Questions I have been asked.

[SimonV]

I bought my Acer laptop in the US 2008 it pact in December 2013. On the out side the only damage visible was rust on the USB ports. When I pulled it apart to get the hard drive it looked pristine. The hard drive is still going strong in a USB external case. My new laptop is an acer and I never pay more than $400.

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by wambam

1. Since having a desktop PC onboard invites trouble for the PC, due to the salt sea air, etc., what do people do who live at or near a marina and use standard desktop computers , seeing that they also must be affected by the sea air ?

2. Is there finally a simple answer to how to protect an onboard desktop PC ? (Please don't suggest getting a Laptop or IPad etc. The guy asking me this question already has them.)

As others have suggested, a fanless mobile PC with SSD drive is the ticket for this.

But even better is a laptop with docking station and external monitor and keyboard. You can take it off the boat with you when you're not on board, reducing salt air exposure. This is what I do, FWIW.

[CGP]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Boeshields T-9, developed by Boeing who spray it on all the electronics of their planes.

WE opened up our computers, radar antenna, radar display, windlass motor, autopilot electronics, engine wiring harness and sprayed it all including contacts and circuit boards with T-9. We also sprayed everything metal in the engine compartment. Not a single spot of corrosion in a total of 3yrs cruising in salt water.

Awesome!!! Just what I'm looking for! Thanks!

[Sea Frog]

I believe this thing may help as well.

[scarlet]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Boeshields T-9, developed by Boeing who spray it on all the electronics of their planes.

WE opened up our computers, radar antenna, radar display, windlass motor, autopilot electronics, engine wiring harness and sprayed it all including contacts and circuit boards with T-9. We also sprayed everything metal in the engine compartment. Not a single spot of corrosion in a total of 3yrs cruising in salt water.

How often do you need to reapply?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by scarlet

How often do you need to reapply?

We did it before each trip south from the Great Lakes, not sure that was necessary. When you spray it on it becomes a wax like film, it actually feels like you are touching a wax candle. it probably lasts for years.

[Tropic Cat]

Here in central Florida laptops are on almost every boat in marinas these days. I've only seen one 12 volt desktop PC on a boat and that was an old Prout Snowgoose 37' catamaran which had the room for it.

I recommend a Laptop as I've seen them get wet ( had to turn it sideways to pour the water out of it) and you just dry them out and they fire back up again. If they don't a couple of hundred buys it's replacement. If you just use a computer for email and internet, buy a tablet instead.

I'm surprised this is an actual discussion these days.

[Cheechako]

Never had much problem with a laptop on a boat other than batteries. Desktop..hmm ask your buddy...why?

[sy_gilana]

Best thing we did was get a solid state hard drive. The gyroscopic precession of a rolling boat on a spinning disk is a death sentence.