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).

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.

my handheld gps is in a condom, works great

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......

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.

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

lydia 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.