• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Adverticia

Advertising Strategies for Today's Media World

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Business Tips
    • Construction
    • Family
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Swimming Pools
    • Technology
    • The Arts
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact

Best Plywood for Small Watercraft

Last updated on August 9, 2014 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Marine Okoume Plywood
Marine Okoume Plywood

When building a canoe, kayak, or other small boat, you want to use a wood that’s lightweight yet will provide durability for gliding through the water. Choosing the right wood requires knowledge of how it stands up to wet environments, as well as how heavy or light it is when crafted into planks. You’ll certainly want to know a boat’s going to hold up when navigating through heavy rapids and that it won’t be unnecessarily difficult to paddle thanks to unnecessarily heavy wood.

​So, what specific wood should you consider for a canoe or kayak? Below are a few options.

​Okoume Plywood

​Okoume plywood can withstand tough treatment as a small craft faces being tossed around in waves and rapids. When treated and finished properly, it has a smooth, light appearance and will hold up against water as well as minor bumps into rocks, trees, and other obstacles without showing obvious blemishes. In addition, it bends easily, a helpful quality for shaping canoes and kayaks.

Yellow Cedar canoe
Yellow Cedar canoe

Yellow Cedar

​Grown on the West Coast of the US and Canada, Alaskan Yellow Cedar also has a reputation for withstanding wetness, while also keeping weight low. Not actually a true cedar, this tree is in the cypress family. Slow tree growth results in a consistent color and grain pattern, lending this wood well to taking a fine finish. In addition, Yellow Cedar offers impressive resistance to decay, ensuring a boat will stay solidly constructed for many years with the proper care.

​Sapele

​Similar to Mahogany (it’s in the same family) but less costly, Sapele wood contains dark and light stripes that result in an attractive pattern when finished. Grown in tropical regions of Africa, Sapele tends to resist rot well, a positive trait for a wood to use in a boat.

Flat Sapele & Quartersawn Sapele
Flat Sapele on left & Quartersawn Sapele on right

​Note that some may encounter difficulty planing this wood with the rough grain. However, it glues well to ensure properly sealing out the elements.

Sitka Spruce

One of the largest coniferous trees, Sitka Spruce grows along the West Coast. It survives well around salty water and air, making this softwood an excellent choice for a structure that will spend its time in bodies of water. In addition, Sitka Spruce tends to be exceptionally strong for its weight, providing stability to small boats. An even texture and fine grain make this an attractive wood that’s generally easy to work with.

As you can see, a number of types of wood are available that work well for building watercraft. Whether you’re wanting to build a boat for yourself or construct watercraft to sell to others, using the right wood is crucial. J. Gibson McIlvain offers the right woods for constructing canoes, kayaks, and other small boats, with the opportunity to customize to your needs.

Loading a kiln to dry wood
Loading a kiln to dry wood

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.

As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Filed Under: Construction

Additional Articles

walnut crown molding
The Natural Appeal of Walnut Wood
Large new backyard pool before being filled with water
Decision Making: 3 Types of Swimming Pool Construction
concrete parking lot by factory
Industrial & Commercial Property Concrete Parking Lots
Planning Your Indoor Swimming Pool, Part 2
luxury indoor pool with sky lighting
Planning Your Indoor Swimming Pool, Part 1
worker about to empty septic tank underground
Septic Tank Pumping in Mooresville, NC

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 × five =



Primary Sidebar

Tropical decking lumber
Plywood options

Featured Articles

  • Should I Use Ipe or Teak?: Two High End Lumbers Explained
  • 4 Common Tropical Decking Problems- And Their Solutions
  • Facts about Sapele Wood - Uses & Supplier Information
  • Why Is Cherry Wood So Popular?
  • Decking Considerations: Ipe Timing and Pricing
  • Hardwood Plywood: Is it Dangerous?
  • Thinking Outside the Trends: Afromosia as a Teak Alternative
  • Ipe: Air Dried, Kiln Dried, or a Combination of Both?
  • Inland & Coastal Cedar – Appreciating the Differences
  • Alternatives to Spanish Cedar: Cheaper, Readily Available & Weather Resistant
J Gibson McIlvain Lumber Company
Lyon Financial

Popular Articles

  • Stop Hiding Your Phone Number, Walmart.com
  • Dance Studio Management Software Review
  • Septic Tank Pumping in Mooresville, NC
  • How do They Get Those Surgical Instruments So Clean?
  • Are Your Shoulder Blades Crooked?
  • The Bedroom Source: Maxtrix Furniture for Kids
  • Maxtrix: Bunk Beds with Unlimited Options
  • Top 3 Household Hazards for Kids
  • Getting Started with X10 Home Automation
  • Why a Swimming Pool Is a Great Addition to a Healthy Lifestyle
X10 Home Automation

Reader Feedback

  • Alice Carroll on Choosing a Lumber Supplier
  • climbing training Ipswich on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Shammy Peterson on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • arborist reports South Auckland on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Erika Brady on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Robert Ottarson on Custom Fireplace Doors & Screens – Westchester County, NY
  • Braden Bills on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap