When they penetrate the wood
There is a SBO thread on
Wood in boats using the "typical moisture" meter. I, perhaps, jumped to that conclusion after noting the OP's 49' Hunter.
I have read the links and was a bit surprised by the surveyors 'Typical meter".
If...
Hull coring doesn’t begin until above the WL so it may or may not be cored there
is true. Then the surveyor must have known that is
True for the OP's boat or he is not a good surveyor.
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I did find out how my H430 hull was done. There is structural wood on my boat, but not in the bow.
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After seeing "core" materials available in those links, I am still surprise anyone could interpret a reading. This is the second tread by OP. Don noted it was a "capacitance" meter and not my "conductivity" meter.
I my opinion, a capacitance meter makes a big leap to detect moisture , without knowledge of the materials used in the hull, meter calibration block or not.
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If I think of a "stretch wrapped" boat on the hard during this years "Lake Erie" area "freezing/thaw" cycle...
It could be just a simple condensation issue, not a hull integrity issue.
Since the boat is on the hard, the hull can be inspected completely.
No Hull issue, then...
Stanchions, cleats, windlass, in my case it’s the U bolt for jack lines or pole fore guy.
Then Les has the key point.
Remember to have moisture, water in and water out. Thus a deck source seems most likely, if no hull damage.
Jim...