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Thanks Jeff: A very quick, complete and detailed answer to what was a difficult and complex question.

Your answer re some moisture in all whalers is the same as a surveyor will give re balsa cored decks in a sail or powerboat - the extent is what counts.

I take it as a given that you don't believe a surveyor with a water meter is worth the expense. I never bought a "big" boat without a thorough survey but at 13' a surveyor seems like an overkill. I wouldn't even think of it it the hull were solid glass.

One final question - is it worth sounding the hull and deck given the nature of foam?

Many thanks,

Celt