VHF wet inside

SimonCh · 29 July 2013, 08:38

Alright folks?

Had a superb weekend in Loch Lomond, but noticed my VHF sounded pretty crap. Got home and pulled it apart in the living room, and it pissed rusty water all over the carpet -queue some shouting from the mrs. Something about doing that in the bloody shed-. I've sprayed it all out with electrical terminal cleaner, and left it to dry. Supposing it still works, do you recommend a spraying of WD-40 in it? Or is that likely to short things out?

Obviously it will be refitted with plenty silicone!

Gracias

Si

ShinyShoe · 29 July 2013, 08:47

The Mrs is right - you should have done it in the shed... ...Murphys law says it wouldn't have had rusty water in it if you'd opened it someplace that it didn't matter!

WD wouldn't short anything its non-conductive. However it dries out. There are anti-corrossion sprays that are also non-coductive and water dispersing (someone will be along in a minute to name it!) that may be better.

That said, this is potentially your single most important bit of safety kit. I'd suggest you might want to make this your spare and replace it with something you are more certain wont fail at the very moment you need it most?

Make and model?

SimonCh · 29 July 2013, 08:59

Yeah its a good point mate, and i've given a lot of thought about using one that isnt top notch! ill try it out, and if all is well, i'll probably use it until next year (pay rise in august!). Its an Icom, and I cant remember the model - will head out to the shed where it is now located and have a look later on!

Cheers for the advice!

si

ShinyShoe · 29 July 2013, 09:07

Assuming its too old to have been in warranty?

I had two icoms that leaked in warranty and several others have on here too and they were replaced without question.

SimonCh · 29 July 2013, 09:31

Yeah, i'm afraid so mate - its well out of warranty! I think the last owner bought it new with the boat, which is a good 9 years old now. But not to worry, i'll see about some proper spray, and see how she goes. I can always post on the buy/sell section as somebody is bound to have something lying around that they will be willing to sell!

thanks again

si

chris.moody · 29 July 2013, 09:35

As others have said i would replace it ASAP (with an Icom or Standard Horizon), and use the existing one as a spare / backup, or sell it on eBay. It's one of the few really important bits of kit along with lifejackets and killcords.

SimonCh · 29 July 2013, 09:42

In all honesty, if it dries up and works fine, ill continue using it after spraying with something appropriate, with regular checks for wet inside! I'm never out of phone reception where I use my boat and I also carry a handheld VHF.

Starovich · 29 July 2013, 12:02

big bag of rice, worked for my phone, dried it out a treat.

Nos4r2 · 29 July 2013, 12:30

Corrosion block spray.

SimonCh · 29 July 2013, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Corrosion block spray.

Thank you, sir

ShinyShoe · 29 July 2013, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Corrosion block spray.

I should have realised I couldn't think of a fancy name coz it didn't have one!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.moody

As others have said i would replace it ASAP

Quote:

or sell it on eBay.

Coz thats a responsible thing to do! Let some other poor f**ker get the rusty kit that might fail and put their life in danger!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starovich

big bag of rice, worked for my phone, dried it out a treat.

The difference with a phone is you use it all the time. So chances of it picking the day you need it most to suddenly keel over without warning is far less than the VHF where you probably use it less than one weekend a fortnight...

Hadn't realised it was a fixed unit. Was it supposed to be waterproof? If not then you aren't going to keep it dry unless you add additional protection.

spartacus · 29 July 2013, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.moody

As others have said i would replace it ASAP (with an Icom or Standard Horizon), and use the existing one as a spare / backup, or sell it on eBay. It's one of the few really important bits of kit along with lifejackets and killcords.

Agree about replacing it ASAP, but suggesting selling it on Ebay is plain daft. I know everyone likes a bargain, but if its been full of water it's already terminal.

Lee argyle · 29 July 2013, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.moody

As others have said i would replace it ASAP (with an Icom or Standard Horizon), and use the existing one as a spare / backup, or sell it on eBay. It's one of the few really important bits of kit along with lifejackets and killcords.

Charming! Remind me never to buy anything off you!

PeterM · 30 July 2013, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

Charming! Remind me never to buy anything off you!

I'm fairly confident Chris meant for parts that someone could use to fix another one.

biffer · 30 July 2013, 10:04

I've got some new cheap VHFs

two stroke mick · 30 July 2013, 12:52

Cheap vhf HH units never raced or rallied one careful lady owner, has had a major overhall in the last few months :0

biffer · 30 July 2013, 18:50

Still in sealed boxes and less than half price

two stroke mick · 30 July 2013, 19:55

sorry biffer that comment was not directed to your hh units

biffer · 30 July 2013, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

sorry biffer that comment was not directed to your hh units

No damage here old mate

chris.moody · 30 July 2013, 22:32

I don't see the problem with selling it on eBay as long as you are upfront about the fact that it has been water damaged. Someone will want it for parts.