Protecting Fish Finders
 

I have a Lowrance Elite 5 and I'm not so confident about how durable it is for launching through the surf.

The waterproof rating is allegedly IPX7, which is supposed to be good for 1 meter submersion for up to 30 minutes.

Because of the quarter-turn electrical connectors on the back and the way the rubber flap covers the SD micro data card, I'm not so sure.

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Do any of you take extra precautions to avoid destroying your fish finders?

Dielectric grease?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

Extended warranties?
A hood of some sort to protect the screen from too much direct sun?

Is salt water damage inevitable?

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I hook up my fish finder, bait tank and batteries at home when everything is dry before I go out on the water. Hopefully, the quarter-turn wire connectors have a sufficient water tight seal?

Sun covers?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31hfkFb%2BPfL.jpg


Sun visors?

http://slhobie.com.au/images/electro...te-5-visor.jpg

Always launched with nothing protecting mine. Never flipped but I would just rinse with fresh water, blow the water out of the buttons after, clean the inputs with electrical cleaner every once in a while and keep using dielectric grease.


And think about using shrink connectors and shrink tube the wire connections.

i always put the unit in a waterproof bag during launch and land. I have taken a dump once with the unit out and it died but Lowrance did replace it.

one thing to note about the electrical grease, dont put too much. I made that mistake and it prevented me from pushing the connector in all the way preventing me from locking the connector.

On this point, I've heard of squeezing in silicone glue before heat shrinking. As the connector shrinks, the silicone squeezes out and makes a nice water-tight seal.

I'll check all my other connections excluding the back of the FF for this.

Good argument in favor of an extended warranty.

When my FF went on the blink (not sure why, hence this thread), Lowrance replaced it promptly. As soon as they received my unit for evaluation, they called to ask if I would like to upgrade to a bigger unit for a modest amount of extra money that probably covers their cost of replacement. I might accept that option in the future if my FF croaks again within the warranty period.

Yea I paid $100 to go from the 4 to the 5".

I bag mine and connect it in the water. I use an extra small trogan condom full of cotton over the plug. Don't ask why I have the extra small condoms......

i use the grease every few times out, launch with it in a dry bag below the hatch, wipe down with fresh water every use.