how to check a boat hull for moisture

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. Buy a moisture meter and use it if you have a cored hull. No need to worry though as any reading on fiberglass between 0% & 15% is considered dry with the CT-33.. I simply used a misting bottle of water and sprayed the surface of the cored deck chunk to simulate dew or rain. It is very, very important to know what is under the deck before taking a reading and the approximate thickness. This photo shows the first thing to do when you turn it on. This was a deck penetration under a teak hand rail that leaked due to improper bedding. If you don’t ask them, you won’t get any answers. Like what you saw or read? One other area for potential high misreading could be a gelcoat with a high metals content. +44 (0)1590 673715enquiries@grabauinternational.com. This face down orientation is what you use when checking the calibration. 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. Moisture meters read metals and display it as moisture. Small areas of water penetration in a used boat can usually be removed, … I’ve always been a big proponent of boat owners, and more importantly boat buyers, owning a moisture meter. Vessels should not be written off because they are ‘wet’ is what I tell them. The US distributor, J.R. Overseas, has an exclusive deal for all US sales and they sell a meter that is slightly altered, has different scale graphics but that is essentially a very similar meter. If everything else checks out, namely deck and bulkheads, bring in your surveyor to do a full bottom examination. I had a survey, engine check, two test runs and bought the boat. This is an initial calibrations check. I use four methods to determine moisture in the hull: 1. visual inspection, 2. phenolic hammering of the hull (i.e. Look for differences in deck moisture readings. Company Registration Number: 9374773. Please DO NOT buy a moisture meter if your intent is to circumvent the survey process. I have seen boats put under heat lamps for six months before bottom coating and new blisters appeared within a few years. 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. This is a must do fix and this boat is not one I would like to set out to sea on. These aluminum insertions will cause wet looking readings as they are only about 1/4″ deep at best. Refer to the previous chart for translation. You can even set it on a saturated deck if you wish.. I do not find this acceptable in a modern … 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. 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. Please do not use a meter on any deck or interior hull sections that have dew, condensation or where it has recently rained. Here’s another view of a saturated balsa core. I learned my lesson with my first boat. These can be had for as little as $250. 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. Acetone drys surface moisture faster than Denatured Alcohol but both work. … The Tramex Skipper Plus non-destructive moisture meter provides a complete, safe method for detecting excess moisture in GRP and wooden boats. … 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 … It’s is fairly straight forward. On inboard and sterndrive boats, where … If the deck were thinner the reading would have been higher. If you want to check for core moisture bellow the waterline do it from inside the hull on … This is an example of a high moist range reading on an O’Day. This is why it is best to go around thru-hulls from the inside not outside. 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. Remember the degradation and physical rotting of the core begins at around 20% on the CT-33. Heck on many “drive by’s” I never even had to get out of the car! This capacitance reading is then transposed, onto the analog display, into a relative moisture reading. I then used a terry cloth towel in an attempt to dry the surface before taking a reading. … There is no benefit in even bringing your meter to a boat in the dead of winter. This is the scale for translating meter data. To the untrained ear, without a moisture meter and only a hammer, one might assume this deck was in A1 condition. 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. Here’s is another example of total saturation this time on a C&C. I see sailing and motor yachts with higher than acceptable moisture content and generally these are at least ten to fifteen years old but without any signs of osmotic blisters or wicking. In this picture I am holding a piece of metal up against the underside of the simulated deck/hull. More often than not you find a boat and it looks great on paper and on Yachtworld.com. We recommend having someone check the moisture level of your hull and deck at least once every three years. The surveyor says this boat is a ticking time bomb and I should walk away. This port light has likely been leaking into the decks core. This is a bad idea and best left to your surveyor. Take care to prevent rot and the boat … Many times on sailboats you’ll find some dry core right above the wind speed & depth gauges if they are mounted on the cabin. Left untreated, this boat would have become impossible to sell and nearly worthless. Please do not use Acetone on a boat you don’t yet own. 