High Moisture Meter Readings in Deck Around Shrouds

[Papakina]

Looking at a boat to buy. Taking my little hammer and moisture meter I go tap tapping and slide sliding to decide whether to go the next step of making an offer and getting a survey. Most of the deck and cabin top ring well and read 10 to 12%. Around the shrouds, in a couple of cases the hammer does not ring and I get readings of 22 to 30%. This also happens on the starboard leg of the pulpit. The boat is almost 39 years old. Should I -
1) run away
2) make a reasonable offer and get a survey
3) make a low ball offer and get a survey.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Papakina

Looking at a boat to buy. Taking my little hammer and moisture meter I go tap tapping and slide sliding to decide whether to go the next step of making an offer and getting a survey. Most of the deck and cabin top ring well and read 10 to 12%. Around the shrouds, in a couple of cases the hammer does not ring and I get readings of 22 to 30%. This also happens on the starboard leg of the pulpit. The boat is almost 39 years old. Should I -
1) run away
2) make a reasonable offer and get a survey
3) make a low ball offer and get a survey.

Thanks for your thoughts.

2. Make a reasonable offer subject to survey. Save your lowball offer for after the survey. They will be more likely to come down then. 30% relative is pretty high, there will be some recoring to do.