[Paddlewise] Waterproof radios

 -----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Maun [mailto:patrick.maun_at_duffy.com]
Sent: Friday, August 14, 1998 2:55 PM
To: PaddleWise
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Icom Revises Rating

Dan Hagen wrote:
>Sure they can--particularly if they are willing to provide a warranty
>against failure due to water penetration.  I'm sure that Icom will
>repair or replace your unit under warranty.
They did repair it under warranty. It's not the warranty that I'm   complaining
about, it's the fact that they present the M1 and M15 as having the same   level
of waterproofing. I did my research in the way that most of us do: I   asked
fellow paddlers, posted to the list, looked at various Internet specs and
brochures, and finally, talked with the guys at US Marine. It just ticks   me
off that Icom is now claiming that the radio is "resistant" (the flyer is   
actually dated 1995) and not waterproof.  I still know several people who   have
their M1's strapped to their PFD's and are rolling happily away with   them. How
long until these fail in the field, especially now that we (in the   Midwest)
are getting closer to the more dangerous fall season on Lake Superior.

>If you want to avoid the use of a baggie, I recommend that you consider
>an M15 or a Navico Axis.
After I spent $250 getting the M1 just a few months ago? Anyone have an
idea of how long after purchase US Marine will exchange a radio? And what
is the price of the M15? And is the M15 *really* more waterproof than the   
M1? Too many questions, why can't the damn thing just work like it's
supposed to. Hrumpf.

 -Patrick

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While paddling in the Nipigon Bay area of Lake Superior last week, I
noticed that my Icom IC-M1 had some condensation on the inside of the
LCD display. For convenience, ever since I bought it last spring I had
been carrying it on trips unprotected in a pocket of my PFD. During these   
trips I had frequently rolled and/or laid in the water, using a sculling
brace, to cool off. This was the first sign of leakage. For the rest of
the trip I carried it inside the day compartment of my Romany. When I got   
home, I put the radio in a sunny window to drive out the moisture. It
still works, but I have decided to order a waterproof bag for it.

On thinking it over, I wonder if it wasn't water vapor rather than liquid   
water that penetrated the seal, in the same way that water vapor passes
through Goretex but not water in the liquid form. If so, it would be
possible for the radio to pass the JIS-7 immersion test even though it
admitted water vapor.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Chuck Holst


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