As a postscript to Kevin's remarks, in my Fokker replica I used 2mm Okoume ply extensively from Harbor sales, and this is superb material to work with. As he indicated, it is totaly free of voids and is nicely surface sanded. Looking rather like mahogany, it takes curves quite well, and once glued up, is extremely strong and lightweight. The entire forward fuselage is skinned with this ply, and then covered with ceconite. Since I am also familiar with marine grade woods after owning three sailboats, I can attest to the quality of this stuff. Harbor sales in Baltimore is only a few miles from my home in Annapolis, so I go there directly to actually pick out any sheets I purchase. They are always willing to accomodate, and will give you whatever help is needed in selecting wood. They also stock countless types and sizes of aircraft ply. On one visit, I spied several cut sheets of 1/8 acft ply sitting off the side. When I asked, they said they were from an order that had been cut, then cancelled "Here, take it for free". Now, how many lumber yards do that kind of stuff today? They will cut to any size and ship at modest prices. Very nice people to work with. Irv Furman Kevin + Mara wrote: > FlyBaby > >Marine plywood is plane old 3ply plywood except they don't have voyds in the > >inside plys like regular construction grades. > > I beg to differ. I've been building wooden boats for about 9 years now and > I can tell you that Marine ply is not plain old plywood. > It's made from a variety of Mahogany's mostly from Africa. > Construction grade ply is made from pine and Douglas Fir > > Even the cheaper grades of marine luan is far superior to any regular ply. > I've been using Okoume ply exclusively and it is the finest plywood I've > ever had the pleasure to work. > It comes in a variety of plys from 3-9 layers, free of voids, glued > together with resorsenal(sp), is registered and certified by Lloyd's of > London. (B.S. 1088 standard) > If you want to test it put in boiling water for three hours. > Remember, marine ply sits in essentially a 100% moisture environment and > stands up for years. > > I will be using marine plywood in my Fly Baby, saving some money, and not > sacrificing strength or quality at all. > > Anyone of these company's will gladly send you the data sheets and > certification requirements fro marine ply. > > Sources: > Harbor Sales > 1000 Harbor Ct > Sudlersville, MD 21668-1818 > 1.800.345.1712 > > M.L. Condon Company > 260 Ferris Ave. > White Plains, NY 10603 > 914.949.4111 > > Boulter Plywood Corp. > 24 Broadway > Somerville MA 02145 > 617.666.1340 > > Edensaw Woods, Ltd. > 211 Seton Rd > Pot Townsend, Wa 98368 > 360.385.7878 > > Also as Dave Williams said contact WoodenBoat Magazine at > http://media4.hypernet.com/~WOODENBOAT/wb.htm > They have an extensive research library and are more than willing to help. > > Kevin Riley > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------