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Substitute 5mm for 6mm plywood Tiki 26 Hull

I would like to build the hull of a Tiki 26 with 5mm Keruing plywood as 6mm is not available were I live in Thailand. The Keruing plywood is reputed to be about 1/3 stronger than okoume plywood. The 5mm keruing weight is approx 23lbs. 6mm okoume wieghs 18lbs. Would the anybody have an opinion on the fesabillity of this Change?

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Permalink Reply by Maxim Jurgens on January 14, 2015 at 8:57am

Where in Thailand do you live ?

Here in Phuket we can buy "proper" 6 mm "kite marked " marine ply in 6, 8, 10 and 16 mm. Before this ply was available we used the local '"kaa naam " ( logo with three elephants) ply which is available in 5, 7 , 9 and 16 mm . Good stuff but very heavy .Is this the ply you are referring to ? The "proper marine " ply is actually cheaper then the local stuff. Our Tiki 38's and Tiki 30's are built with the local ply and despite at times appalling abuse they hold up very well. We have always glassed on the inside as well as on the outside. Whether you do like wise or not, I see no reason why the 5mm "elephant" ply would not be strong enough for your T 26. But heavy it is for sure .....

Our new "Hitia"26 which we are currently building is built with the 6 mm "proper " ply.

If you want I can put you in touch with the shop which sells the "proper" ply . I'm sure the costs of transporting a few sheets of ply from Phuket to wherever you live in Thailand will not be prohibitive.

Maxim Jurgens

Siam Sailing, Phuket

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Permalink Reply by patrick lennon on January 14, 2015 at 9:05am

Hi Maxim
I live in Chiang Mai and sail out of Koh Chang. The boat will be built in Chiang Mai. Yes please I would love to have the name of the company for the proper ply. I have been looking for some time. I builds my present boat out of the Thai ply and I agree it is fine but heavy . Cheers Pat

Maxim Jurgens said:

Where in Thailand do you live ?

Here in Phuket we can buy "proper" 6 mm "kite marked " marine ply in 6, 8, 10 and 16 mm. Before this ply was available we used the local '"kaa naam " ( logo with three elephants) ply which is available in 5, 7 , 9 and 16 mm . Good stuff but very heavy .Is this the ply you are referring to ? The "proper marine " ply is actually cheaper then the local stuff. Our Tiki 38's and Tiki 30's are built with the local ply and despite at times appalling abuse they hold up very well. We have always glassed on the inside as well as on the outside. Whether you do like wise or not, I see no reason why the 5mm "elephant" ply would not be strong enough for your T 26. But heavy it is for sure .....

Our new "Hitia"26 which we are currently building is built with the 6 mm "proper " ply.

If you want I can put you in touch with the shop which sells the "proper" ply . I'm sure the costs of transporting a few sheets of ply from Phuket to wherever you live in Thailand will not be prohibitive.

Maxim Jurgens

Siam Sailing, Phuket

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Permalink Reply by Maxim Jurgens on January 22, 2015 at 6:28pm

Siam Timber Ltd ,Part

35/2 Wichit Songkram Road, Phuket, Thailand.

tel 076 215 258 tel 089 866 1587

Ms Varaporn Samart

They do speak English but it is usually best if you from your side have someone Thai speaking who can explain clearly what you want .

They have sent up ply to C''Mai before . Those were 20 mm sheets for a furniture maker . On that occasion the transport costs were 100 baht/sheet. So transport costs for your 6 mm ply will certainly not be more, probably even less.

My experience with this company is very good.

Cheers

Maxim Jurgens

Siam Sailing, Phuket

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Permalink Reply by patrick lennon on January 22, 2015 at 10:10pm

Thanks very much for the contact.

I have a friend in Chiang Mai, he is using plywood from this company to build a lapstrake hull. I took some of this plywood and did some destructive testing (boiling in water) and the laminates came completely apart so I believe that particular batch of plywood from this company was not BS 1088 (WBP-boil proof glue). It looked beautiful with very few voids ect.. I hadn't the heart to tell him as he was half finished building.

I am a bit weary of suppliers marine plywood claims as I had built a hull a few year ago and the dealer insisted it was marine grade and I took his word for it... it wasn't. Some of the ply delaminated sitting in the rain some pieces of sat on the ground through the wet season and were fine.

Again thank you so much for taking the time to send me this contact. I think I will fly down to Phuket and order my supplies (epoxy, ply ect) and visit Phuket Siam Timber and test some samples.