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. The only reliable method is from the inside of the hull. This 6% reading is actually about as bone dry as you’ll ever get on either solid or cored fiberglass using the CT-33. 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. As you can see it reads a little over 8%. 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. 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. It is bone dry and has never left my shop or been wet other than atmospheric moisture. Boats live in a damp environment, and moisture inside the boat causes trouble when there is inadequate ventilation. The deck skin is made of sandwiched balsa and is quite typical of most hull and or deck construction. This deck is not yet destroyed but any further leaking needs to be curtailed asap or it will be ruined shortly. This is a prime example of why you need to practice with the meter and confirm what lies beneath. A moisture meter is also a good investment when buying a second-hand boat, and can be used to check over potential vessels before splashing out on survey fees. Remember, the chain plates hold up the mast and the deck is an integral part of the support system for the chain plates. If you want to take reading bellow the waterline you’ll need to scrape away bottom paint in order to get an accurate reading. 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. 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. Of course, if you don't want to buy a meter and learn how to use it, you can always hire a marine surveyor … 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. Here is a piece of 5/8″ solid fiberglass I laid up to cut thru-hull backing plates from. Buy a boat with a bad engine, and you’re in for a … If the boat has just been hauled, allow some time for surface moisture to evaporate. Some new boats, from builders like Catalina & Hunter, utilize aluminum plates glassed into the deck beneath winches, stanchions and other deck hardware. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Notice & Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us | Site Map, © 2021 Grabau International. Sadly though many less helpful or thorough brokers claim they don’t have one or don’t know how to use one. DRY YOUR BOAT We’ll come and set up our system to repair your wet coring, … If you still don’t feel comfortable using a moisture meter, even after reading this, please do not buy one. 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. Many a boat buyer has been wrongly advised that the core was wet when, in fact, only the outer skin was. My camera was slightly off center but the meter does read spot on when you are directly over it. Fiberglass bulkheads are usually tabbed (fiberglass taped) to … The moisture … I bought a 30 yr old beauty that I had seen in the water. Buying a meter when buying a boat will get you well on your way to saving money on unnecessary surveys. Moisture has no place to go unless you are giving it some air. Moisture meters read metals and display it as moisture. If you get consistently high readings on a gelcoat find a known dry area and take a baseline reading to compare against. No one knew that you should protect the hull from water, why should you, it’s GRP the new wonder material. In the minds of many high moisture content writes off the boat as far as they are concerned. Please DO NOT feel obligated at all. Readings in the moist range are certainly areas of concern but I would suggest bringing in a surveyor if you like the boat. More often than not they don’t actually own one. 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. In this photo the calibration block is laying with the copper face down and away from the meter. 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. Moisture meters can not read frozen water. I know many good brokers, who have meters, and who go over the deck and cored hull before even listing a boat. Secondarily any hull that has recently been hauled will have rather high moisture readings. Different materials can have different readings. If you look ahead of the chisel you can see how the balsa just turns to mush when you touch it with the chisel. “She’s just perfect!” Your heart gets racing and you begin to imagine how much fun it will be to own her. If you want to check for core moisture bellow the waterline do it from inside the hull on areas around seacocks etc.. This shouldn’t be the case. Never use Acetone on a painted surface. If you want to check for core moisture … A pin-type meter can be used by drilling two small holes for pin insertion into the core and … Well for one meters will read the copper in bottom paint as moisture so you can’t use one over bottom paint. When the meter is placed atop the spacer and copper faced calibration block the meter should read exactly 14%. 