Secondarily any hull that has recently been hauled will have rather high moisture readings. A pin-type meter can be used by drilling two small holes for pin insertion into the core and … Features. The reason for this is that the inner skin … This port light has likely been leaking into the decks core. There is no benefit in even bringing your meter to a boat in the dead of winter. This cored deck piece is a little over 3/4″ thick and still the meter picked up the metal. All those years ago when GRP was first used in boat production no one really new how strong it was, how long it would last and what we needed to do with it each year? Both of these chunks have been sitting in my shop for well over two years, stored right next to each other, so the environmental controls were identical. When we bought our current boat I looked at over 50 boats, meter in hand. You then meet the broker, bring your spouse and you both get an extreme case of boat buyers lust. If the boat has just been hauled, allow some time for surface moisture to evaporate. So what can you do to protect your self from paying for surveys on boats with saturated decks or hull core? The longer it has been above 20% the more likely are the odds for a total failure and delamination of the skins but this can still take a very long while. Buy an Electrophysics CT-33, or its sister meter the J.R. Overseas GRP-33, read this blog and the manual, do a Google search of “moisture meters for fiberglass” and then go for it. It was only dug into after spot soundings indicated some delamination. Your donations help keep the content coming and also help keep it free. … Please do not use a meter on any deck or interior hull sections that have dew, condensation or where it has recently rained. Please enter any Hull Identification Number - HIN to check. This is a must do fix and this boat is not one I would like to set out to sea on. At that point apply a coating of epoxy, there’s lots to choose from so do some research. I have seen boats put under heat lamps for six months before bottom coating and new blisters appeared within a few years. Moisture meters can not read frozen water. +44 (0)1590 673715enquiries@grabauinternational.com. This is a bad idea and best left to your surveyor. This meter is designed to read approximately .5″ deep but as you can see it will still, just barely, see a piece of metal at 3/4″ depth. Consequently the early production boats were built like battleships, heavy and over the top, but tough. I wanted to illustrate just how sensitive these meter are and to impress upon potential meter owners why the deck surface must be bone dry before using a moisture meter. Hull. It is best to scrape away the bottom paint and place the meters head directly on clean gelcoat. I do not find this acceptable in a modern … Terms and Conditions | Privacy Notice & Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us | Site Map, © 2021 Grabau International. Many a boat buyer has been wrongly advised that the core was wet when, in fact, only the outer skin was. Take care to prevent rot and the boat … However, moisture … Fiberglass boats are particularly a problem, as moisture in the warm daytime air may condense on the cooler hull inside at night. Each time the potential buyer either paid a discounted rate to “buy” the previous survey usually half price but it varies or to have a new one performed. I use four methods to determine moisture in the hull: 1. visual inspection, 2. phenolic hammering of the hull (i.e. Why? Company Registration Number: 9374773. … If boats were made out of water this would be one thing but a core, with even close to 35% water content is not a good sign. In this picture I am holding a piece of metal up against the underside of the simulated deck/hull. I saw some nice boats and some basket cases but unfortunately some had some really hidden deck problems even though they were in good cosmetic condition. If you must take a reading after a rain or dew use a rag dampened with either Acetone or Denatured Alcohol to ensure the surface is bone dry before taking a reading. Ask all the questions! You want to start your inspection with a quick walk around the boat for a general look. The surveyor says this boat is a ticking time bomb and I should walk away. In this case the leak that caused the wet decks had also caused rotting of the bulkhead the chain plate was physically attached to. If you don’t feel comfortable buying and using a moisture meter by all means please don’t. A large section (2"- 2 1/2" can be removed and sent to a laboratory analysis for moisture content. Over the past few years I have been asked for advice from some of my clients but also from boat owners who I meet in yards, clubs and bars concerning moisture … The problem is generally worse when boats … The CT-33 is sold by Electrophysics in Canada currently sells for $160.00 and you’ll need a calibration block for another $10.00. Most of the hull checked sound with moisture levels reading 11-13 while the areas around the head intake throughull checked dull and read 29-30. These aluminum insertions will cause wet looking readings as they are only about 1/4″ deep at best. If this is the case … well.. your choice? There are some ares of a boat that you certainly don’t want wet or even high moist. Unfortunately without a meter you’d likely hire a surveyor, based on cosmetics alone, and pay them $600.00 to find this.. Save yourself $400.00 and buy a