Winter survey question

AuntB · #1 (**permalink**) 12-16-2010

I have a question about looking at or surveying boats in the winter. We want to look at a boat in frozen northern Ohio. One of my concerns about an older boat is the possibility of a wet core. Is it possible to spot a wet core in the winter? It seems like a frozen wet core would appear to be solid. So the question is can I make a fair assessment of a boat in the winter and if we like the boat, can a professional do a quality survey in the winter?

ahab211 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010

The surveyor should still be able to take a moisture reading and would better advise you. Good luck

Maine Sail · #3 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010

A good surveyor will not give you a full deck or hull assessment for moisture ingress in sub freezing temps. A bad surveyor will..

LakeSuperiorGeezer · #4 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010

A moisture meter uses capacitance to detect water. A capacitor consists of a conductor and insulator layered to together. Water is a conductor if there are any minerals in the water at all. Fiberglass is an insulator; therefore, changes in capacitance as you move the meter across the hull indicates the presence of water when the capacitance goes up. Ice is not a conductor so you cannot detect ice with a moisture meter.

AuntB · #5 (**permalink**) 12-17-2010

Thank you. Since I posted, I also spoke with my broker and he also confirmed that we would have to wait for a good weather window.

I would have never guessed that ice is not a conductor.

boatpoker · #6 (**permalink**) 12-18-2010

You've gotten good advice, wait til' spring. The link below is to a Flash I put up on my website every fall with a little more detail about surveying frozen boats.
http://www.pcmarinesurveys.com/Marin...n%20Winter.htm