What is Okoume Plywood?
Okoume — also called gaboon — is a West African hardwood with a pale pink-brown colour, fine even grain and very few defects. As a plywood face it sands beautifully, stains evenly and takes a clear finish without blotching, which is why it has been the standard face for boat interiors and campervan fit-out for decades.
The species is also light: around 430–500 kg/m³, well below birch or hardwood. On a fit-out where every kilogram affects fuel consumption or sailing performance, that difference is the reason buyers pay a premium for okoume rather than a cheaper hardwood face.
Specifications
Standard production range. Sizes, glue types and grades outside this table can be produced to order — tell us the specification your customer requires.
| Panel size | 1220 × 2440 mm · 1250 × 2500 mm |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 3 / 4 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15 / 18 mm |
| Face & back | 100 % okoume (gaboon) veneer |
| Core | Okoume · Poplar · Combi |
| Adhesive | E1 · MR · WBP phenolic |
| Density | ≈ 430–500 kg/m³ |
| Surface | Sanded 120–180 grit, ready to finish |
| Typical use | Boat interiors, RV, yacht joinery, furniture |
Why buyers choose our Okoume Plywood
Even colour across the batch
Okoume's advantage is visual consistency. We grade faces for colour match within a batch so a fitted interior does not show patchy panels after varnishing.
Weight that pays for itself
At roughly 450 kg/m³, an okoume fit-out is around 35 % lighter than the same volume in birch. For a yacht or a campervan conversion, that is a direct performance gain.
WBP option for wet areas
For bilge-adjacent or exterior-trimmed panels, we supply WBP phenolic bonding. Note that WBP bonding makes a panel water-resistant, it does not make it a certified marine plywood.
Honest specification
If your project needs BS 1088 marine plywood with a specific hardwood core and no voids, tell us — okoume-faced decorative plywood is a different product and we will say so rather than let you discover it at survey.
Applications
Yacht and boat interiors
Cabins, lockers, bulkheads and furniture where weight and finish both matter.
Campervan and RV conversion
Bed platforms, kitchen pods and wall panels.
Premium furniture
Veneered carcasses and visible panels finished with clear lacquer.
Musical instruments
Speaker cabinets and casework requiring an even, resonant face.
Shop fitting
Display units where a pale, uniform timber look is specified.
Packing & container loading
| Container | Volume | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | ≈ 20 m³ | Palletised, film wrapped |
| 40HQ | ≈ 28 m³ | 20–24 pallets, steel strapped |
| Care | Faces protected with interleaving film to prevent scuffing in transit |
All shipments are palletised, steel strapped and wrapped in waterproof film. Loading photographs and a full document set are sent for every container.
Frequently asked questions
Is okoume plywood the same as marine plywood?
Why is okoume more expensive than poplar plywood?
Can okoume plywood be used outdoors?
Need a price for Okoume Plywood?
Tell us the specification and destination port. Formal offer within 24 hours, samples available on request.