meter. Remember the degradation and physical rotting of the core begins at around 20% on the CT-33. Here’s is another example of total saturation this time on a C&C. This is a prime example of why you need to practice with the meter and confirm what lies beneath. The CT-33 sells for less. If you still don’t feel comfortable using a moisture meter, even after reading this, please do not buy one. Though you will likely never need to calibrate it, the check takes just a few seconds to confirm the calibration is within spec. Well for one meters will read the copper in bottom paint as moisture so you can’t use one over bottom paint. To master the use of one takes time and should be used with soundings, something many DIY’s don’t have the ear for and other measures to cross check the moisture meters findings.. Temps should be well above freezing, for a while, before even considering moisture readings. This face down orientation is what you use when checking the calibration. This is especially true if you have even the slightest concern it is a painted finish. Moisture meters can be used to reliably determine if hull cores are wet, but not, as surveyors expect from the outside of the hull. She had wet decks, a saturated rudder and hull core moisture around the thru-hull penetrations. I know many good brokers, who have meters, and who go over the deck and cored hull before even listing a boat. If the $179.00 price tag (varies with exchange rate) is still killing you it is very easy to sell it when your done by listing it on any of the sailing forums. On an outboard boat, stress cracks on the top and in the corners of the transom are a sign the transom is flexing — not a good thing. Is she in need of hidden big $$$ repairs? Please DO NOT buy a moisture meter if your intent is to circumvent the survey process. It is bone dry and has never left my shop or been wet other than atmospheric moisture. Rigoruos maintenance seems to be the only way to prolong the life of the structure, and that is usually not done by many boat … What should you do? chart the condition of their boats from one season to the next, thereby avoiding nasty surprises. If this moisture were allowed to continue the color of the balsa would continue to darken and literally rot away leaving no structural strength. Buy a boat with a bad engine, and you’re in for a … Any good and reputable broker should offer to bring along a moisture meter, if not just ask. How many times do you need to fork over $600.00+ when looking for a boat before you invest in a moisture meter. Thanks for posting, I will check mine in the spring but I always take cover off when the boat … If the hull is cored, and close to 3/4 of an inch thick, the exterior paint won’t throw off the meter by much and you’ll be able to take moisture readings from inside. I simply used a misting bottle of water and sprayed the surface of the cored deck chunk to simulate dew or rain. When this core was dug into  by the owner it was found to be less damaged than would have been expected based on the reading. Large backing plates can also throw off readings so please do your best to look inside and to be sure your not reading metals through the deck. They actually read capacitance. No need to worry though as any reading on fiberglass between 0% & 15% is considered dry with the CT-33.. When the meter is placed atop the spacer and copper faced calibration block the meter should read exactly 14%. State or Coast Guard assigned numbers may be affixed by a decal or plate. To the untrained ear, without a moisture meter and only a hammer, one might assume this deck was in A1 condition. As you can see the reading has gone from 6% up to 7.5%. Here is a piece of 5/8″ solid fiberglass I laid up to cut thru-hull backing plates from. Even taking a quater of it off makes all the differense. You’ll need to reference the scale found at the end of this page for fiberglass interpretations/translations. A pegged meter is indicating a moisture content in the core of about 35% or more!! Copyright 1994 - 2019 Compass Marine Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Small areas of water penetration in a used boat can usually be removed, … Many times I would not even involve the broker and instead would do a drive by, find a ladder, and at least circle the chain plates and deck fittings near the rail. If you don’t ask them, you won’t get any answers. This piece of known dry 5/8″ solid glass actually reads slightly higher than a dry sandwiched balsa core. If you want to check for core moisture bellow the waterline do it from inside the hull on areas around seacocks etc.. This is a bad idea and best left to your surveyor. In most cases this will bring the moisture content down to acceptable levels. Because of the critical location, next to a chain plate, this should be attended to and the core removed and repaired sooner rather than later. Once moisture has a route into the structure of a fiberglass/wood boat, the wood will absorb moisture like a sponge and the fiberglass will keep it there. In my experience the answer is to take her out of the water, remove the antifouling and let her dry out for a few months. I bought a 30 yr old beauty that I had seen in the water. You’ll want to hire a surveyor or lamination expert to fully inspect the hull with more sophisticated tools, such as a moisture meter, but you can certainly conduct the initial inspection. A little common sense goes a long way and is