Here is an easy way to check for water in your transom

[popeyebob]

Maby everyone already knows this trick. A very easy way to test for a wet transom in a glass boat is to check it with an ohm meter.
If you use a good digital volt/ohm meter, set to read resistance, you can test between lifting rings on the transom. Since water conducts electricity, the lower the resistance reading, the wetter the wood inside. This is a good thing to try on a boat you are looking to buy, or keep a record of your boat to see if anything is leaking. Test around on new boats, and older boats to get a feel for what a normal reading is. Almost every boat will read something, as a good meter will detect any moisture, even in a new hull.Give it a try !

[H2Onut]

TOO COOL !

How about hook to 110 line to one lift eye and grap the other. :eek:

[us1]

Thats a really smart idea!

[Pete]

never thought of that before!
im going to try that


Pete

[Instigator]

Awesome idea!
Afraid to try it though:eek:
Not sure what I'll find!
Seriouslly, great idea Bob!
Gary

[Techno]

Thats one of those too easy things we always forget about.
For wood workers they sell just such a gizmo to test for moisture content in wood.

Just make sure the hull isn't Carbon graphite, it might throw the reading off a little...

[Laker]

Excellent!
Now what we need is a data base…….!
Hull type, year, and make, Transom thickness, Temp , humidity, and date of readings, Meter used and last calibration of meter. Any types of transom stiffeners or bracing.. If any are installed they should be removed for better results and consistency. If it proves accurate or consistent this type of testing could really change they way we judge transom quality.

[pyro]

Dont forget to grab a good ground with your other hand, you need to complete the circuit.

[Sorry Dog]

How about hook to 110 line to one lift eye and grap the other.

I'll have to remember to try that with my Aluminum boat. I better use 3phase 480 just to be sure....

[mxz]

What would be a bad reading?

[us1]

I like the high voltage ideas. Just boil that water right out of the transom.

[woodco]

Yeh I guess that will boil that water out :D





http://www.allisonboats.com/1Item8.jpg

[us1]

What are they paying you for that Alison add?

[DaveR]

Just a thought. If the through bolts are not stainless, any moisture in the transom will have corroded them, creating a surface oxide and an electrical isolation that will reduce your measured conductivity (increased resistance). You think it's a really good condition, and it might be really bad one. Understand here that am NO electrician, just a thought.

[woodco]

It's my new job ........... :D

Now all I have to do is sell some boats.




http://www.allisonboats.com/1Item8.jpg

[Techno]

The actual moisture meters have 2 pins set a certain distance apart. There are 2 types- sharp prongs that you stick into the wood and just contacts that touch the wood.

If your doing your transom then take that into consideration. You have no distance that is always set. The bolts may be insulated since they should be sealed.

A way to get a comparitive reading is to measure another piece of wood. Your patio deck and something inside your house. Just use the same distance. The inside, the drawer removed on a chest of drawers should have bare enough wood and won't matter if you stab it.
The wood type is going to affect the reading but this is just a ball park reading. You don't want to know the moisture content for furniture building just that the transom is dry.

While your doing this try hooking a probe to the negative of your battery and the other along the plastic between the terminals. Read volts. If you get a reading the battery plastic is conducting and needs to be cleaned.

[Talon2.5]

pretty cool idea!!! i'm not sure i want to check it though :rolleyes: