Re: [Paddlewise] Waterproof(?) electronics

PeterO wrote:

> Joe and Craig responded to Brian's question and reported no problems with
> waterproofing their GPS72's.[snip]
> I've been thinking of buying one of these units but don't want to put it
> into a waterproof bag because of an anticipated difficulty in reading the
> screen in bright sunlight though the transparent plastic.

Ugh.  You are dead right about those waterproof bags:  they suck for 
reading a GPS.

Peter, I'd guess the condensation you are seeing comes from either of two 
sources:

1. Moisture, initially present as water vapor, condensed from the air 
inside the unit when it is moved from a warmer environment (where you 
sealed it up) to a cooler one (the deck of your boat in the early part of 
the day).

2. A very tiny leak in the seal around the battery compartment, passing 
water in liquid form into the unit when the seal is initially immersed in 
cooler sea water in use.

Number 1 is no big deal.  Just cool the unit for a half hour out of doors 
the night before before closing it.  When it warms up in use the next day, 
there should not be any condensation, because the warmer air will hold more 
water in vapor form, and there should not be any present in liquid form.

Number 2 may not be a big deal.  Check the seal gasket material, and lube 
it with a tiny amount of silicone grease (available at reel shops) and 
repeat the test, per instructions in paragraph above.  Chances are the 
gasket was not sliding into best position without lubricant.

Given that you had two fail in your hands, I think it likely it is some 
sort of temperature-change-related source, not flawed units.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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