There are two types of wood that are widely used in the maritime industry, especially when traveling on ships because of their water-resistant properties, helping to maximize water repellency.
However, each type of wood has different strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the situation, you should choose the right type of wood. So let’s learn about Starboard and Marine Plywood with A1 Plywood through the article below!
1. Concept
1.1. What is Starboard?
Starboard is the original marine-grade high-density polyethylene and the industry standard. It is the product of a proprietary process called K-Stran, the most advanced manufacturing process available for producing consistently flat continuous sheets.
Starboard is environmentally stabilized to withstand the harshest marine conditions. It will not rot or discolor like teak and other solid woods, and it will not delaminate like wood laminates.
Starboard sheet has done more to relieve boat owners from lengthy maintenance work than any other marine material. This is because this revolutionary material is now used to make the parts that were previously fabricated from teak wood.
Thus, boaters have been freed from the haste of washing and oiling their teak. It is used in the marine industry on rod holders, tackle boxes, cutting boards, drink holders, access doors, swim platforms, console doors, hatch covers and a wide variety of other parts. The standard sheet size of Starboard is 54″ x 96″ and it is available in thicknesses ranging from 1/4″ through 1 1/2″ thick.
1.2. What is Marine Plywood?
Marine Plywood designed specifically for marine environments is another excellent regular plywood alternative. It is made with waterproof glue and unique treatments that make it resistant to rotting and swelling. It is also more expensive than standard plywood. You can use marine plywood for various purposes such as boatbuilding, cabinetry, and furniture.
It is a good-quality, hardwood plywood made with waterproof glue, but since it’s not treated with chemicals, it is not rot-resistant. Better grades also tend to be lightweight, strong, and virtually free of defects. These qualities are what make this plywood a popular choice for building boats and boat parts.
2. Similarities of Starboard and Marine Plywood
Durability: Both are highly durable, therefore suitable for outdoor applications with harsh weather conditions. Lack of necessary maintenance has made them the most popular plastic material used in the marine industry. The great thing about this material is that it is virtually indestructible.
Marine Plywood has thin sheets of wood veneer—known as plies (plural of ply)—are used to make plywood. Arranging the sheets in perpendicular layers is what strengthens the plywood. Each piece of plywood has an odd number of layers.
Cross-lamination—arranging the plies perpendicular to one another—is what gives a panel strength in both directions. To finish it, the plywood panel is bonded under heat and pressure.
Appearance: These two materials have an attractive finished surface and edge. Moreover, they have an attractive surface and eye-catching colors.
3. Differences between Starboard and Marine Plywood
3.1. Aesthetics
Starboard is available in a wide variety of colors that match as close to the color of the boat’s gel coat as possible. You can slightly scratch the surface if you are not careful when working with it (specifically black starboard). However, Starboard parts are very tough and will usually outlast your boat. The textured surface hides minor scratches and offers some amount of non-skid.
Starboard is available in a wide variety of colors that match as close to the color of the boat’s gel coat as possible. It is a solid homogeneous material; therefore it can never rot or delaminate. Also, the sheet color is consistent all the way through the material and special UV inhibitors protect it from the sun.
Marine Plywood has a variety of colors, but Starboard is more aesthetically pleasing than marine plywood.
3.2. How they’re Built
Starboard is easily fabricated with using standard woodworking tools such as table saws, routers and sanders. This ease of fabricating has made Starboard the most popular plastic material used in the marine industry.
Marine plywood has five or more layers that are bound together with waterproof adhesive, which allows it to bear heavier loads and repel moisture from its core. Marine plywood is stronger and more durable than regular plywood.
Regular plywood has only three layers, while marine plywood has five layers and more than five layers, which are glued together with waterproof glue, which makes its load capacity stronger.
3.3. Price
Starboard is much more competitive than marine plywood because of its ease of making and reduced machining costs.
3.4. Application
Marine Plywood is used for various outdoor projects, including garden furniture, like tables, chairs, and benches, planters.
Starboard is used for marine applications.
3.5. Weight
Starboard is lighter in weight than marine plywood because it is not composed of many layers of veneer like marine plywood. That makes it a lot lighter, more portable.
4. Which of these two should you choose?
The bottom line here is that if you need something 100% waterproof and long-lasting, for things like boats, trailers, and subflooring, then Marine Plywood is the way to go.
With distinct and outstanding characteristics, each type of wood has different strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, through this article, customers can rely on that to choose the right type of wood for their intended use.
5. A1 Plywood – Prestigious and quality Plywood factory
A1 Plywood is committed to the prestige and quality of products, ensuring that Plywood panels are always delivered to customers according to requirements and designs.
We own a direct furniture factory in Vietnam, with a team of skilled carpenters; each product is made carefully from the stage of choosing boards to construction and installation.
The factory accepts orders to produce Plywood boards based on the correct sizes and measurements as required, and delivery on time.
The above is the differences between Starboard and Marine Plywood, basing on it customer can choose the suitable wood.
Related keywords: starboard vs marine plywood, starboard strength, synthetic plywood, starboard marine lumber, west marine starboard, starboard vs pvc board, starboard alternatives, king starboard vs hdpe, what is starboard material, hdpe vs starboard