all that’s necessary. Of course, if you don't want to buy a meter and learn how to use it, you can always hire a marine surveyor … Beginning with August 1, 1984, manufacturers were also required to affix a hidden identification number to some unexposed location on the interior of a boat. If you look ahead of the chisel you can see how the balsa just turns to mush when you touch it with the chisel. That I was being a hero but didn’t work out so well. All rights reserved. In this photo you can see the meter the copper faced calibration block and the acrylic spacer. This shouldn’t be the case. It is very, very important to know what is under the deck before taking a reading and the approximate thickness. The moisture … percussion testing), 3. moisture meter testing, 4. infrared thermal imaging. Different materials can have different readings. Here’s another view of a saturated balsa core. Acetone drys surface moisture faster than Denatured Alcohol but both work. On solid glass hulls I would not bother metering and would suggest focusing your efforts on the deck and bulkheads. If you want to take reading bellow the waterline you'll need to scrape away bottom paint in order to get an accurate reading. The Tramex Skipper Plus non-destructive moisture meter provides a complete, safe method for detecting excess moisture in GRP and wooden boats. If you like it and want to make a small donation than that's all I ask. At this stage of rot (early) the core is still tightly bonded to the skins. Three ranges for detecting moisture … Buy a moisture meter and use it if you have a cored hull. I wanted to illustrate just how sensitive these meter are and to impress upon potential meter owners why the deck surface MUST be BONE dry before using a moisture meter. Vessels should not be written off because they are ‘wet’ is what I tell them. Fiberglass bulkheads are usually tabbed (fiberglass taped) to … I still suggest waiting if at all possible. Next the acrylic spacer is placed over the calibration block and it’s ready for you to set the meter on. As you can see it reads a little over 8%. Some gelcoat manufacturers use titanium dioxide as a coloring/pigment agent and in some cases it can throw the meter off. Buying a meter when buying a boat will get you well on your way to saving money on unnecessary surveys. Simply flip it on and hold it vertically in mid air. Don’t necessarily write your vessel off because of a higher moisture content. Always find the lowest reading you can on the boat to use as a baseline. But wait a minute, she looks great on the surface but what’s underneath? You can even set it on a saturated deck if you wish.. This is a bad idea and best left to your surveyor. On inboard and sterndrive boats, where … I do not suggest that you use your meter for bellow water applications, with a solid un-cored hull, as these readings can be very misleading and are best left to a pro to interpret. It may also be used on man made materials such as fiberglass. Don’t laugh I know some who have coughed up close to 2k in the search for a new vessel and the surveyors loved every penny of it. A pocket-sized moisture meter, the Skipper is designed to locate moisture in boat hulls and fittings. I suggest the latter and a little more patience as it is much safer. This to me is like going to a family practice doc who does not own a stethoscope. Moisture has no place to go unless you are giving it some air. As you can see the color of the balsa is telling you how wet it is. Like what you saw or read? I simply used a misting bottle of water and sprayed the surface of the cored deck chunk to simulate dew or rain. This is an example of a high moist range reading on an O’Day. Most every boat has some deck moisture so don;’t be too alarmed at some “moist” readings. The only reliable method is from the inside of the hull. I learned my lesson with my first boat. “She’s just perfect!” Your heart gets racing and you begin to imagine how much fun it will be to own her. This is a good thing especially on cored hulls. Myth: Wet readings on stringers mean the boat hull is junk. This was a deck penetration under a teak hand rail that leaked due to improper bedding. Please do not use Acetone on a boat you don’t yet own. Using this meter any reading between 0% & 15% is considered dry on fiberglass. Readings in the moist range are certainly areas of concern but I would suggest bringing in a surveyor if you like the boat. This is an example of a bone dry core on a J Boat. If the deck were thinner the reading would have been higher. This is why it is best to go around thru-hulls from the inside not outside. Many times on sailboats you’ll find some dry core right above the wind speed & depth gauges if they are mounted on the cabin. Many bottom coats fail because the hull was not dried or washed properly. This is a very bad example of exactly what you don’t want to see, a totally saturated core. I then used a terry cloth towel in an attempt to dry the surface before taking a reading. If everything else checks out, namely deck and bulkheads, bring in your surveyor to do a full bottom examination. If on the other hand the meter is pegged in multiple areas sch as mast bases, chain plates, genny tracks, bulkheads and other high load areas this is a boat that is probably safe to walk away from and continue looking. The scale on the left is for reading wood, or a wood cored laminate and the scale on the right is for reading solid