Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 20:52:56 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <199902030452.UAA16566@ns.intelenet.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
From: redcanoe@pangea.ca (Douglas Ingram)
Subject: Re: baidarka PakYak update
Now to try and find out what the heck "Baltic Birch
>plywood" is...
Baltic Birch is a plywood made in Europe from Birch grown, you guessed it,
in the Baltic regions, (Finland, Sweeden, Russia, Lituania, etc.)
Birch is one of the dominant woods of the region, and apparently grows trans
Siberia. I'm not an expert in the forestry of the region, I'm just
summarizing info that I have gleaned over time.
I have used Baltic Birch before and love it. It is far superior to domestic
N.A. plywood. It is a veneer core and has many, many laminants. I have
seen it in 1/8" equivalents, up to 3/4" equivalent. I say equivalent
because, being European, it is metric. Also, it is not sold as a 4' x 8'
panel, but rather a 65cm x 65 cm panel (I think its 65). The this stuff has
wonderful bending characteristics.
As nice as this stuff is, I would be a little nervous about using it for a
boat as I am not sure whether the glue is waterproof. It may be, I just
don't know. You could easily use an equivalent dimension Marine grade
Mahogany Plywood. BB is not cheap, and it may work out to cost about the
same as a certified marine plywood.
Good luck,
Douglas Ingram
Red River Canoe & Paddle
P.O. Box 78, GRP 4, RR 2
Lorette, Manitoba
Canada
ROA OYO
(204)878-2524
URL: www.wilds.mb.ca/redriver
e-mail: redcanoe@pangea.ca