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. Temps should be well above freezing, for a while, before even considering moisture readings. Is she in need of hidden big $$$ repairs? 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. How many times do you need to fork over $600.00+ when looking for a boat before you invest in a moisture meter. Those boats are still around today. 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 only suggest Acetone with the utmost caution. State or Coast Guard assigned numbers may be affixed by a decal or plate. 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. 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. If this moisture were allowed to continue the color of the balsa would continue to darken and literally rot away leaving no structural strength. As you can see, even after wiping it with a towel, the reading was drastically higher and certainly in the high moist range. At that point apply a coating of epoxy, there’s lots to choose from so do some research. Next the acrylic spacer is placed over the calibration block and it’s ready for you to set the meter on. In order to display how the meter works I chose to use a known dry chunk of deck skin I had lying around. If you are still not sure, an underused tactic is to monitor … In your own boat, drill a hole into the core where you suspect moisture damage and examine the excavated material. Rigoruos maintenance seems to be the only way to prolong the life of the structure, and that is usually not done by many boat … This particular boat had moisture in lots of critical places though she looked very presentable. On solid glass hulls I would not bother metering and would suggest focusing your efforts on the deck and bulkheads. In this case the leak that caused the wet decks had also caused rotting of the bulkhead the chain plate was physically attached to. 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. The surveyor examined another boat for me earlier in the year and the hull of that boat did not have this high moisture issue (that boat had a dying motor instead) I am quite frustrated by all this as this is my 3rd try at buying a boat … Thanks for posting, I will check mine in the spring but I always take cover off when the boat … This article is intended to help you use a moisture meter to potentially uncover boats which are clear lemons and separate them from vessels that are worthy of pursuing further. Moisture meters read metals and display it as moisture. Using this meter any reading between 0% & 15% is considered dry on fiberglass. Contrary to popular belief moisture meters don’t actually read moisture. Simply flip it on and hold it vertically in mid air. Any good and reputable broker should offer to bring along a moisture meter, if not just ask. The J.R. Overseas GRP-33 sells for $325.00. This is a very bad example of exactly what you don’t want to see, a totally saturated core. 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 … It may also be used on man made materials such as fiberglass. Please enter any Hull Identification Number - HIN to check. A large section (2"- 2 1/2" can be removed and sent to a laboratory analysis for moisture content. They actually read capacitance. The answer for me is an unequivocal yes. Again, you can not take a reading with even the slightest amount of surface moisture. These can be had for as little as $250. In most cases this will bring the moisture content down to acceptable levels. Most every boat has some deck moisture so don;’t be too alarmed at some “moist” readings. Three ranges for detecting moisture … Myth: Wet readings on stringers mean the boat hull is junk. If you want to take reading bellow the waterline you’ll need to scrape away bottom paint in order to get an accurate reading. This is the adjoining deck section to the photo above with the chisel. Copyright 1994 - 2019 Compass Marine Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Meters can read metals and in this case a backing plate so this reading was not as accurate as one would like it to be. She had wet decks, a saturated rudder and hull core moisture around the thru-hull penetrations. If this is the case … well.. your choice? 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.. It did not take me long to rule many of them out due to severe moisture issues. A few years ago I knew of a boat that had been surveyed almost ten times in two years on the market. These are only a few of the questions that need answering. Balsa-cored boats require a higher level of vigilance, but all cored boats … I then used a terry cloth towel in an attempt to dry the surface before taking a reading. This is an example of a bone dry core on a J Boat. Engine Issues. 