Hull moisture level

[jbastos]

Hull moisture level

Is the Tramex equipment,model Skyper Moisture Meter suitable for use on a classic timber hull? If so,what is the level suposed to be normal in a boat left out the water 2 weeks before?

 

[Poignard]

Re: Hull moisture level

If you are thinking of buying a moisture meter, I have a Tramex Skipper Moisture Meter for Timber which I have only used a couple of times and want to sell. It is in it's original packing with instruction book.

Meters for wood have two spikes whereas those for grp have pads.

 

[jbastos]

Re: Hull moisture level

Thanks for your information,can you tell me what is the correct moisture level for a mahogany planked 43 years old boat?

 

[Poignard]

Re: Hull moisture level

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...can you tell me what is the correct moisture level for a mahogany planked 43 years old boat?

[/ QUOTE ]

All I can tell you is that the Tramex Moisture Meter has a scale reading from 7 to 42%. The Green sector of the scale is from 7 to 15%, the Yellow 15 to 18% and the Red from 18 to 42%. Correction factors have to be applied depending on the species of timber and the temperature of the wood. It's all explained in the handbook but there is too much to reproduce here.

Hope this helps!

 

[oldharry]

Re: Hull moisture level

[ QUOTE ]
Is the Tramex equipment,model Skyper Moisture Meter suitable for use on a classic timber hull? If so,what is the level suposed to be normal in a boat left out the water 2 weeks before?

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? There is no 'normal' level that I know of. Moisture level after 2 weeks will depend on many things: where on the hull (above/ below waterline) ? how long she has been immersed? salt water or fresh? how well painted? and what with? what has the ambient temprature and humidity been since she came out? is she under cover or out in the open? sunny side or dark side?

The moisture content of the timber of my boat when laid up varies enormously dependent on thse and many other factors - wind chill, weather, dew levels and so on. If I need to work on the 'dark' side (she is in an East - west berth, I have to pick my weather much more carefully.

I think moisture content readings will only be relevant in a hull stored indoors in a temprature/humidity controlled environment, and even then there could be considerable variations