On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:02:52 GMT, "Geri"
wrote:

Phew! Thanlks everyone for your responses. I can honestly say I'm now more
educated on the matter, yet still pretty indecisive on the purchase.

================================================== ====

If everything else is good, you like the boat, and the price is right,
I'd go for it. If the high readings are only on the foredeck, look
for secondary indications such as mildew, cracking, flex, crackling
noises when you walk over it, etc. If there are no secondary
indications of delamination or soft core you are probably OK, just
something to keep an eye on in the future.

Buy the boat. If it doesnt have blisters after 18 yrs, it probably
wont get them. Blisters are only cosmetic nearly all the time anyway.
Blister repair, even the gelcoat peeling type is a great scam for boat
yards and rarely solves anything. If you are worried, please show me
one documented case of hull failure from simple osmotic blistering. It
simply doesnt happen.

Think about it... unless the hull has been out of the water for some time,
it's probably wet when pulled during the survey! I agree, these things are
very inexact and more art than science. I did have significant blistering on
my hull... did the whole peel and dry with hotvac thing. We took LOTS of
meter readings with different meters in the same place, even oven dried core
samples, etc. Meter readings should only be used to measure relative
differences, as none that I could tell gave an absolute measurement. Also
any metal in the hull or nearby makes the readings go high.

--


Keith
__
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Marley" wrote in message
...

Believe it or not, MANY surveyors frequently have no clue that this is
the case.


At a seminarduring our local boat show, the speaker, who is president of
an
international surveyors association, said the moisture meter is probably
the
last thing he uses during a survey.

Here are a bunch of articles on blistering and repairs (if needed).
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm
http://www.marinesurvey.com/yacht/BlisterRepairFail.htm
http://www.hotvac.com/
http://www.osmosisinfo.com/
http://www.daviscoltd.com/nams/Docum...er_Report.html

--


Keith
__
The smoothness of your docking varies inversely with the number of people
watching.
"Geri @earthlink.net" izmackdelete wrote in message
nk.net...
Phew! Thanlks everyone for your responses. I can honestly say I'm now
more
educated on the matter, yet still pretty indecisive on the purchase.

Cheers!!

Geri


"Izmack" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Everyone,

We are looking at at late 80's Trojan F32 with very high moisture
readings in the hull, but zero signs of blistering either currently or
in the past. Our surveyor, who was VERY thorough, said the following:

"Bottom was found in above average condition, having no signs of
blistering,crazing or delamination. High moisture levels were noted,
ranging between 80-100 and some crusty deposits were noted, indicating
laminate hydrolysis. Recommendation to dry store vessel each winter off
season to maintain current good condition. If vessel is left overboard,
some blistering or delamination could be expected over time."

I know I'm asking for a barrage of opinions, but, considering it's a 16
year old boat and the fact we are first time boat buyers and that the
rest of the survey was above average, what do you all think? And -
will future buyers balk at resale?

Keith wrote:
Meter readings should only be used to measure relative
differences,
Absolutely, what's the controversy in this thread? (not that you're
creating it) Meters do what they purport to do, and as long as one
recognizes that it is a qualitative, relative measurement i.e. comparing
moisture presence in a portion of the hull high above the water line to
sections below -with the anti-fouling removed first of course- the
values given do provide useful information IF it's interpreted correctly.

One has to remember that a meter only measures *surface* moisture

In article , prodigal1
wrote:

Keith wrote:
Meter readings should only be used to measure relative
differences,
Absolutely, what's the controversy in this thread? (not that you're
creating it) Meters do what they purport to do, and as long as one
recognizes that it is a qualitative, relative measurement i.e. comparing
moisture presence in a portion of the hull high above the water line to
sections below -with the anti-fouling removed first of course- the
values given do provide useful information IF it's interpreted correctly.