Gaboon is another name for the Okoume species of tropical hardwood. The scientific name is Aucoumea Klaineana and it comes from Gabon hence the usual name Gaboon. Wikipedia states that it is a weak wood with low decay resistance and moderate dimensional stability. Gaboon Marine Plywood has a reputation as being "lightweight" how-ever we recently weighed a large number of sheets from different sources and we found that it was mostly lighter, sometimes it was not lighter than the other types of marine plywood currently available. We suspect that is because the interior veneers may be of other timber species than okoume.

The first thing to realize is that any standard is legally enforceable only within its country of origin. Thus as a quality guarantee, BS1088 is only enforceable within the British Isles.

BS1088 specifies that for marine ply the timber selected should be a moderately durable species, it also permits the non-durable Okoume species to be used. Face veneers must be free of open defects other than small sound “pin” knots. Gaps are not permitted. BS1088 allows “occasional closed splits”. Core veneers are permitted to have sound knots, as well as edge gaps up to 0.5 mm. The adhesive used in all marine plywood manufacture is waterproof phenolic type WBP. Regular production sampling and testing is required for waterproof and adhesion qualities by both long term immersion and by 72 hour boiling. There should be no adhesion failures.

Boatcraft Pacific inspects plywood before offering it for sale and we regularly reject plywood that does not meet the specification. For some historic reasons, BS1088 has come to be regarded as an international standard which indicates that, worldwide, a plywood sheet so branded will meet marine requirements. While this belief is valid and legally enforceable within U.K., regrettably it is not so elsewhere. Because there is no enforceability outside U.K. the sad fact is that many Asian manufacturers appear happy to apply the mark BS1088 as a brand rather than as a statement of quality, with the result that quite inferior products are now widely available on the market, showing poor bonding, splits and other defects in both face and core veneers, all in the name of “marine plywood”.

We have sent quite a lot of poor quality Gaboon marine plywood back to the importers (who we suspect just take it around to our competitors who, not knowing any better, just sell it as first grade).

We can ship plywood to anywhere in Australia, how-ever we STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you also buy 2 of the 3mm MDF Sheets to protect your plywood from damage whilst in transit. If your order weighs more than 30kg, please give some thought as to how it is going to be unloaded from the delivery truck.

Here is some information about glue bond quality and how to check it.