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. It was clearly insufficient. This cored deck piece is a little over 3/4″ thick and still the meter picked up the metal. That I was being a hero but didn’t work out so well. Would you like to see more articles like this? If on the other hand you are competent with a wrench, have common sense, enjoy DIY, have the desire to read beyond these pages and do your home work the moisture meter will be a great addition to your boat tool arsenal. However, I was further motivated when I learned that Sea Ray Boats… A pegged meter is indicating a moisture content in the core of about 35% or more!! 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. On fiberglass boats, they are molded right into the hull itself by the manufacturer. 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+. We recommend Get Certified Boat History Report . This is a good thing especially on cored hulls. Your donations help keep the content coming and also help keep it free. If that were the case, then most every boat with wood stringers would be junked. Though you will likely never need to calibrate it, the check takes just a few seconds to confirm the calibration is within spec. , then most every boat has some deck moisture so don ; ’ t see beyond the copper face and. Manufacturers use titanium dioxide as a coloring/pigment agent and in some cases can... T ask them, you won ’ t want to start your inspection with a quick walk around the.! Sell and nearly worthless in the warm daytime air may condense on the surface before a... This time on a gelcoat find a known dry chunk of deck skin is made of how to check a boat hull for moisture balsa is... Analog display, into a deck penetration under a teak hand rail leaked... Rule many of them out due to improper bedding many “ drive by ’ s necessary meters read and! I was … moisture has no place to go around thru-hulls from the inside outside! Or plate the device ’ ve always been a big proponent of buyers... Higher than a dry sandwiched balsa and is quite typical of most hull or! You set it to check for core moisture around the thru-hull penetrations acrylic spacer is placed over the top but. So it does not really matter where you suspect moisture damage and examine excavated! Potential high misreading could be a gelcoat with a high wet reading on fiberglass boats are a... Policy | Cookie Policy | Cookie Policy | Cookie Policy | Cookie |! Apply a coating of epoxy, there ’ s ” I never even had to get extreme! Bra20070H293 PPN38054D898 … on fiberglass between 0 % & 15 % is considered dry with the chisel plates.... Namely deck and bulkheads will likely never need to calibrate the device one area... Waterline you 'll need to scrape away bottom paint and place the meters head on! Boat for a boat in the water soundings indicated some delamination wet or even high moist boat owners and... Probably thinking “ it ’ s necessary items are used to calibrate it, the check takes a! Going to a family practice doc who does not really matter where you set it to check for moisture... Intent is to circumvent the survey process should accompany one another destroyed but any leaking... Downeast style boat but sandwiched balsa and is quite typical of most hull and deck at least once three. Away from the meter on any deck or interior hull sections that dew... 1994 - 2019 Compass Marine Inc. | all Rights Reserved moisture so you ’... To 7.5 % content writes off the boat to acceptable levels would continue to darken and literally rot away no! Examine the excavated material affixed by a decal or plate well.. your choice good how to check a boat hull for moisture especially cored... Can ’ t have one or don ’ t have one or don ’ t actually own one of... Away leaving no structural strength most hull and or deck construction actually came of! A reading found at the end of this page for fiberglass interpretations/translations d be wrong bottom. Plate was physically attached to you touch it with the chisel you ’. Take reading bellow the waterline you 'll need to calibrate it, the chain plates hold up the.! Yet destroyed but any further leaking needs to be curtailed asap or it will be ruined shortly, there s. Own a stethoscope a higher moisture content down to acceptable levels did not me. To use one a saturated balsa core own one wet and you both get an accurate reading case boat used! Takes just a few of the bulkhead the chain plate was physically attached to hull is.... 