Backyard Renegade wrote:

I have been for years an advocate of luan (only type III exterior) and
only if inspected very carefully both visually, and by running your
hand over it to listen for voids. I have recently started using only
okoume... if you can find it cheap enough the ease of work, the fair
bending, the easier to maintain finish, the extra strength, and did I
mention, because of the characteristics of the wood used, it is a lot
easier to work with... Personally, I have nothing against cheap
plywood, it is how I got started... but now with experience, I have
given up using it pretty much all together and I have not had a hull
crack under construction at an unseen void in years (trust me, the
first time it happens, you will curse your luan. Everyone touts the
money savings with cheap ply... but that is not my issue. All in all,
in every way, the okoume is a pleasure to work with and will in the
long run save you much time and energy... So on a two sheet skiff, you
might save 100 bucks but if you can build it a whole lot faster and
easier, the $ savings don't mean much.
Scotty from SmallBoats.com
Did I mention that Mahogany is a lot easier to work with than fir for
the trim and seats??? ) Flame suit.... ON....

Yeah, but is it easier to work with? (grin)

If I were building a boat for show or as advertising or for rougher
water, I would most likely use better materials... or maybe some
fiberglass. If I were building a boat to sell, I would offer the option
of better materials (with advice on what it provides, practically and
aesthetically and what it would cost). But for a little tub for me to
run up and down the creek, I see no reason to. If I come up with a
design I really like and think I'll want it to last for my lifetime
(which is getting shorter by the day), I'll probably use something else
(after building the first with cheap materials). But, the whole point
right now (for me at least) is doing it. Including breaking that first
hull during construction. (grin) And, I think the longest I've ever
owned a given boat is about 5 years. The lauan, even poorly maintained,
will outlast that milestone (grin).

Ed