Moisture Meters

sandpiper10471 · Feb 16, 2013

Electrophysics.

Maine Sail · Feb 16, 2013

caguy said:
I am planning on buying a moisture meter to check my house (lathe and plaster), howerver, I will probably get more eventual use out of it on the boats.
There seems to be a larger range in price. Is it a matter of you get what you pay for or can I cheapout on this one? I haven't checked Harbor Freight yet.
Any recommendations?

You really can't cheap out on a MM for a boat because the "scale" needs to be calibrated for working on boats. Also can not be a "pin" style..

Understanding The Moisture Meter

alexco38 · Feb 16, 2013

Yes i have one of this ct33. Check the boat every fall haul out to prepare for spring work items.

Only high (20%) is on the anchor hatch. Same reading for since i bought the boat 6 years ago. Havent fix it yet but i will eventually.

I am not sure the hatch is cored. May be just thick fibre glass make the reading higher. It sounds solid.

Mainsail, how can i tell if it is wet core. Is 20% on the scale bad?

sandpiper10471 · Feb 17, 2013

The numbers do not represent percent unless you are testing wood and know the specific gravity. The numbers the meter gives you on a boat are only relative. Pick an area you know will be dry and set the meter to read about 8 or 9. Move the meter around. High numbers mean either a wet laminate or something metal underneath. Remember, antifouling is full of metals.

Merlin Clark · Feb 17, 2013

The cheap pin type works for household purposes and I have a plastic head hammer for checking out boat decks.

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 18, 2013

Before moisture meters, the old timers use to take a peice of clear cellophane or plastic and tape it completely around the edges to the hull and then come back 24 hours later. If water was seen, then you know there is moisture in the hull.

crazy dave condon

Manureva · Feb 19, 2013

Crazy Dave Condon said:
Before moisture meters, the old timers use to take a peice of clear cellophane or plastic and tape it completely around the edges to the hull and then come back 24 hours later. If water was seen, then you know there is moisture in the hull.

crazy dave condon

or it had rained in the nigth!

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 20, 2013

That was done when the piece of plastic was completely taped off all the way around and when the forecast did not call for rain. hope that answers that.

dave condon