Based on my experience with a water damaged passport yes. He best get a new one. I was nearly denied entry into one country and detained while superiors talked with the passport control. They told me to get a new passport before coming back. Then I was questioned a lot on my return into the U. S. Not fun experiences. Only blank pages were water damaged.
sorry to jump in on this thread, just curious about you say apply 30 days before... so later than that 29 days before would be too late to go in for the extension?