Classic Plywood

 

Plywood doesn’t get much respect in the wooden boat world, but I think that is a shame.  Frankly, if it weren’t for plywood, most of us wouldn’t be able to consider a wooden boat.  Here are a couple boats that recently came into the shop.  The first one is a Penguin class sailboat that I did some work on many years ago, and is back to complete the restoration now that the owners are retired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next boat is a Trojan Sea Queen.  Probably late 50’s – early 60’s outboard powered V- bottom boat of the type that was ubiquitous in that era.  It’s in to get the bottom glassed over and make her watertight.

With the high quality plywood and epoxy adhesives available today, some very nice boats can be built of plywood.  All it takes is a designer that has a good eye and knows what plywood can and can’t do.  Just look at the designs of Karl Stambaugh, Sam Devlin, Reuel Parker, Atkins, and many others for some great plywood boats.  There is a caveat to the plywood choice however.  If the plywood is stamped “made in China”, send it back as quick as you can.  I have a horror story about Chinese marine plywood.  Ask me about it sometime, but be ready for some colorful language.