peterMelbourneAustralia wrote:
Does it cost more?

I prefer strip planking because I can mill locally available
white cedar lumber to make strips that are less expensive than
top quality imported marine (brunzeel or occume) plywood. I also know
the quality of the strips whereas with plywood I am suspicious of
voids and glue if the plywood is not rated.
Many plywood designs require a glass epoxy sheathing anyway, negating
any difference there. Also, compound curves are difficult or impossible
with plywood.

So it all depends on what you are building, and what is available for
materials in your area. I imagine New England Northern white cedar could
get pretty pricey in Austrialia but plywood made in Indonesia might be
very reasonable.

Plywood is faster to build with though. But if your labor is free.....
The other BIG advantage of strip planking is that you have more freedom
to create a boat that LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. While some plywood boats look
nice, it's still a plywood boat. The strip built boat is generally
viewed as a nicer product....so if you wanted to sell it, you might get
more for it than a comparable plywood boat.
If you buy all of your strips pre milled at top dollar (about $.35 US/
linear foot for 1/4 inch) then strip planked will cost more and take
longer than using plywood. If you mill your own from locally available
suitable wood (any soft lightweight wood), then strip will be cheaper,
take longer, but produce a "nicer" product.

and does the strip planking need a coat of
fiberglass over the top?

Yes, unless you are building a boat where the thickness of the planks
are enough to edge nail and you plan on fastening the strips to
permanent frames. On an 18 ft Trimaran this would not be the case and
the epoxy sheathing would normally be considered a part of the composite
structure of the boat.






peterMelbourneAustralia wrote:
I know this has been asked many times.

I would like to build a 1 man 18ft tri out of ply or strip planking.

Is strip planking as strong as ply? Does it cost more (i can easily
get prices for marine ply) and does the strip planking need a coat of
fiberglass over the top?

Apart from being perhaps faster to build with are there any advantages
of ply over strip planking?

N. Peter Evans