Marine Plywood
(7 Products)Marine plywood sheets are built to perform in damp, high-moisture settings - ideal for boats, docks, and other coastal or marine structures. Unlike standard plywood, which is made with interior-grade adhesives, marine plywood uses waterproof glues that ensure it can withstand the harsh conditions of high humidity and water exposure.
Marine Plywood is made from solid veneer wood, meaning the finished surface gives a wooden appearance. Therefore, images may vary slightly from delivered products due to the natural variation in colour and grain.
What Is Marine Plywood?
Marine grade plywood is a premium performance hardwood plywood with excellent load-bearing properties and moisture resistance.
This is the only type of plywood approved for marine use, including below-deck and hull applications. It’s manufactured with high-grade veneers and bonded with waterproof adhesive, allowing it to withstand full submersion and extended exposure to moisture without delaminating.
Unlike standard plywood, marine ply is bonded with waterproof adhesive, making it far more resistant to swelling, warping, or delaminating when exposed to moisture. However, its long-term performance still depends heavily on how well it’s sealed and prepared before use.
To get the most out of it, apply a quality waterproof sealant - epoxy or polyurethane are both solid options. This added layer helps guard against water seeping into the sheet and causing rot or breakdown over time.
The edges deserve extra attention, as they’re usually the first areas to absorb moisture and start to fail. A proper seal around the edges goes a long way in preserving the board’s integrity.
And like anything exposed to the elements, routine upkeep matters. Reapplying sealant now and then, and checking for signs of damage, will help ensure your marine plywood lasts - even in tough, wet conditions.
Applications
While specifically designed for performance in water and seafaring, marine plywood sheets can also be used in the following applications:
- Shopfitting
- Storage boxes
- Bathrooms
- Sheds
- Walkways
- General joinery
- External joinery
- Kitchens
- Patios
- Indoor vehicle storage areas
- Roof supports
- Temporary structures
- Cold frames
If used for an aesthetic application such as shelving, we suggest sanding and adding a layer of varnish to enhance its overall appearance.
Benefits
- Water resistant - retains its integrity when in contact with water and high humidity
- Suitable for flooring, roofing and wall applications
- Holds laminate, paint and polish well
- Pliable design - can bend without cracking or comprising structural integrity
- Offers superior impact resistance
- Defect free - lack of voids and holes makes the product more structurally sound
Water Resistance
Marine plywood sheets are manufactured to meet the rigorous standards of BS 1088, the British Standard for marine grade plywood.
This specification sets precise requirements for plywood crafted from untreated tropical hardwood veneers, ensuring a high level of resistance to fungal attack. This stamp of approval ensures that the product will perform well in almost any environment.
Offering many benefits as both an interior and exterior plywood board, Marine Grade Plywood utilises only highly durable species of wood veneer to resist decaying in water-based applications.
This structural makeup and moisture resistance is what makes Marine Plywood so favoured by boat building industries and marine insurers. It boasts unrivalled weatherproof quality and performance in wet conditions over extended periods.
While naturally resistant to moisture, you can easily increase the service life of Marine Plywood by sealing both the edges and faces of the sheets.
Since it's not treated with chemicals, it's important to bear in mind that the sheets are not rot-resistant.
Frequently Asked Marine Plywood Questions
How Does Marine Plywood Differ From Standard Plywood?
Regular plywood is typically made using three glued-together plies of softwood such as pine or Douglas fir. Marine grade plywood is constructed using as many as five thin layers which are then bonded with waterproof adhesive.
Despite having more layers than regular plywood, marine-grade plywood features far fewer voids, making it the most structurally sound of the two materials.
Marine plywood's strength and durability make it a good subfloor for heavy flooring materials, such as ceramic tile.
Are Marine Plywood Sheets Waterproof?
Despite its name and functionality, marine-grade plywood is not entirely waterproof. Though its veneers are bonded with waterproof glues, marine plywood is rather a sturdy plywood constructed with a bonding agent made for water submersion.
Since it is not chemically treated, marine-grade plywood is not one hundred percent resistant to rot.
That being said, when properly sealed and treated marine plywood is capable of withstanding much harsher conditions, making it ideal for applications like boat construction, docks, and outdoor furniture.
What Are The Different Types of Plywood Grades?
Plywood is graded into 4 primary groups:
- Class 1 - Strictly internal
- Class 2 - Interior grade of humid conditions but must be sealed
- Class 3 - Exterior grade but must be sealed
- BS10 88 - Marine plywood
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