Buying a hull thickness tester, advice please.

[Boater Sam]

Considering buying an ultrasonic tester but would like one that will work without grinding off patches of the sound epoxy.
Does anyone have a recommendation for one known to work at a sensible price please?
I have looked at GM100, very cheap from China. The specification makes no mention of coatings being a problem.
Some on ebay are very expensive but still don't mention whether coatings need to be removed.
What do the pros. use?
Sam.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a ultrasonic thickness gauge fro china but it does not compensate for coating thickness.

I looked around for one and found one made in the UL and one from the US. Both are very expensive and out of my price range for private use.

I need to look for the info again using Mr Google as I did not keep the info as it was too costly for me to consider.

I do know some one on the forum did buy one. It was GHA.

 

[penberth3]

Considering buying an ultrasonic tester but would like one that will work without grinding off patches of the sound epoxy.
Does anyone have a recommendation for one known to work at a sensible price please?
I have looked at GM100, very cheap from China. The specification makes no mention of coatings being a problem.
Some on ebay are very expensive but still don't mention whether coatings need to be removed.
What do the pros. use?
Sam.

Can't help, but I thought the 'Pros' grind to bare metal.

 

[Neeves]

I have a coating thickness meter - it measures the coating thickness on top of steel, so it measures paint thickness on steel - I bought it for galvanising thickness coating.

If this is of interest, to anyone, I'll dig out the source. Its from China and the same bit of kit is used by galvanisers here (so if they are happy - I'm not going to argue with them)

I don't think it is what the OP needs.

Jonathan

 

[rogerthebodger]

Can't help, but I thought the 'Pros' grind to bare metal.

The "pros" also usd to drill a hole through the hull to measure thickness then weld it up afterwards.

I personally would not allow a o called pro to do either one. I currently have a dispute with our government maritime safety authority who state I must hire a machine to measure the thickness. I an refusing saying that if they wish to measure the hull thickness they must provide the machine

 

[rogerthebodger]

This is the 2 thickness meters I found that can measure through any coating.

TRITEX Multigauge 5750 Surveyor Thickness Gauge with Datalogging

Ultrasonic Thickness Gage - PosiTector UTG | DeFelsko

 

[Boater Sam]

This is the 2 thickness meters I found that can measure through any coating.

TRITEX Multigauge 5750 Surveyor Thickness Gauge with Datalogging

Ultrasonic Thickness Gage - PosiTector UTG | DeFelsko

Thanks for that. I was hoping for one at a lower price though, good as these seem to be.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Thanks for that. I was hoping for one at a lower price though, good as these seem to be.

Yes I was looking at one but I could not justify one at that price plus import duties VAT shipping etc

 

[pvb]

I'm struggling to imagine why anyone other than a surveyor might want a hull thickness meter...

 

[fredrussell]

I'm struggling to imagine why anyone other than a surveyor might want a hull thickness meter...

I suppose if you had just purchased an older steel boat it would be nice to know for sure if there were any thin spots. Perhaps on a cheaper boat where a survey was not considered worthwhile.

 

[pvb]

I suppose if you had just purchased an older steel boat it would be nice to know for sure if there were any thin spots. Perhaps on a cheaper boat where a survey was not considered worthwhile.

Ah, I see, it's for canal gypsies then.

 

[Graham376]

I suppose if you had just purchased an older steel boat it would be nice to know for sure if there were any thin spots. Perhaps on a cheaper boat where a survey was not considered worthwhile.

Looking at the prices, seems it's cheaper to pay a surveyor to do it. Also, would the insurers accept DIY readings?

 

[rogerthebodger]

I'm struggling to imagine why anyone other than a surveyor might want a hull thickness meter...

When I purchased my steel hull and deck to fit out I purchased a low cost coating thickness meter and a material thickness meter at the same time so I could find out what the thickness of various parts of the boat was.

The SA marine safety authority surveyor said I needed one so he could check the hull thickness every 10 years. I told him it was the the surveyor or his enplyor that must supply any equipment required.

This year it will be over 10 years and we will see if he still takes that stand, If he does we may end up in court which I know his boss will not like.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Looking at the prices, seems it's cheaper to pay a surveyor to do it. Also, would the insurers accept DIY readings?

The cost varies a lot depending on how srfiated they are

ultrasonic thickness gauge | eBay

It does seem that the price of the "through coating type" is coming down from china suppliers

Like this one

1PC Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge Tester Meter SW7 Through Paint Coating w/Software 680580407422 | eBay