Preserving Your Marine Electronics

We all know that marine electronics represent a significant investment for any boater. And just like the boat itself, marine electronics require periodic attention to ensure optimal performance and maximum life. This often means more than just a quick rinse or wipe down after returning to the dock.

Modern marine electronics utilize bright, clear and increasingly larger screens that look fantastic when installed. Whether formed from glass or high-quality plastic, almost all screens incorporate coatings to reduce glare and enhance image quality. These coatings may be installed on the back side of the screen, but they can also appear on the front surface, which is why it is essential to never use any cleaner that may contain ammonia or other harsh chemicals when wiping down the display. Once those coatings are damaged, little can be done to bring them back short of a full screen replacement.

A good screen cleaner designed for eyeglasses should be safe for most displays, and can be purchased in a spray bottle or as individually packaged wipes. Combined with a clean microfiber cloth, this can easily remove greasy fingerprints, water spots and other contaminants without damage, leaving the screen looking like new.

Safe and sheltered

Another easy way to protect your displays is to store them out of the elements. Gimble-mounted electronics can be easily removed and stored in a dry location. Some captains use dedicated storage cases, such as those made by Pelican and others, with pick-and-pluck foam interiors allowing a perfect custom fit.

If it is impossible to easily remove the displays, as in the case of flush-mounted units, then be sure to protect them with sun covers when not in use. These can be ordered if they didn’t come with the display to begin with, and will do more to prolong the life of your MFDs than anything else. The delicate LED display panels do not do well when repeatedly heated through exposure to direct UV light, so protecting them is critically important.

It is also worthwhile investing in a locking system to protect onboard electronics from theft. There are locks that neatly replace the knobs on gimble mounts, along with fasteners for flush-mounted electronics that require a special custom bit to remove.

Current control

Another often overlooked item that can preserve your expensive multi-function displays is correctly fusing the power supply. Many displays come with power cables that do not have inline fuses, and sometimes end up being wired directly to the power supply without any fuse at all, or to a breaker that may not operate at the correct amperage. If that’s the case, refer to the owner’s manual to find the proper fuse or breaker required. Power spikes can be the kiss of death to marine electronics so protection is essential. Something as simple and inexpensive as an inline fuse can save you thousands of dollars.

Bad electrical connections can also affect onboard electronics. Even in a freshwater environment, moisture and water can lead to corrosion, making it sensible to use appropriate protectants and inhibitors on the connections to protect against electrical issues and voltage loss. Dielectric grease on connections and plugs acts as a barrier to corrosion, while sprays such as Corrosion Block, Boeshield T-9 and others protect electrical connections, terminals, and bus bars by coating them with a protective film. An occasional spray can keep troubles at bay.

If you do remove your electronics from the vessel, the plugs on the wiring that remain onboard should be covered with caps and protected with one of the above corrosion inhibitors. Doing so will prolong their life and eliminate connection issues.

There are many ways to maximize the longevity and usefulness of onboard electronics. With just a little effort and care, there is no reason they should not last a long time and always work as they did when new.