Keel Fin Material, Baltic Birch Exterior???

General Discussion
1

I have been looking for the 9mm 7 ply baltic birch w/Phenolic glue (Dark) , cant seem to find it , I am in San Diego and it seems frost hardwood has 3/4" and 1/2" , but dont carry baltic birch in the 3/8 9mm in the exterior grade with the dark glue , only have that thickness in the interior grade with the clear glue… Needed to make a bunch of sets of Keels… What is the specific type plywood that the Gephart Keels are made from ?

 

Thanks , Zensurfguy

2

I get high quality baltic birch from my cabinet making buddy’s scrap heap.  The glue isn’t dark, though.  I alway thought the Gepharts were made from marine grade plywood.  Whatever that means.  The wood of the Gepharts I have looks a bit lighter than the marine grade ply I salvaged from the same buddy a few years ago.  It had lams of mohagany in it I believe, or some other comparable wood.  Maybe the wood guys will pick this up and clarify.  mike

3

I’ve been using the aircraft grade Birch ply.  10-layers in a 3/16" panel (doing fins for a fin system).    There’s no mistaking where you are in your foil with that stuff.   

4

I’ve never tried this stuff but I thought it might make a cool keel fin:

http://www.rutply.com/solutions/stratabond.html