Dear GPS Speedsters,

I have recently been informed of 2 Aquapacks failing and their NAVI GPS's failing from water damage.

As an extra defence adding a tight fitting water absorbant sponge, is an extra line of defence, as well as a rubber o-ring around the toggle switch. Sometimes vaseline around other water vulnerable areas can help though this can get messy?

PS: regularly check your aquapack for leaks

Some extra points worth regularly checking...

Aquapac related:
- near the seal, the plastic-welded seam is quite thin -> due to movement stress, sometimes these welds fail (I have one that did).
- look carefully at the clamped area for stress problems.

Navi:
- the SD-card/USB cover us quite a tight fitting; after repeated opening/closing, the part of the case that the little snap/click connects with, may eventually fail (my current unit suffered this fate) - I now use some gaff tape to keep it closed.

If anyone is interested,my perspex ones still don,t leak. $30 plus post.You can also use water crystalls to absorb any moisture.

As a back up, use the small re-seal plastic sandwich pack with the NAVi inside, and then place in Aqua Pac. I unfortunately didn’t do this until after the seam failure. (supplier replaced pac, no arguments
Very tiny amount of dry lube on the card holder catch will prolong life. If I had realised up front when this part became tough to open, I would have worked out I had let some salt water come in contact with unit, and maybe saved the first NAVi life

I thought the units them selves were were proof
I wouldn’t of thought a few droplets of water would harm them.
Unless left in the sun the moisture may get to them.

I have a theory about this, I think the top seam damage can be caused by wiping out aquapac first. Air in the pac is then compressed and blows the seam. I now squeeze all the air I can out of the pac before I seal it.
And I no longer use the foam pad, because I think it helps trap more air to compress on impact.

Aquapacs seal a lot better if you close them, I learnt this one day, to my surprise, the Garmin survived

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vando said...

I thought the units them selves were were proof
I wouldn’t of thought a few droplets of water would harm them.
Unless left in the sun the moisture may get to them.

They are supposed too be, but a few as well as me, are finding that they are not in the least waterproof or water resistant.
Mine just had some dampness in the aquapac, and sent the NAVi into a death role.
Your man man Simon at Boards Crazy has replaced it, and in a very short space of time. So you guys over that side, stick with Board Crazy, they back the gear they sell