are heavier than okoume. Using inferior materials adds risk of construction problems, added effort and added weight to the finished kayak. I always now use BS1088 for S&G.

: Hey Tyler,

: Let me be the devil's advocate regarding plywood. I've seen
: competitions where boats are made out of cardboard, but that
: doesn't make it a great idea. Marine grade plywood is more than
: simply being solid core, the glue is spread edged to edge, where
: exterior grade plywood may not be. Exterior grade ply glue is
: designed to withstand dampness, where marine grade is meant for
: immersion. If you are looking to build something that will be
: used occasionally in calm waters, probably not necessary to go
: for marine grade.

: However, children are much harder on boats as they tend not to baby
: the bottom or worry ramming into things so the opportunity for
: moisture penetrating into the wood is high. If you intend to
: take your son on some longer trips or go camping off your
: kayaks, go for the real thing. I believe marine grade ply exists
: for more than marketing purposes; when you are on the water your
: life depends on your boat. I'm an advocate of using the best
: materials you can when it comes to this kind of thing.

: Just my two cents.

: Eric