marine plywood.

Lectro88

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Oct 24, 2020
Messages
303
Guys I'm asking for your input.

I broke down and bought or special ordered "Marine Grade 3/4" from a box store.
Was supposed to have got 2 sheets from my understanding.
It was sandwiched by 2 sheets of Luan for protection.
I went today to pick it up and Refused it.
well I'm thinking on it...

Turns out I only got 1 sheet. not 2 for $230.
Ok let me break it down.
I was told., this was a over the phone order.
they would protect it with Luan. I paid for that protection. $55.00
The 4x8 sheet 3/4" ended up being $175.
Boy did I Cut Up..!

AND on top of that it had quite a few voids on every cut edge of the plywood.

Now I could have bought cabinet grade birch with marine grade glue somewhere else for $140. it was 13 layers for 3/4" and it didn't have any voids.

Let me try and load some pics.

Is this normal. I thought marine had 0 voids.

I'm put out by the money vrs quality of this whole deal.

Asking you should I take it, or tell them to keep it and return my money and go get the birch.
And it looks way better than what I special ordered.

Thanks in advance.

You are looking at 1/4" Luan on top and bottom,. just for clarification.

And the Birch I could get has twice the amount of layers, and "Was" maybe not anymore... Cheaper.
70F990E7-EEE4-407D-8653-5941AB90A885.jpeg
Let me add 1 more thing.
all these pics are on 1,. or the same side., there are 3 more sides with voids.
I just couldn't get to them easily to snap pics.
BEC2282B-3659-4542-B01A-A8F29E39F68B.jpeg

EFF48535-39D5-47B2-9450-0FA066B9E08D.jpeg

FA7652F6-9AA0-49BD-BFFF-9219B02DF4C6.jpeg

E46B3137-930C-4942-948D-8B68F2FB3647.jpeg
 
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alldodge

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41,989
Doesn't look like marine, maybe BCX
Don't understand the protection, if it got nicked resin and glass would fill

I used in store 3/4 ply, not need for marine
 

ahicks

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Sep 16, 2013
Messages
3,957
My first thought was WOW, that's expensive! Second thought, is I have no idea what marine ply is going for right now. I've never paid over 100 bucks a sheet for it. Most recent purchase was through Home Depot (2 years ago), and they had it in stock. I think maybe in our area (lakes/pontoon boats everywhere) there is enough demand where they do stock it.

I wouldn't use anything but marine ply to re-deck a pontoon.
 

Lectro88

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
303
Doesn't look like marine, maybe BCX
Don't understand the protection, if it got nicked resin and glass would fill

I used in store 3/4 ply, not need for marine

The protection wasn’t my idea.
I was told that they were providing the protection. Just as a good gesture.
Ends up that the vendor made box store add it.
The box store had figured to refund the Luan and put it on the shelf.
It was all very odd to me from the beginning.
Then when I found out all the particulars at the store to pick it up. I was just confused and mad is not the right words.
The associate was trying to help me.
The vendor supplying to box store I felt took advantage of the situation.
Especially for $175 for the lack of quality I see.
Thanks alldodge
 

Lectro88

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Oct 24, 2020
Messages
303
My first thought was WOW, that's expensive! Second thought, is I have no idea what marine ply is going for right now. I've never paid over 100 bucks a sheet for it. Most recent purchase was through Home Depot (2 years ago), and they had it in stock. I think maybe in our area (lakes/pontoon boats everywhere) there is enough demand where they do stock it.

I wouldn't use anything but marine ply to re-deck a pontoon.
Yes I was cutting up over the $140. For the birch. At the other lumber yard.
It was exclusively a lumber yard.

The birch was originally quoted to me at $120.
2 days later I went to look at it and it had gone up to $140 again in 2 days.
And it was the same last sheet on the shelf.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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70,925
Ayuh,..... Birch is a rot prone species,......

I like AD use CDX or BDX, 'n resin/ glass cover it,....
 

Berdink

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Mar 5, 2020
Messages
228
$185 for a 4x8 sheet marine grade here in Portland Oregon. ACX is $80. This is at a place called Mr Plywood. I used ACX for my Transom.
 
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Lectro88

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Oct 24, 2020
Messages
303
I think "ordered from a box store" tells the story
I agree with you.. However…
From talking to the other yards, 84 and a few others,.
none of them around charlotte nc carry or stock the marine stuff.
They all reference getting it from another source or vender.
And the box store said the same exact thing. Have to get it from a vendor.
So box store or lumber yard seem to all pull from same places for all specialty stuff.
This just looks like garbage for premium price.
I have avoided marine and did my own thing.
But looking back somewhat had regrets and almost called felt like it a hack job.
But I was very picky and time consuming with my procedures to try and make up for my substitutes.

Everybody I really appreciate the feedback so far.
 

robert graham

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Apr 16, 2009
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6,908
There is a superior wood alternate called Marine Coosa Board….not cheap but will last forever….
 

tpenfield

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As far as wood . . . I have found that exterior grade is fine for rebuilds. The glue is all the same for . . . Marine - Exterior - Exposure1 grades. The main difference is in the quality of the veneers.

I think a local lumber yard that can get marine grade, will do a better job in getting you what you want than the box stores. Few yards carry marine grade in stock . . . mostly special order.
 

matt167

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Sep 27, 2012
Messages
4,142
Birch ply is an interior grade plywood made with interior rated glue.. It will rot and fall apart in an exterior application, let alone a marine environment.. You don't need perfect plywood to rebuild a boat. You only need perfect plywood to build a brand new wooden boat, and then your really looking at exotic materials like Okume or Meranti unless it's just a work boat type deal

BCX or CDX from the home center will do. I tend to use Home Depot because their exterior in my area is douglas fir. Lowes and many of the local places sells sappy, heavy SYP as exterior
 
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