Bonehead Award - Navico 3G Radar

[Cap Erict3]

Installed new radar a few months back. Noted clearance requirement needed for drain breather plug. Did not note 'breather' plug is just rubber plug and should be removed. Smooth move.

Had 45" of rain the last couple of months. A lot of it sideways. A lot of it collected in dome.

Disassembled and drying out. We'll see.

Not my first duh moment.




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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[Kenomac]

I do stuff like that all the time. If there's an award being given along with possible prize money, I'd like to submit this modest entry from two days ago I wrote on another thread:


"An hour ago, i'm sitting here anchored off the Sardinian coast and needed to fiberglass in a piece of marine plywood to the hull as an attachment point for a new pair of watermaker pumps. Not too difficult, I'd purchased a fiberglass kit two weeks ago and have done similar work many times. There isn't anyone here to hire to do the work and I'm not about to pull into a shipyard for the work which should cost me no more than 50 euros for supplies.

I mix up the resin according to the abreviated English version directions, and I mix, and I mix.... 'getting concerned about gel time, but the stuff isn't combining as it should, and I mix. Suddenly it gels instantly and catches fire.... I toss it overboard. So now, I need to fetch the tub of gelled resin off the sea floor, not such a big deal since it's only 20 feet down, so I'll free dive to get it, then get on my bicycle and pedal 10 miles to the marine store and try to return the kit for a two part liquid type. Then pedal home and try again."

If the competition becomes more intense, I have other more competive examples to share.

Ken

[Cap Erict3]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I do stuff like that all the time. If there's an award being given along with possible prize money, I'd like to submit this modest entry from two days ago I wrote on another thread:

Ken

No cash, it mostly goes to boat bucks and the kids. A flagon of fermented beverage is normally available on my boat for the sailor willing to share such tales. Feel free to drop by.

Give us a little warning and someone will be there to catch your lines.




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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[Cap Erict3]

Doubled

[Kenomac]

I'll take you up on that next time I'm in Mexico. I'll be sure to put out lots of fenders.

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Cap Erict3

Installed new radar a few months back. Noted clearance requirement needed for drain breather plug. Did not note 'breather' plug is just rubber plug and should be removed. Smooth move.

Had 45" of rain the last couple of months. A lot of it sideways. A lot of it collected in dome.

Disassembled and drying out. We'll see.

Not my first duh moment.




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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

Are you sure the plug is supposed to be removed ?
There is no mention of removing anything in the installation manual.
I just installed a 4G, so you've got me wondering.

Cheers,
JM.

[Cap Erict3]

Originally Posted by NahanniV

Are you sure the plug is supposed to be removed ?

There is no mention of removing anything in the installation manual.

I just installed a 4G, so you've got me wondering.



Cheers,

JM.

We have the same install manual. Below is the only mention of the drain.

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If you mount the scanner on a pedestal or base, ensure that rain and sea spray can drain away rapidly, and the breather hole in the base can operate .
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If you do not remove the plug, there is no hole.


I have no doubt that mine had water above the electronics.


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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Cap Erict3

We have the same install manual. Below is the only mention of the drain.

------------

If you mount the scanner on a pedestal or base, ensure that rain and sea spray can drain away rapidly, and the breather hole in the base can operate .
----------

If you do not remove the plug, there is no hole.


I have no doubt that mine had water above the electronics.


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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

If this is true, I think you are being too hard on yourself and not hard enough on Navico. If this was a new purchase, I would be asking for a replacement.

I didn't remove any plug from my 4G; Don't really look forward to climbing the mast to have a look at it either.

Cheers,
JM.

[SailFastTri]

I have a first generation broadband dome and saw no plug. No problem after 6 years.


I second the comment that the instructions quoted above are vague at best, and if you were supposed to remove a plug it should SAY so. That would make Navico the boneheads.

[colemj]

Are you sure the breather plug is a solid plug? On many radars, it is a duckbill or tube or similar. On the 3G schematic, that plug looks like it has holes in it.

It's main purpose is not to let water drain out - water should never get in regardless. Particularly that much water.

I think you are being too hard on yourself. If that much water got in from rain, no matter how hard, it wasn't the fault of a breather plug. Something else is wrong with the seal or its design.

I think I remember another post here about someone's 3G filling with water because of a bad seal.

I would make a warranty claim on it.

Mark

[boeing1]

Why would they install a plug in the drain.....

[smac999]

I have installed lots and never pulled any plug.. No mention in manual. You probably just wrongly pulled off the breather itself?... It's probably a peace of waterproof breathable material.

[Cap Erict3]

I have worked on a number of Raydomes that had duckbills that had never been clipped yet did not seem to retain water. Certainly not the amount that was this one. The seal on the Navico is not near as robust as that of the Raymarine.

If the plug has holes in they are microscopic and won't facilitate :

"If you mount the scanner on a pedestal or base, ensure that rain and sea spray can drain away rapidly, and the breather hole in the base can operate ."

I have had truly torrential rain blowing sideways the last couple of months. That hole would need to be wide open to hope to keep up.

I have never failed to clip the rubber tube drain, I feel I should have noted the blind plug. I also feel the directions are lacking.

I should point out that I enjoyed a long career of installation, repair and later design of equipment. Had I installed this dome for a customer, any costs pertaining to the repair, beyond what the manufacturer is willing to do, I would have covered.

I will contact Navico, I am certain they have seen this before. It is entirely possible they will offer a replacement. I will post the results as well as their recommendations for the plug here.


I should point out that "legally" I voided the warranty by opening the dome. I also opened the base, removed, cleaned and have the printed circuit board under lamp. I am hoping that the rainwater did no permanent damage and will do some testing today.

I can hear the litigious screaming of my moronic actions and admissions.

Certainly I hope that Navico offers a complete replacement.

I have high hopes and low expectations. I don't plan to let it occupy my mind more than it has to.

Thanks for the words of support.




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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Cap Erict3

I have had truly torrential rain blowing sideways the last couple of months. That hole would need to be wide open to hope to keep up.

I have the opposite opinion - there should not have been any water in the dome for the hole to drain. No matter how hard it rains sideways. We have never had water get into our Furuno or Simrad (older pulse) domes. It doesn't make sense that someone would design a radome to regularly allow and drain water. Any drain should only be for rare condensation.

I don't think you did anything wrong - I think it is a defect that Navico should right.

Mark

[Cap Erict3]

Pic of plug






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Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.