Plywood

With the boat plans in hand, the next crucial step in my Class Globe 5.80 build was sourcing the right plywood. The plans are clear about one thing: only certified marine plywood made from Okoume will do. This type of wood is lightweight, durable, and resistant to moisture—perfect for a boat that's going to face the open sea.

Living in Portugal, I initially hoped to find a local supplier that stocked this specific material. However, after searching around, I came up empty-handed—nothing I found quite matched the necessary specifications for certified marine-grade Okoume plywood.

I also had another decision to make: should I opt for a pre-cut CNC kit or cut the plywood myself? Many builders choose CNC kits, which are precision-cut and save a lot of time and effort. However, when I looked at the listed prices, I quickly realized that these kits could cost two to three times more than simply buying the plywood and cutting it myself. While the convenience was tempting, I decided to cut the plywood myself to stay within my budget.

In the builders forum, I read that many had sourced their plywood from an Italian supplier called Nord Compensati. I reached out to them for a quote, and after comparing costs, it seemed reasonable, so I decided to move forward with them.

Certified Plywood