Hull moisture

[ian]

Hi,
I am considering buying a Hurley 22, it will be my first boat apart from a couple of years dinghy sailing.The advertisment I saw the boat in says that there is some moisture in the hull but no blistering, how much of a problem is this likely to be?
Would a survey be the right way to go, bearing in mind the asking price is below£2000

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[ex-Gladys]

The issue I discovered is not one of how much the boat is worth but how much it may cost to put right. I paid £350 for a survey that found £3000 of work on a £6500 boat... Very helpful in making the decision!

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[aod]

A basic hull survey shouldn't cost you very much at all. (I just payed £200)
However it may well yield areas of concern which would in one way afford you bargaining for the repairs or indeed tell you if it's knackered.

It may well be that it's just been in the water for a year or two and a few months on the hard will dry it out but conversely there may be reasons that it's so wet which warrant extensive repairs.

You will probably never know without a survey.

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[Guest]

A good subject

The arguments that run on this 'fuel' are endless.

I conduct boat surveys when in UK .... as I am owner and Principle Surveyor of International Marine Survey company.

Now I use various meters depending on where and what I am checking. The decision as to action from what they tell is based on advise or reccommendations given to client. History and location of craft are all factors.

To cross one path - drying out of hulls by lifting out is not so much deep osmosis or moisture - but can be due to many other factors ... moisture behind a/f layers, wicked areas drying etc. Deep seated moisture will not normally come out unless 'driven out'.

Many boats - my own included are carrying excess moisture, but carry on for years - well past their 'sell-by date' !! I will not touch mine unless it blisters or becomes an issue to sell - then it will be probably discussed with buyer.

I would suggest that you consider which survey that you need and inform the Surveyor accordingly :

a) For gaining Insurance cover
b) Pre-purchase survey.

The two are NOT the same - as a pre-purchase is normally worded to assist the client to attain a good price to buy at. This may be highlighting problems ... such as the high moisture you mention..... a survey you do NOT want to the Insurance Co., the Insurance Cover one is a general appraisal of the boat to assess risk for the Insurance cover.... often not detailing too deeply any areas that would be used to redce sellers price ...... if you understand my jist.

I am not suggesting that either is wrong or dis-honest, just illustrating the difference. So be careful what you ask for in your survey and what TYPE. Be specific.

Insurance cover survey should be the less costly option - but that depends on who you use. It may answer what you need as they must look reasonably carefully.

Pre-purchase survey - can be expensive, but may be worthwhile if you have doubts that need confirmation etc.

Sorry if I have added to your dilemna but thought you should know.

On a Hurley 22 ......... typical is high moisture, possible damp bulkhead ends where fastened to hull, chain plates and other fastenings may be 'creeping' loose and possibly in need of refastening, sails if original will most likely be tired !, deck-seal should be studied, hatches and windows often leak ...... but generaly they are a good sound boat and should have many more years left in it ...... good husbandry and away you go.

The price you quote reflects the lack of headroom, the old style and maybe a small consideration for the hull moisture. Sorry to all Hurley owners out there !!!

Final comment - if you like it, get some others to look it over as well - maybe you don't need a surveyor if you have experienced club friends / people to help you ? See what the consensus is.

Good Luck


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Evadne]

Re: A good subject

That was an informative answer, Nigel. As the owner of an old grp boat that's been epoxied below the waterline I take a keen interest in the subject. I've had a few surveys over the years for insurance purposes and the one constant has been a high moisture reading and the surveyor telling me that it's common on older boats, not necessarily anything to worry about and highly variable anyway. It depends, for instance on whether you have just slipped the boat or she has been out all winter. I distinctly recall one surveyor finding a particularly high reading on the hull then showing me how it corresponded to the position of a plywood bulkhead. I'm not sure you can draw anything from a moisture reading alone, I'd expect a hull sounding to show up areas of concern better. I've certainly seen enough to know that taking a few moisture meter readings will not constitute a survey!

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[Guest]

Silhouette survey .....

I will not name the client - for obvious reasons, but if he reads this - I don't think he'll mind the data being passed.

I was asked to check out a Silhouette on its trailer before it was transferred to new home. It was a later GRP version. I checked the hull first as normal for distortion and then the meter came out. We had a large range of readings running in vertical and horizontal bands ....... very intriguing. Careful note was made of areas and after hull-deck joint etc. etc. - we proceeded inside. I took my less sensitive meter that I use for leak finding etc. I used this on areas of bulkheads etc. and identified various damp areas.

It was then told me the boat had suffered rain-fill some years previous when a hatch was open. The owner had dried out the interior but I found that all bulkhead to hull joints were still retaining moisture. The meter had picked up all to a very high precise definition. The other meter confirmed all internal bulkheads as the reason.

The boat was found to be in very good condition and this was only area of concern .........

So when you have a few readings - they may be due to various reasons ..... other than pure hull.

Note that on many hulls particularly where deep strata etc. and in this case - a Sovereign would have problem picking it up to such precision. That is MY opinion and I expect that many that still insist on using one will argue .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !