I'm looking for advice on scarfing two sheets of plywood together for building a boat, specifically the Super Pelican designed by William H. Short. Would this method actually work for the plywood needed for the bottom, sides, and keelsons? Also, what's the ideal angle or pitch for the scarf cut? I found a reference suggesting an 8:1 pitch, but I'm wondering if that's appropriate. Lastly, if scarfing isn't feasible, where can I find 14-16ft lengths of marine plywood in Northeast Ohio or Northwest Pennsylvania?
2 Answers
Scarfing plywood is pretty common for building wooden dories or drift boats. Many folks use a 12:1 ratio for the joints on those crafts, which seems to work well.
If you're gluing the plywood and glassing both sides, going with an 8:1 pitch can work, but if not, sticking to a 12:1 ratio is definitely a safer bet. Lots of people successfully scarf plywood, and there are plenty of tutorials available online. The usual tools for this job include an electric planer, a belt sander, or a router with a jig to make precise cuts.
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely consider that ratio.