Went to Vic to look at a couple of Clubmans this past weekend after going to Brisbane the weekend before.
Took my trusty moisture meter with me on all occasions and found a wide variance of results.
One boat (now sold) had a definite wet patch behind the centerboard casing back towards the transom about 2 SQ metres which of course is the lowest point of the boat. The meter was in the red and screaming and I think this is above 50% on the digital readout although the displayed value of the digital readout is not as important as the relative values taken from areas assumed to be dry above the waterline vs other areas suspected to be wet.

Of the other two (Vic) boats one has less than 10% in the same position and the other 26% neither of which is quite into the orange caution area on the meter although of course the meter is not fiberglass specific much less thickness calibrated or calibrated for balsa cores. Topsides read 5% or less.

The Achilles heel for these boats as far as moisture intrusion into the hull is concerned seems to be the cutout for the outboard as what happens is people bang the leg against the cut out and chip it thereby exposing the balsa core. Most have also had the cutouts expanded to accommodate replacement outboards with varying standards of DIY replacement sealing with epoxy or whatever.
The moisture meter which I have below is only $50 on eBay and I would suggest well worth it before incurring the cost of a survey on any boat. Of course deck and bulkhead readings near chainplates and other intrusions are important too.

Still don't have a boat and getting a bit over it as there is very little time now left for my school holiday window in July.

I would be very dubious of the accuracy of a $50 pinless meter from ebay

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cammd said..
I would be very dubious of the accuracy of a $50 pinless meter from ebay

Money Well Spent Jules..
I hope you find a suitable boat for July.

Cheers
.

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cammd said..
I would be very dubious of the accuracy of a $50 pinless meter from ebay

The percentage read out doesn't matter it's just the relativities between the good areas and the bad areas. I've also tried it out on known damp things like timber at home that is been outside but is partially dried and also all over my own boat. All that is necessary is that it is consistent.

The reading on my main bulkhead rises a bit at the top of the bulkhead right next to the chain plate where I know it was at one time leaking. Putting your finger in front of it of course gives near 100% reading. I have tried it on known damp things and known dry things and everything in between
I have complete confidence in what I am using it for. Furthermore I read a few tests on various cheapie metres before I bought it and this one fared quite well.

Pins are not necessary or desirable even on expensive meters. These meters work on different a different principle. They are not just measuring the contact surface between two pins and obviously I don't want to hammer the pins into the balsa core.

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BeamReach said..


Money Well Spent Jules..
I hope you find a suitable boat for July.

Cheers
.

Yes unfortunately I think time has pretty much run out now as all the boats would require a few modifications. One of the boats (and trailer) was really nice but significantly overpriced with dodgy looking outboard absolutely no cruising inclusions like fridge, toilet, furler, solar... The rest however looked like it just come out of the factory. It was also the one with elevated moisture but not shall we say terrible. Still a worry however for a boat that has probably only spent 0.1% of it's life in the water and the rest in a shed.
Sitting on my NS38 at the moment thinking how damn nice it is :)

Good article on the subject here:
www.pcmarinesurveys.com/Moisture%20meter%20mythology.htm

Note the part in the screenshot for the cheapie meter sceptics.

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julesmoto said..
Good article on the subject here:
www.pcmarinesurveys.com/Moisture%20meter%20mythology.htm

Good article Jules...

I think you need to do boat surveys as a Profession!
Lol