9mm Marine Plywood BS1088 2440mm x 1220mm (8' x 4')

Colour and finish are representative only and may vary slightly as this is a natural product.

What Is 9mm Marine Plywood?  

9mm marine plywood is a specialised type of plywood engineered for use in environments where moisture resistance and structural integrity are critical. It is commonly used in marine applications, such as boat building, but can also be employed in other exterior or interior settings, provided it is adequately treated for outdoor use.

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.

Applications

While traditionally used in boat building (hull components, decking, cabinetry), the qualities of BS1088 Marine Plywood make it suitable for a wide range of demanding applications:

• Marine: Boat building, repairs, docks, pontoons.
• Exterior Joinery: Fascias, soffits, external doors, porch ceilings (must be fully sealed and finished).
• Construction: Roof decking, flooring underlayment, sheds, garden structures, shuttering (where durability is key).
• Interior: Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, wall panelling in areas prone to moisture or humidity.
• Other Uses: Signage, planters, vehicle lining, joinery projects requiring high strength and moisture resistance.

Important Usage Notes

• Sealing is Crucial: For exterior use or in any wet/humid environment, it is essential to thoroughly seal all edges and faces of the plywood sheet with a suitable sealant, paint, varnish, or epoxy resin before installation or exposure. Failure to do so will compromise the panel's longevity and water resistance. Pay particular attention to cut edges.
• Storage: Store sheets flat and level in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight until ready for use.

Benefits

• BS1088 Certified Quality: Conforms to the British Standard BS1088, the internationally recognised benchmark for marine grade plywood. This ensures the plywood is made from durable hardwood veneers with minimal core gaps, using a highly weather and boil-proof (WBP) glue line for maximum endurance in wet conditions.   
• Superior Water & Boil Proof (WBP) Bonding: Features a BS EN636-3 bond classification. This signifies the glue line is designed to withstand full exterior exposure and immersion in water for extended periods, provided all edges and faces are properly sealed against moisture ingress. This bond class is essential for structural applications in humid or exterior conditions.
• Durable Hardwood Construction: Made from selected Keruing or Meranti hardwood species, known for their natural durability, strength, and resistance to decay, making them ideal for demanding marine applications.
• Versatile 9mm Thickness: A practical thickness offering a balance between strength, weight (approx. 18kg per sheet), and flexibility for various construction and joinery tasks.
• BB/CC Grade Veneer: Features a BB grade face veneer, which allows for minor natural defects like small sound knots and potentially some neat patches, offering a sound surface suitable for painting or overlaying. The reverse side is CC grade, permitting larger knots, splits, and patches, typically used where appearance is less critical.   
• Low Formaldehyde Emissions: Complies with E1 classification, indicating low formaldehyde levels, contributing to healthier indoor air quality when used in interior applications.   
• Suitable for Interior & Exterior Use: Ideal for demanding interior applications (bathrooms, kitchens) and robust enough for exterior use when edges and faces are thoroughly sealed and finished with appropriate protective coatings (paint, varnish, epoxy resin).

Understanding the Standards

What is BS1088 Marine Plywood? 

BS1088 dictates:

• Wood Species: Must use durable or moderately durable hardwood veneers throughout.
• Veneer Quality: Limits the size and number of knots, voids, and overlaps within the core layers, ensuring structural integrity.   
• Glue Bond: Mandates the use of a Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) adhesive (tested to EN314-2 Class 3) for maximum resistance to delamination in wet conditions.
• Construction: Specifies the lay-up and thickness tolerances.  Essentially, BS1088 guarantees a high-performance panel designed to withstand the harshest environments, particularly marine applications like boat building.   

What is BS EN636-3? 

This European standard specifies the requirements for plywood based on its intended end-use environment. EN636 has three classes:   

• EN636-1: Dry interior conditions.
• EN636-2: Humid conditions (e.g., bathrooms, roof decking under cover).
• EN636-3: Exterior conditions. This class requires a durable WBP glue bond suitable for outdoor use or exposure to moisture, assuming adequate protection and sealing of the panel. Our Marine Plywood meets this highest class.

What is E1 Formaldehyde Level? 

This relates to the amount of formaldehyde emitted from the panel, a factor in indoor air quality. E1 is the standard in Europe for low formaldehyde emissions, making this plywood suitable and safer for interior use compared to panels with higher E ratings (like E2).

Manufacturing Process

Where standard plywood sheets are generally made up of layers of softwood and hardwood, Marine Ply is constructed with multiple layers of water-resistant tropical hardwood, bonded together using waterproof adhesives. This construction method ensures that Marine Plywood is free of air pockets and core voids, minimising the chances of water getting trapped between the layers.

In contrast, when you cut through a standard plywood sheet, you can often see holes and voids within the layers. By eliminating these imperfections, Marine Plywood offers superior structural integrity and enhanced rot resistance, making it ideal for demanding applications where the material will be exposed to the elements.

How To Cut 

Despite its strength, cutting Marine Plywood is anything but difficult. Simply cut it to size with a jigsaw and cut along the grain lines to achieve a smoother cut.