Re: [Paddlewise] Solution to Leaky GPS

From: Wayne Langmaid <langer_at_terrigal.net.au>
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 13:10:04 +1000
G'day Bill -

Look - I don't really understand the list policy on this - I am really just
answering your question here - but how does one do this without appearing self
promotional - and why should it not be if I am try to help - Sooooo........

"A disclaimer - yes I do sell these, but I am on the other side of the world to
many of you so doubt it is going to do me much good".

I think that if you use one of the Aquapac Brand Radio or GPS dry packs you will
be OK.

We use these routinely on our commercial guided tours and on big expeditions for
our GPS equipment, radios and other electronic gear and they work fine.  The
buttons on the GPS are easy to use through the soft case and it is simple to see
through the clear plastic.  Best of all - your GPS will float if it comes off the
deck!!  With the cell phone cases the claim is there is only about 3% attenuation
through the plastic, and that seems to be correct.

For an example of them have a look at our Web site:

http://www.kayaktours.com

Under "Online Store in the left side panel, click on Accessory Sales, Click on
"Welcome to the Shed", click "Gear to Keep your Gear Dry" and click on Dry Bags
for Cameras, Radios, GPS and Cell Phones".

These are a good product and you should be able to get them in the US.  Do a
search under "Aquaman'  - the company in the UK which sells them - and you should
be able to source a US dealer.

Regards -

Wayne Langmaid
Central Coast Kayak Tours - only a step away from Sydney, Australia
http://www.kayaktours.com

Bhansen97_at_aol.com wrote:

> Help! My "splashproof" GPS is not splashproof. How does one handle this
> problem, or is it insoluble?
>
> I have a Garmin GPS II, supposedly splashproof. In use, it sits on the
> foredeck of my kayak. When I use it, I take care not to roll or to do extreme
> leans.
>
> Shortly after I recieved it, the unit became inoperable. Changing the
> batteries, I noticed that there were several drops of water in the battery
> compartment, and one battery terminal had corroded slightly (suggesting that
> water had gotten into the battery compartment previously, as well).
>
> After the usual frustrating merry-go-round with the Garmin FAQ site, a few
> e-mails to Garmin, and a rather frustrating phone call to them, I was awarded
> a RMA number, authorization to return the unit for repair. When I got the
> unit back, the work slip said Garmin had "repaired gaskets, upgraded
> software" (though the software version on the returned unit has the same
> version number as it did before return).
>
> Last Thursday I took my first "long" paddle since the unit was returned, 12.3
> nmi in almost flat calm conditions, no sea. No rolls. No significant leans.
> Probably no significant moisture except drips from the paddle onto the GPS.
>
> Saturday when I tried to use the unit again, it was inoperable. There were
> *many* drops of water in the battery compartment. I left the unit in the sun
> to dry, inserted new batteries, and it works normally again now.
>
> How does one use one of these things on a kayak, if you can't even get water
> droplets on them? Putting them in an Aqua-safe bag pretty much renders them
> useless, since you can't read them through the plastic of the bag, and you
> can't work the function keys through the bag either. A Zip-lok bag might
> work, but then how to affix the unit (the Zip-lok bag, or whatever) to the
> deck reliably?
>
> I think I have to give up on Garmin repairing the unit. It's difficult to get
> permission to return it, the "technical representatives" I finally reached
> was a surly fellow, and at least in this one case, the "repairs" haven't done
> anything to solve the problem.
>
> Any advice???? - Bill Hansen
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Received on Sun May 30 1999 - 20:12:53 PDT

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