Another question for the boffins.
I am loving Navionics for our little day sails and overnights. And I was thinking of dedicating an iPad to the purpose rather than investing in a chartplotter. But I am concerned that an iPad would not last if left in the vessel on the mooring. i.e. internal corrosion etc.
Is it crazy to want to leave the ipad in a waterproof case in a locker? Should I just accept that I have to bring it with me each time? Or is it fine to do it? Will the case protect it over say a 2 year period?
Cheers
Hardy (Felix).
Mine is in a life proof case and I leave it onboard sometimes. I wouldn't hesitate to leave it on board if it suited me.
A good thing with iPads is that they are not hard to take home. Easy to look at new routes, update and browse Seebreeze on 
Im thinking of using an iPad mounted on the coach roof instead of replacing a plotter I have there. I will install a USB charging point also so it is always plugged in.
But if you want to ,eave it on the boat, my guess is it will slow and become clunky systems wise before it corrodes.
I've been doing some caving expeditions in the past and we used to make our instruments ( laser and pads) waterproof by covering them with condoms (non lubricated is better....)
Maybe if you find extra king size you might do the same for your ipad...
What flavour condoms are best?
Seriously though, our tablets have been on board for over 2 years and are fine. I've come to the conclusion that having a few devices that are the cheapest that will do the job is the way to go. Navionics on a couple of cheap tablets, anchor alarm on a couple of cheap Samsung phones. Works well.
Bristol
I have mine mounted in a frame that swings out of the way when not in use . Can put a cover over it, or release it and take it home. Don't have Navionics on mine, just remote desktop to PC running memory maps. Swing frame cost more than the iPad tho......
My old gen2 has been onboard for 4 years with no special treatment, just the joe average type cover / stand ( on the 2nd of them) when going over a bar it simply gets gaff taped inside the dodger to keep it stationary. Might be lucky ? But if you get this message it still working
I got a second hand unit off ebay, siliconed in into a holder/frame at the seams, mounted on the helm all te time, zero issues 14 months going.
If anything happens to it, repeat the process.
Just a word of warning about such things, if the **** is really hitting it with water everywhere and you actually need to use the ipad or indeed a i phone in a lifeforce case the touch screens do not work if wet.
My experience anyway.
I think they key is making the charging cable waterproof if it leaves the cockpit. Eventually salt gets in the connection and rots it out.
Let me know if anyone has a waterproof iPad cable solution.
A
I have once given the connections a squirt of a corrosion cleaner / lube that I use on guitars & amps etc. But as Lydia points out if it gets wet the show will be over
Select to expand quotelydia said..
Just a word of warning about such things, if the **** is really hitting it with water everywhere and you actually need to use the ipad or indeed a i phone in a lifeforce case the touch screens do not work if wet.
My experience anyway.
Yes. I found the phone pretty hard to operate when l was drifting towards the cliffs at Ulladulla in the dark and rain.
Handheld vhf was much better as it has buttons. Except they called me back on the phone anyway.