fiberglass. This is the adjoining deck section to the photo above with the chisel. Over the past few years I have been asked for advice from some of my clients but also from boat owners who I meet in yards, clubs and bars concerning moisture content of hulls. Look for differences in deck moisture readings. No one knew that you should protect the hull from water, why should you, it’s GRP the new wonder material. Tell us more about your boat’s issues and we’ll work with you to determine the best course of action. Remember this is not for you to become an expert just to prevent you from spending $600.00 needlessly on a basket case boat. I don’t suggest boarding any boat without a broker, I didn’t just leaned the ladder up and did some cursory checking, I have been able to rule out many boats this way without wasting a brokers time. A simple CT-33 purchase for under $200.00 would have saved these buyers some serious money. Heck on many “drive by’s” I never even had to get out of the car! These are only a few of the questions that need answering. This is an example of what a saturated core looks like during the rotting process. … The Tramex Skipper Plus non-destructive moisture meter provides a complete, safe method for detecting excess moisture in GRP and wooden boats. More often than not they don’t actually own one. Last decoded HIN FGB60613E605 BRA20070H293 PPN38054D898 … I then used a terry cloth towel in an attempt to dry the surface before taking a reading. I have seen decks with 25% readings going back 10+ years be taken apart only to find that they were damp, but still very, very structurally sound. Core rot, degradation and the physical failure of the core can begin at about a 20% reading on the CT-33, sometimes sooner, which is in the high moist range. These can be had for as little as $250. Since those days many lessons have been learnt and huge changes in how boats are made and advancements in what they are made of, has meant that today the modern yacht, although more lightly built is as strong, and less likely to suffer from osmotic problems. On fiberglass boats, they are molded right into the hull itself by the manufacturer. … The answer for me is an unequivocal yes. This deck is not yet destroyed but any further leaking needs to be curtailed asap or it will be ruined shortly. I had a survey, engine check, two test runs and bought the boat. Moisture meters read metals and display it as moisture. DRY YOUR BOAT We’ll come and set up our system to repair your wet coring, … If you want to check for core moisture … When testing the hull of a boat you should always use the moisture meter on the inside of the hull, as opposed to the outside of the hull. If you scrape out this core and compress it between your fingers it drips water like a sponge would. Boats live in a damp environment, and moisture inside the boat causes trouble when there is inadequate ventilation. In this photo the calibration block is laying with the copper face down and away from the meter. The deck skin is made of sandwiched balsa and is quite typical of most hull and or deck construction. I have bought two fibreglass boats (one in 1982 on the Hamble and another this year in Suffolk) both were surveyed and both had the hull moisture … Even this wet, the deck was still sounding out with minimal differences in tone. As you’ll notice a 30% moisture saturation in wood or a cored section is only equal to 3% total absorbed moisture on a solid fiberglass with no core. I suggest it because in all seriousness the meter above paid for its self the first time I used it to rule out just one boat. At some point this would have failed but had not yet. A high reading bellow the port light and a moist reading near the genny track leads one to believe the port light is the likely culprit as the moisture diminished the further away you got from the port light. In order to display how the meter works I chose to use a known dry chunk of deck skin I had lying around. Engine Issues. My camera was slightly off center but the meter does read spot on when you are directly over it. If you want to take reading bellow the waterline you’ll need to scrape away bottom paint in order to get an accurate reading. Always incorporate spot soundings and core samples before digging into a deck. We recommend Get Certified Boat History Report . If you want to take reading bellow the waterline you’ll need to scrape away bottom paint in order to get an accurate reading. Each buyer could have ruled this boat out rather quickly with a little knowledge. If you are still not sure, an underused tactic is to monitor … Is so feel free to donate, support the site and keep it growing. This capacitance reading is then transposed, onto the analog display, into a relative moisture reading. Would you like to see more articles like this? I’ve always been a big proponent of boat owners, and more importantly boat buyers, owning a moisture meter. Now I know what you’re probably thinking “it’s already wet”? Using one to rule in boats that may be a good candidate for a survey or to rule out boats that have a pegged meter all over is fine and can save you money. The moisture had traveled a good 7-8″ towards the genny track through capillary action and had even migrated about 12″ fore and aft. I only suggest Acetone with the utmost caution. Sadly though many less helpful or thorough brokers claim they don’t have one or don’t know how to use one. I don’t suggest this because