I bought one of these a couple months ago, and it has saved me from having to get several surveys on boats I thought were good. Similar to what he said, I'm finding very few, actually only one (not for sale), dry boats from the 70s and 80s under $30k. Sadly, most of these boats are junk. One other point a surveyor told me - just because it's dry doesn’t mean it's solid. It could have had moisture years ago and then dried out, but left rotten wood. So you should still do the sounding test with the hammer to insure the boat is solid. I'm having a tough time finding a good sailboat😒
I like the tip. Really good idea. You mentioned getting a reading around the foot of the mast. How did you handle that? Did you just reseal the gelcoat and try to dry the damp out from inside?! Or did you do open heart surgery? Thanks again for this tip. I’ll be getting one.
"Topsides" - It's a common mistake to refer to the topsides as being the deck, cabin house, cockpit horizontal surfaces of a boat. THIS IS WRONG ! Topsides are the sides of the hull from the waterline to the gunwales as opposed to the bottom or underbody below the waterline. So many people get this wrong and it makes a big difference, especially when surveying any boat. Look it up.
bugs me too, as a yachtbuilder with 50 years exp, bugs me when people call cockpit soles floors, side decks gunnels, cabin roof, deck, and a squillion other things
Right you are. Look at Project Atticus Channel and their first Boat. After a 2 year refit they later realized they needed to replace a Bulk Head due to moisture.
Can you use this on the floor/hull of a boat while in the water. My core is only 1/2". With inner and outer skins it's between 3/4 - 1" thick and I don't have a liner. So if I put that on the floor with boat in the water, it's only 1" from water. Would this likely give a false reading? Would this work with carbon fiber skins or would they conduct and give a false reading?
Hello. Thank you for the content. I'd appreciate it if you could please give me an opinion. I bought a very similar instrument but it has four possible settings depending on the type of materials, softwood, hardwood, masonry, and drywall. Which setting would you use? I'm guessing hardwood since balsa wood is considered hard. Cheers!
I just realized that you actually refer to hardwood in your comments, so there is my answer. Maybe this could be useful for someone else as well. If someone is in BC Canada, I bought mine in Canadian tire. Very similar to the one in the video but this one is blue, and the brand is Mastercraft.
You have to be super care miss using a meter on some one's boat and condemning based on any meter alone or inexperience. How would you like it if someone with a meter but no experience using it came to your boat and did this, no doubt word would travel. This has some serious downsides you need to consider. Welcome to youtube
Just purchased one of these through your link....it was just delievred! Thanks! I'm trying to make sure I know how to use it. So, I'm reviewing your video again. At one point in the video, you said your surveyor said to use the "most sensitive" setting. But then you said to use the setting that gave you the "lowest number". At that point, you cycled through the settings and landed on the setting that registered in the red area. So, I assume the "lowest number" comment was a mistake. Is that accurate? Should I use the setting that returns the highest percentage number? Thanks so much for the clarification!
Thanks for the great explanation and demonstration!
I bought one of these a couple months ago, and it has saved me from having to get several surveys on boats I thought were good. Similar to what he said, I'm finding very few, actually only one (not for sale), dry boats from the 70s and 80s under $30k. Sadly, most of these boats are junk.
One other point a surveyor told me - just because it's dry doesn’t mean it's solid. It could have had moisture years ago and then dried out, but left rotten wood. So you should still do the sounding test with the hammer to insure the boat is solid.
I'm having a tough time finding a good sailboat😒
Ya I mean that’s the thing. Sailboats are in the water. They’re going to be wet. And they’ll likely float for 100 years wet lol.
Nice video. Great advice and also about the anti fouling paint.
Great video ! Thanks for sharing
Thanks you have a link for that meter please?
Thank you very much! So glad i watched this.
great idea.. glad i found this today.
I like the tip. Really good idea.
You mentioned getting a reading around the foot of the mast. How did you handle that?
Did you just reseal the gelcoat and try to dry the damp out from inside?! Or did you do open heart surgery?
Thanks again for this tip. I’ll be getting one.
Thanks for the tip.
I just purchased through your link but as I had an Australian Amazon account I am not sure you got the credit for the purchase.
