Chinese Marine Plywood

cronkfield

Hi All,

I am currently begining to build a motor boat and am trying to source some marine plywood. Strahan's have given me a quote, nearly half price of some other quotes but their Maarine plywood while CE certified is from china.

Should I be concerned about this, or have other people used it.

thanks

Double Barrel

I have not used marine ply made in China.
For a small boat, the cost of using good quality material is not going to break the bank. Don't skimp on the most fundamental and irreplaceable part of the boat--the hull itself. You can always save money on the replaceable, easy to get to items.
It is mostly about the glue that is used in manufacturing the plywood. Phenolic glue is what you are looking for. Face veneers should be 1.0 mm thick.
Look for ply that meets or exceeds the BS 1088 standard, that standard is no longer used but the requirements of that standard are pretty well known.

slowburner

I have used Chinese WBP ply and found it fairly disastrous. There are far too many voids and it delaminates at a shocking rate. I have found bog standard shuttering ply to be more durable.
I've even had problems with Chinese marine ply.
Unfortunately, I think you'll find it hard to come buy anything other than Chinese ply.

fergal.b

If you are going to put the life of you and your friends into it go for the good stuff thats what it's designed for. Better safe than sorry
I get mine from http://wickham.ie/about.htm and this is my last build.
http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx179/fergalbutler/

slowburner

Well, that says it all.
Thanks for sharing the pics of your work in progress FB - fantastic work.
I think it would be great if you posted a separate thread showing your work - there are many, many things which I'm sure we could learn from you.

fergal.b

slowburner wrote: »

Well, that says it all.
Thanks for sharing the pics of your work in progress FB - fantastic work.
I think it would be great if you posted a separate thread showing your work - there are many, many things which I'm sure we could learn from you.

Thanks for that slowburner This is the one I am building at the moment it's a 1954 v8 crackerbox if you click on each photo it tells a bit about what is going on.
http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx179/fergalbutler/crackerbox/

I will put them in a new post if anyone has any questions.

slowburner

Well I'll be pestering you anyway!

cronkfield

Thanks for your replies. Hopefully my pictures will long just as good

cronkfield

After looking around, I think I'll be getting my timber from Robbins in the UK. Best price by long way including delivery. Anyone else used them?

cormie

Hi folks, I'm looking to get sheets of Phenolic board to put down in the back of my ford transit. They have been recommended over on FordTransit.org to me. Looking at this thread here: http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/phenolic-board-versus-marine-ply-35058.html it seems there's 3 types, marine ply, phenolic board and then Tufnol, which sounds far too expensive for the application. I think Phenolic would be fine, marine would probably be fine too but I may as well get phenolic as I have it in another van and it suits well.

Just need to find somewhere that sells the right stuff now and isn't passing marine off as phenolic if it isn't. I've heard the stuff manufactured in China is no use also so if anyone knows where to get a few sheets of Phenolic, please share

cormie

Just got a quote of 131+ vat for an 8x4 (12mm) sheet of bs1088 Marine Ply of Wickham.ie above, anyone any idea how this would compare to the Phenolic? Sounds like Tufnol prices, maybe it's that? It's got a 15year guarantee too.

Was on to another place too and they supply something called weesedeck but I'm not sure I have the name right.

cormie

Ok, so sounds like wisadeck (not weesedeck) is what I'm after. Got a quote of 325+vat for it fitted on the floor of my transit. Have done a little research online and it sounds like good stuff albeit, quite expensive.

slowburner

I have this stuff on the floor of my trailer. Wysa floor panel - great stuff. I'd be interested too in where you can get it at reasonable price

cormie

Strange, looks like Wisa-Deck but just spelled different? Maybe an immitation brand. Are you definite you have Wysa and not Wisa? I don't even know if Wisa-Deck itself is a brand or just a type?

cormie

slowburner wrote: »

I have this stuff on the floor of my trailer. Wysa floor panel - great stuff. I'd be interested too in where you can get it at reasonable price

Did you get your trailer off that crowd? I'll give them a ring once they open and see if it's the same stuff they supply and if they do a fitting service at all or sell it separate by the sheet, thanks.

cormie

Photo'd the wood in my van, had a proper look for the first time and it just appears to be 5/6mm MDF, who would even think of putting MDF down for a van floor You can see what the outcome is anyway.

slowburner

cormie wrote: »

Did you get your trailer off that crowd? I'll give them a ring once they open and see if it's the same stuff they supply and if they do a fitting service at all or sell it separate by the sheet, thanks.

Yep, I got the trailer from them. They're not cheap, and I doubt that they are the importers, so they surely have a mark up on the sheeting.
I couldn't find any other supplier.

cormie

Rang them up and they were pricey enough on it alright!

Just got a quote of 280+vat off NVD to fit 12mm wisadeck so I might go with that. Have been onto a few others but haven't heard back.

noddyone2

Please don't use Chinese ply. Try Waller and Wickham in Dublin. Robbins is reputed to be well worth it. Enjoy the building, I hope to start soon, PM me if you wish.

cormie

Yeah got the quote of Wickham.ie and it's quite expensive, maybe too good for what I need it for (just a floor in a van). What's the "robbins" you're referring to?

cormie

Quote of 295+vat for 10mm birch wisadeck ply with phenolic resin (from Finland, probably good stuff!) from Cafco.

Just got a call back from NVD who confirmed it's 9mm hardwood ply made in the UK with a penolic anti-slip on it and will be 280+VAT fitted. They'd only have it next Thursday though and I was hoping to get it done sooner so will see if Cafco get back to me and what they say.

noddyone2

Robbins is a company in England that specialise in marine plywood etc. Expensive, but perfect for marine use.

cormie

Ah yeah, think I saw them mentioned on the transit forum I posted on re a new floor. Checked their site and no sign of wisa deck.

bertie 56

Waller and Wickham in Dublin are buying their marine-ply in Robbins- UK, who buy their marine-ply at Burguet in France .
So, try to buy from France straight away !!!

cormie

Thanks for that, job completed now though