Marine plywood buyers usually come to us weighing two species against each other: Okoume and Meranti. Both are used for BS1088 marine panels, but they behave differently on the water and on the workbench. Here is how we see the trade-off after manufacturing Okoume panels in Gabon for the marine trade.
Weight
Okoume is the lighter of the two. For a boatbuilder counting kilograms across a hull, a full Okoume construction shaves meaningful weight over a Meranti core — without stepping down in panel count or glue line quality.
Gluing and finishing
Okoume’s pale, even grain takes epoxy and paint predictably, with little of the patchiness that darker Meranti veneers can show under a clear finish. For bright-finished work, that consistency is the reason many builders specify it.
On a fully sheathed hull, the species matters less structurally and more for weight and finish — which is where Okoume tends to win.
Where Meranti still fits
Meranti is denser and harder-wearing, so for high-abrasion surfaces — sole boards, working decks — some builders still prefer it. There is no single right answer; it depends on where the panel lives on the boat.
What we supply
Every Jaguar marine panel is 100% Okoume, BS1088-compliant, with a WBP phenolic glue line rated for full weather and boil exposure. If you are specifying for a build and want to talk through grades and thicknesses, get in touch — we quote to your cutting list.