Thank you so much! No worries, it's not about the affiliate links anyway. Just sharing our learning. Keep on sailing!
"Topsides" - It's a common mistake to refer to the topsides as being the deck, cabin house, cockpit horizontal surfaces of a boat. THIS IS WRONG ! Topsides are the sides of the hull from the waterline to the gunwales as opposed to the bottom or underbody below the waterline. So many people get this wrong and it makes a big difference, especially when surveying any boat. Look it up.
bugs me too, as a yachtbuilder with 50 years exp, bugs me when people call cockpit soles floors, side decks gunnels, cabin roof, deck, and a squillion other things
A very underestimated video about an underestimated device.
Very useful info! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for the video, great explanations :)
I’m selling my boat so looking for ways to ensure I’m selling a safe and reliable unit. The boat is aluminum. So I guess I don’t need to do this test?
Thanks, great advice, appreciate it!
Right you are. Look at Project Atticus Channel and their first Boat. After a 2 year refit they later realized they needed to replace a Bulk Head due to moisture.
Can you comment on how to differentiate moisture on the surface vs. moisture on interior?
Great tip, thanks.
What make is that device?
What is the brand of meter ?
Can you clarify, are you referring to moisture in a balsa or plywood core or can you get moisture in solid fibreglass?
Thanks! I just ordered mine. I really doubted that a $50 unit would work when the real ones are $500 plus.
Can you please send me the link, thanks
Can you use this on the floor/hull of a boat while in the water. My core is only 1/2". With inner and outer skins it's between 3/4 - 1" thick and I don't have a liner. So if I put that on the floor with boat in the water, it's only 1" from water. Would this likely give a false reading?
Would this work with carbon fiber skins or would they conduct and give a false reading?
Hello. Thank you for the content. I'd appreciate it if you could please give me an opinion. I bought a very similar instrument but it has four possible settings depending on the type of materials, softwood, hardwood, masonry, and drywall. Which setting would you use? I'm guessing hardwood since balsa wood is considered hard. Cheers!
I just realized that you actually refer to hardwood in your comments, so there is my answer. Maybe this could be useful for someone else as well. If someone is in BC Canada, I bought mine in Canadian tire. Very similar to the one in the video but this one is blue, and the brand is Mastercraft.
Huge help thanks
Brand?
I just bought this exact model today! Either a coincidence, or the algorithm knows about my amazon account.
Good info and good advice.
Question please , do you have a link for the catamaran hull cross section and dimensions details , for all types of catamaran ?
Can’t find the link.
You need to know how to use it though. It takes Surveyors years gathering experience to know they are seeing.
I am one, so I know.
Yes and No. For a First View it IS perfekt. Before buying it is a Job for a professionell...
Selling brokers make used politicians look trustworthy. Glad to know these are $50.
Non Ferrous Metal don't pick up on meter.
What it the make and model of the moisture meter?
This is the one we use: svbelleandbeast.com/product/moisture-meter/
Great tip
Does anyone know what depth does this model measure to?
The packaging says 3/4"
You have to be super care miss using a meter on some one's boat and condemning based on any meter alone or inexperience. How would you like it if someone with a meter but no experience using it came to your boat and did this, no doubt word would travel. This has some serious downsides you need to consider. Welcome to youtube
Sorry I can't find any link in the description.
Meter in video is a
General Tools MMD7NP
Cheapest insurance
This is my boat, there are many like it, but this one is mine.
Aye m8, good advice.
Thank you for taking the time to demo, including the false readings. Am cognizant of the effort involved ;~ }
Just purchased one of these through your link....it was just delievred! Thanks! I'm trying to make sure I know how to use it. So, I'm reviewing your video again. At one point in the video, you said your surveyor said to use the "most sensitive" setting. But then you said to use the setting that gave you the "lowest number". At that point, you cycled through the settings and landed on the setting that registered in the red area. So, I assume the "lowest number" comment was a mistake. Is that accurate? Should I use the setting that returns the highest percentage number? Thanks so much for the clarification!
Never heard this before; great discussion of false positives too.
Never seen a surveyor (or anybody in the boating world) use a moisture meter like THAT! $50 is a guaranteed POS