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Hydrotek Marine Plywood is manufactured utilizing BS 1088 specifications, it is a multiply type construction, with balanced internal plys and thick (1mm before sanding) face veneers, and water proof phenolic glue. It is made using a stiff and strong wood specie which when put together, yield a very good quality marine panel. The faces and core are rotary cut veneer and the faces are one piece without splices. Inner veneers are well selected for Hydrotek and built to the 1088 spec for absolute minimum core voids . This all combines to make Hydrotek a strong and structural marine ply plywood.
It is a perfect replacement for the declining quality of marine Douglas Fir.
It cuts and sands well. It holds fastenings well. It glues well.
Marine Grades
The BS (British Standard) 6566 grading rule has been replaced and updated though it is still in use through out much of the world of marine plywood. It is used as a mill standard now and demands a high level of quality control but not quite as stringent as the ultimate grade which is BS1088. The highest quality Marine Plywood in the world is manufactured in Europe to the BS1088 grading standard. The European mills hire Lloyd’s of London to monitor and test their quality and certify their products to be on specification. Some Asian mills claim their products are built to the “1088” specification, however none are Lloyd’s Certified and few, if any, reach the quality of the better European plants.
It is the standard that specifies the quality of the best Marine Plywood in the world. Reading the entire BS1088 spec. is a long and tedious process. So we have condensed our list to the main headings.
- a) Balanced construction to avoid distortion in service. (4.2.3)
- b) Minimum face veneer thickness on all panels and no less than 1mm after sanding on panels thicker than 3.8mm (4.2.4.3)
- c) Durability of species and glue type within standard or lightweight designations. (4.3+5.5)
- d) Dimensional tolerances (5.1)
- f) Moisture content (5.2)
- g) Allowable defects (5.4+4.1)
- h) Glue Bond Quality (5.6)
- i) Marking and Documentation (6.1+6.2)
The above specifications are abreviated and listed for convenience only and are not to be construed as the grade in it’s entirety. If you must have a thorough understanding of the British Standard 1088 please purchase a copy of the actual standard and study it. It can be purchased online at;
Marine plywood’s are not required to be built of species that are naturally durable. It is recommended that the standard trade practice of applying epoxy sealers, paint or preservative compounds to both face surfaces and edges in order to prevent moisture ingress is addressed during construction.
*Aquatek and Hydrotek come to us with species that vary in weight. The manufacturer does not allow us to designate which specie we will get in a load because of the scarcity of high quality veneer faces that will make grade for the continued manufacturing of panels. The two species are either Meranti or Keruing. That is why we give you a range of weights in the chart above.
