Tramex Skipper 5 marine moisture meter

Accessories available

Accessories for this product

Protezioni per elettrodi Tramex MESP applicate sul fondo del misuratore

Applicazione di una protezione MESP sull’elettrodo del ME5

Set accessori Tramex AP-SMM5 per Skipper 5: box di calibrazione, prolunga e custodia

Skipper 5 montato sulla prolunga E5-HBS su uno scafo, con app Tramex Meters

Box CALBOXSMM5 nel set accessori AP-SMM5 per Skipper 5

Box di controllo della calibrazione Tramex CALBOXSMM5 per Skipper 5

Prolunga telescopica Tramex E5-HBS con staffa di fissaggio

Misura su soffitto con ME5 sulla prolunga E5-HBS e lettura sull’app

Informazioni di prodotto e di utilizzo

Product details Product details

Help in choosing Help in choosing

Integration and programming Integration and programming

Calibration and repair Calibration and repair

The Tramex instrument for marine surveys: detects moisture trapped in fibreglass (GRP) and timber hulls and decks without drilling, with a dedicated scale for fibreglass, a %MC scale for timber and a reduced-depth scale (10 mm) to distinguish surface moisture from moisture in the laminate. Analogue dial, Bluetooth for the Tramex Meters app. Replaces the Skipper Plus. Made in Ireland, 1-year warranty.

What the Tramex SMM5 is

The Skipper 5 is the Tramex moisture meter designed for marine surveyors, boatyards and boat owners. Placed on the hull, it measures by impedance the moisture present in the fibreglass laminate or timber planking, inside and outside the boat, without coring or drilling. It is the instrument used to diagnose osmosis in fibreglass, to assess the condition of a teak deck or a timber hull before purchase or repainting, and to follow the drying process after treatment. The dual depth makes it possible to tell whether the moisture is in the gelcoat or in the core of the laminate.

Who it is for

Marine surveyors: pre-purchase and insurance surveys, osmosis diagnosis, hull moisture mapping.
Boatyards and storage yards: checking drying before anti-osmosis treatments, repainting and laminate repairs.
Builders and repairers of timber boats: moisture content of planking and decks.
Owners and brokers: quick check of the condition of hull and deck.

Why choose it

Dedicated fibreglass (GRP) scale. Comparative 0–100 scale calibrated to detect and compare moisture levels in fibreglass hulls and decks.
Hardwood scale in %MC. Moisture content percentage in timber from 5 to 30 %, with correction tables for the specific gravity of different species.
Dual depth. Standard scale to 30 mm and Reduced Depth to 10 mm: moisture in the gelcoat or in the first layers can be distinguished from moisture in the core of the laminate, with accuracy comparable to pin probes.
Immediate reading. Analogue dial with coloured zones, audible signal for high readings, HOLD function for reading under the hull or in awkward positions.
Bluetooth and the Tramex Meters app. Geotagged photos with the reading overlaid, hull moisture maps and reports for the customer or the insurer.
Optional extension. With the E5-HBS you can reach the underside of the hull and the topsides without ladders or scaffolding.

How it works

The three conductive rubber electrodes generate a low-frequency alternating electric field that penetrates the material to approximately 30 mm (10 mm in Reduced Depth); the detected current varies with the water content and is converted into the value on the dial. On fibreglass the reading is comparative: a certainly dry area is identified as a reference (for example the topsides) and the readings on the underwater hull and in suspect areas are compared with it. The instrument should be placed and lifted, not dragged.

Technical data

Measuring principle	Electrical impedance, non-destructive (pinless)
Scales	1 Hardwood (%MC) · 2 Reduced Depth · 3 G.R.P. fibreglass (comparative 0–100)
Penetration depth	Standard to 30 mm · Reduced Depth to 10 mm
Timber measuring range	5–30 % MC (with SG correction tables)
Comparative scale	0–100
Display	Analogue moving-coil dial, coloured zones
Indicators	Active-scale LED · audible signal · HOLD with memory · low-battery warning
Connectivity	Bluetooth to the Tramex Meters app (iOS / Android)
Power supply	2 × AA LR6 alkaline (included) · automatic switch-off after 5 min
Dimensions	160 × 85 mm (same body as the ME5)
Housing	ABS with rubber grips
Limitations of use	Does not measure through conductive materials or coverings (fuel tanks, metal bulkheads) or on wet surfaces
Product code	SMM5 (replaces the Skipper Plus)
Warranty	1 year Tramex (online registration)
Origin	Designed and manufactured in Ireland

Supplied with

Skipper 5 instrument · 2 AA batteries · non-slip electrode protectors · quick guide.

Compatible accessories

AP-SMM5 – Accessory kit for Skipper 5: Calibration check box, extension, protectors and case
CALBOXSMM5 – Calibration check box: Periodic calibration verification
E5-HBS – Telescopic extension with bracket: Readings on the hull and topsides (30–80 cm)
MESP – Sliding electrode protectors: Protect electrodes and gelcoat when sliding the instrument

Models compared

ME5: the universal analogue instrument for timber and building materials, non-destructive with dual depth. MEX5: the digital version, with a built-in hygrometer for ambient conditions, infrared thermometer, input for in-situ RH probes and pin probes, and over 500 selectable timber species with automatic temperature correction. CME5: the model calibrated for concrete (ASTM F2659), with scales equivalent to the carbide method for cement and anhydrite, analogue dial. CMEX5: concrete in a digital version, with four measuring modes. Skipper 5 (SMM5): dedicated to marine surveys of fibreglass and timber hulls. If you are unsure which to choose, contact us: our technical support will recommend the right model for your application.

Documentation

Documentation in Italian
	SKIPPER 5 USER GUIDE
Documentation in English
	QUICK GUIDE (2020)
	USER MANUAL

Selection guide: when to choose the Skipper 5

The Skipper 5 is the Tramex meter designed for the marine world: hulls and decks in fibreglass (GRP) and wood. Measurement is non-invasive, via conductive rubber electrodes on the back: it leaves no marks on the gelcoat and allows large surfaces to be scanned quickly in search of damp areas.

Choose the Skipper 5 if you need to:

inspect a hull before a purchase or survey (osmosis, water ingress, delamination);
check wooden or composite decks;
check the dryness of the hull before a treatment or repair.

Consider another model if: you work mainly on wood and building materials (ME5 / MEX5) or on concrete and screeds (CME5 / CMEX5).

If in doubt, contact us: our technical support will recommend the right model for your application.

Integration and programming: the Skipper 5 and the Tramex Meters app

The Skipper 5 is a portable, direct-reading instrument: it needs no setup or programming. Switch it on, select the scale (wood or GRP) and read the value on the dial.

The Bluetooth connection with the free Tramex Meters app (iOS and Android) lets you:

record readings with date, time and location;
create hull moisture maps and PDF inspection reports to send to the customer or the shipyard;
archive inspections and compare them over time.

For standing measurements on decks, the E5-HBS telescopic extension is available. If you need to feed the readings into a company document workflow, our technical team will help you set up the reports.

Calibration and repair

The Skipper 5 is factory-calibrated and needs no adjustment by the user. To check in a few seconds that the instrument is responding correctly before any important inspection, Tramex offers the CALBOXSMM5 calibration check box: place the instrument on it and compare the reading with the reference value.

The MESP electrode protectors protect the conductive rubber and keep the contact quality constant over time.

Service: for periodic verification with a report, electrode replacement or any repair, RODER S.r.l. – INNOVACHECK division handles the service in Italy in cooperation with Tramex. Contact us, stating the model and serial number.