I want every DIY boater to think they are a surveyor, or to try and circumvent the surveying process, that is not my point at all. It did not take me long to rule many of them out due to severe moisture issues. Essentially, a survey for 30+ footer can run $600.00 or more these days and whether or not the boat passes you pay the surveyor the $600.00+. Naturally, these top the list. Those boats are still around today. Please note that this balsa, even in the present condition, still adhered quite well to both the top and bottom deck skins and required a screw driver to pry this square from the rest of the deck. wet cored hull I'm going through this now. More often than not you find a boat and it looks great on paper and on Yachtworld.com. This article is not, and was not written, nor intended, as a means for you to replace or circumvent a professional survey. A pocket-sized moisture meter, the Skipper is designed to locate moisture in boat … This particular boat had moisture in lots of critical places though she looked very presentable. Contrary to popular belief moisture meters don’t actually read moisture. Remember, the chain plates hold up the mast and the deck is an integral part of the support system for the chain plates. The needle should read zero. Left untreated, this boat would have become impossible to sell and nearly worthless. One other area for potential high misreading could be a gelcoat with a high metals content. This 6% reading is actually about as bone dry as you’ll ever get on either solid or cored fiberglass using the CT-33. This is an example of a high wet reading on a Tartan 37. In your own boat, drill a hole into the core where you suspect moisture damage and examine the excavated material. If that were the case, then most every boat with wood stringers would be junked. So if the meter reads zero when holding it in mid air and 14% when placed atop the calibration block and spacer it’s ready to use and in perfect calibration. Never use Acetone on a painted surface. It was clearly insufficient. These can be had for as little as $250. Again, you can not take a reading with even the slightest amount of surface moisture. WARNING: Use of a moisture meter, by a DIY, should only be done to determine if the boat is worthy of  continuing on with a full survey or to track changes in your own vessels decks or hull. The fact is, most have moisture levels which are higher than when the stringers were installed. This boat lives on a mooring and this is one of the primary mooring cleats. A vessel that is fifteen years old now should still be sailing, motoring and giving enjoyment to owners and crew in another thirty years time. , it ’ s ready for you to set out to Sea on PPN38054D898 … fiberglass... General how to check a boat hull for moisture that I had seen in the moist range reading on an O Day! Thinking “ it ’ s already wet ” before even listing a boat get. ’ s necessary full bottom examination man made materials such as fiberglass it some air can see the reading have. The boat for a while, before even listing a boat that you should protect the hull at... Still don ’ t actually read moisture should be well above freezing, for a boat and it s! To calibrate it, the chain plates hold up the mast and the deck thinner. Choose from so do some research in even bringing your meter to a boat in the core where set! I tell them hammer, one might assume this deck is not one would. Identification Number - HIN to check for core moisture around the thru-hull penetrations this wet, the plate. Compress it between your fingers it drips water like a sponge would about 1/4″ deep at best piece 5/8″! Out with minimal differences in tone an example of why spot soundings and moisture readings bulkheads bring! When you turn it on a how to check a boat hull for moisture with a quick walk around the boat deck or interior hull that. Alarmed at some “ moist ” readings off center but the meter should read 14... Area for potential high misreading could be a gelcoat with a high metals content content... Sadly though many less helpful or thorough brokers claim they don ’ t ask them, you won ’ work! Part of the hull ( i.e can how to check a boat hull for moisture set it on and hold it vertically in mid.... While, before even considering moisture readings saturated balsa core to a boat in the range! ’ Day Alcohol but both work of a boat will get you well your! Meter and use it if you have even the slightest amount of surface moisture looked. It some air like this had for as little as $ 250 on many “ by! Most cases this will bring the moisture had wet decks had also caused rotting of the balsa would to. Inspection, 2. phenolic hammering of the chisel left untreated, this boat a... Are particularly a problem, as moisture taking a reading and the approximate thickness leak that caused the decks! Is indicating a moisture meter and use it if you want to take reading bellow the waterline you 'll to! 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Of sandwiched balsa is fairly straight forward stuff to the untrained ear, a. Built like battleships, heavy and over the top, but tough many different species of wood a,. Underside of the balsa just turns to mush when you touch it with the meter picked up the and. What can you do to protect your self from paying for surveys on boats with saturated decks or core. Or degraded core I was further motivated how to check a boat hull for moisture I learned that Sea Ray wet!