Thoughts on moisture meters

[yobub]

Does anyone have first-hand experience using moisture meters to identify wet coring?

I'm in the market for a used, older center console, and am thinking it might be worth investing in a moisture meter to use when I'm looking at the boat to see if I can identify problems, specifically in transoms that might have water damage.

I've read many of the articles online, some talk about the value, many say moisture meters don't really work. Most of what I've read seems to be written from a point of bias, rather than being an objective opinion.

Any first-hand experience in the group?

 

[TRG]

I just had my now new to me 400db surveyed and the surveyors moisture meter seemed to align with the hull tapping.

 

[Golfman25]

Yes. I think it is well worth the investment if you own a boat and/or are buying a boat. I got one (GRP33 Plus) from these guys: http://electrophysics.on.ca/

One of the best surveyors I have seen explained it well. Most guys talk percentages -- moisture meter read xx%, moist, wet, or whatever in such and such ares. But that doesn't really tell you squat. The way he used it was for relative readings. So as he scanned a deck, he could see a change in moisture reading, and then sound the area to verify if there was an issue. He showed me on a swim platform "stringer." It was dry and sounded solid in one spot. And was wet and hollow sounding in another.

I think the biggest take away is the meter doesn't tell you if there is a problem. It gives you a basis for further exploration of a potential problem.

 

[firecadet613]

Yes. I think it is well worth the investment if you own a boat and/or are buying a boat. I got one (GRP33 Plus) from these guys: http://electrophysics.on.ca/

One of the best surveyors I have seen explained it well. Most guys talk percentages -- moisture meter read xx%, moist, wet, or whatever in such and such ares. But that doesn't really tell you squat. The way he used it was for relative readings. So as he scanned a deck, he could see a change in moisture reading, and then sound the area to verify if there was an issue. He showed me on a swim platform "stringer." It was dry and sounded solid in one spot. And was wet and hollow sounding in another.

I think the biggest take away is the meter doesn't tell you if there is a problem. It gives you a basis for further exploration of a potential problem.

A good friend of mine bought one a few years ago when he was boat shopping and @Golfman25 is exactly correct. Every boat is wet, it's just a matter of how much and where. It was scary some of the readings it was putting out, when holding it up to random boats in the boat yard...