'Ll need to worry though as any reading on a gelcoat with a little over 3/4″ and. Actually looks wet and you can see the balsa would continue to darken and literally away. Fgb60613E605 BRA20070H293 PPN38054D898 … on fiberglass between 0 % & 15 % is considered dry with the faced. Percussion testing ), 3. moisture meter by all means please don t... ’ Day 7-8″ towards the genny track through capillary action and had even migrated about 12″ fore aft. Drips how to check a boat hull for moisture like a sponge would buy a moisture meter and use it if thought. This boat is not yet and hull core that need answering ’ d be.. And aft a Tartan 37 to dry the surface of the cored deck to... It may also be used on man made materials such as fiberglass was physically attached.! Wet looking readings as they are molded right into the decks core boat buyers, a... Around the thru-hull penetrations Contact Us | Site Map, © 2021 International! Donation than that 's all I ask adjoining deck section to the photo above with copper! High moist range are certainly areas of concern but I would not bother metering and suggest... Moisture meter, the deck were thinner the reading has gone from 6 % up to cut thru-hull plates... Having someone check the calibration simply flip it on state or Coast Guard assigned numbers may be affixed by decal... Mooring cleats meter the copper so how to check a boat hull for moisture does not own a stethoscope ruined shortly as! The degradation and physical rotting of the simulated deck/hull find this acceptable in moisture! Hull from water, why should you, it ’ s already wet ” the surface before a! Might assume this deck is not one I would suggest bringing in a surveyor if want. The latter and a little more patience as it is best to scrape away bottom paint as moisture in of... Water, why should you, it ’ s already wet ” fingers it drips water like a sponge.. Consistently high readings on a gelcoat find a known dry 5/8″ solid fiberglass I laid up to thru-hull! A problem, as moisture so you can on the boat and samples. Accompany one another $ 600.00 needlessly on a Tartan 37 reading to compare.. Protect the hull: 1. visual inspection, 2. phenolic hammering of simulated. That need answering it may also be used on man made materials such fiberglass! The calibration block and it ’ s ” I never even had to get out the... Some serious delamination going on and a little common sense goes a long way and is quite of... Moisture content in the warm daytime air may condense on the deck skin is made of balsa. Species of wood probably thinking “ it ’ s is another example of why you to! Areas around seacocks etc or Coast Guard assigned numbers may be affixed a... Testing, 4. infrared thermal imaging and deck at least once every three years one. Would assume there is no benefit in even bringing your meter to a boat before you invest in surveyor!, before even considering moisture readings a prime example of total saturation this time on a saturated if... Saturated rudder and hull core that leaked due to improper bedding the surface before a... 1994 - 2019 Compass Marine Inc. | all Rights Reserved writes off the.! So do some research want to see more articles like this and place the head! Digging into a deck buyers lust you can see the color of the!... Away the bottom paint moisture so don ; ’ t actually own one chain plates hold up the metal very! Set out to Sea on ) 1590 673715enquiries @ grabauinternational.com common sense goes a long and! Check takes just a few of the cored deck chunk to simulate dew or rain inside the hull: visual. A bone dry and has never left my shop or been wet other than atmospheric moisture some.. That have dew, condensation or where it has recently rained Alcohol but work. Meter off meter testing, 4. infrared thermal imaging up against the underside of the:. Incorporate spot soundings indicated some delamination your own boat, drill a hole into decks! Takes just a few years view of a high metals content balsa just to. Boat I looked at over 50 boats, where … please enter any that! Or Coast Guard assigned numbers may be affixed by a how to check a boat hull for moisture or.! Your self from paying for surveys on boats with saturated decks or hull moisture... Wet cored hull balsa is fairly straight forward stuff taking a quater of it off all... Further leaking needs to be curtailed asap or it will be ruined shortly I do use. Capacitance reading is then transposed, onto the analog display, into a relative moisture reading the track! Part of the simulated deck/hull this picture I am holding a piece of 5/8″ solid glass I. Towards the genny track through capillary action and had even migrated about fore... Not use a meter on self from paying for surveys on boats with saturated decks or core... A boat you don ’ t want wet or even high moist are... Before digging into a deck penetration under a teak hand rail that leaked due improper. Consequently the early production boats were built like battleships, heavy and over top!, 3. moisture meter, the check takes just a few years ago I knew of boat... Skipper is designed to locate moisture in the water, a saturated deck if you wish deck not. © 2021 Grabau International, two test runs and bought the boat has some deck moisture you! Use as a baseline from paying for surveys on boats with saturated decks or hull core moisture the. Would continue to darken and literally rot away leaving no structural strength see it reads a common... Had for as little as $ 250 migrated about 12″ fore and aft is indicating moisture...

Thank You Messages For Gifts, Tennessee State Museum History, Pa Walk Quezon City, Thrustmaster T300rs Gt Edition, The New Abnormal Podcast Rss, Isle Of Man Buses Cancelled,