Wood-Epoxy / Plywood
Modern wood: light, stiff and sealed
Plywood, strip-planked or cold-moulded wood fully encapsulated in epoxy resin. Sealing the wood keeps rot away, so you get light weight and stiffness. It is a favourite of amateur builders and small performance boats.
Strengths
- Light and stiff, so it sails well
- Easy to repair with basic tools
- Popular for home-built boats
Weaknesses
- Rots wherever the epoxy seal is broken
- Quality depends on the builder
- Resale varies with who built it
Ratings
4
5
6
8
6
5
Buying used: what to check
Look for cracks in the epoxy coating, dark stains and soft spots, especially around fittings and the keel. Find out who built the boat and ask for documentation.