Condensation in guages on dashboard

T

Toad

New Member
May 28, 2008
5
Brookfield, WI
Boat Info
Sea Ray 340 AJ 2002
Engines
496 8.1S Twins
I am having a problem with may guages on my dashboard. They appear to have condensation that I can't get rid of. Any solutions?
 
Takes a long time to dissipate. Mine eventually cleared up, the trick is don't get any water near them, just wipe them clean.
 
Had same problem for a while
Mine was corrected by not storing the boat with both the dash cover and the cockpit cover at the same time - seems condensation really likes to build up under the dash Cover - I only use it now when I'm overnighting and not using The canvas -just a suggestion as I don't know if this could apply to you
 
We get the same thing and I don't know what to do about it. Someone said that it was caused by hot, humid air accumulating inside the gauges during the day and then cooling at night to cause the condensation. It does disipate after a while if I turn the dash lights on, but it always comes back the next day.
 
Gages breath with temp cycling, and as a result suck in moisture which can accumulate on the inside of the bezel glass. I think the best way to get that stopped is to wipe a small amount of clear caulk around the bezel where it intersects with the glass. Be sure to wipe off the excess and wipe the glass until no more residue is showing. Gages are expensive if you want to keep them pretty, about $45 apiece and they may not be easy to change out. I have some fogging in two with one having a loose gasket visible as it no longer resides under the bezel to maintain the seal. When the mold builds up and blocks the readability you'll just have to change'em.
 
It happens to us often. If we leave the running lights on for 10 or so hours they clear up. Then on next humid day they will get a little moisture in them. They seem to need heat to dry up. I assume they are not sealed. Only happens to us on the upper helm. Upper helm is fully enclosed and gauges do not get wet. Where we boat it rains a lot and the nights are cool and the bridge is heated.
 
northern said:
It happens to us often. If we leave the running lights on for 10 or so hours they clear up. Then on next humid day they will get a little moisture in them. They seem to need heat to dry up. I assume they are not sealed. Only happens to us on the upper helm. Upper helm is fully enclosed and gauges do not get wet. Where we boat it rains a lot and the nights are cool and the bridge is heated.
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I had the same problem except it was a film on the inside of glass and would not dry out. I had to take apart gauges and clean the glass. Not easy but it can be done. Mine looked like they had fog on the inside of the glass.
 
Mine dried out without doing anything... I did buy a cockpit cover and I think that helped...
 
jetpartner said:
I had the same problem except it was a film on the inside of glass and would not dry out. I had to take apart gauges and clean the glass. Not easy but it can be done. Mine looked like they had fog on the inside of the glass.
Click to expand...
So they will come apart? do you take them apart from behind the dash I assume? Thanks
 
Get in behind the dash, mark and disconnect wires, remove retaining nuts from shafts and that should enable you to remove a bracket that secures the gauge in it's hole. Remove the gauge from the front. Once the gauge is out I haven't a clue how to disassemble it but I'm sure it will be fairly straight forward to figure out. Good luck. OH, and welcome to the forum. I didn't see any pictures:grin:
 
I just got this boat. Don't have any pics of it still in process of cleaning it up. Thanks for the info it will be a good winter project along with everything else that needs done.
 
I need to locate a complete set of guages for a 410 Sundancer 2003 diesal cats-
Does anyone have recommendations for the best shop to call and overnite to me?
Volt-Sync-Fuel-Temp
 
If you take the gauges out - you can try and dry them in rice.

So take gauges out - pack them in good quality tissue paper/toilet roll to keep rice stains away - and then "submerge them" in a big bag of dry rice [NOT boiled.... :) ] Rice will absorb a lot of moisture/humidity just like the Silica Gel packs you find with new electronics.

Leave the gauges for 24-72 hours and they will be very dry.

That is also the solution for phones/electronics dropped in water. If you drop things in salt water - quickly yank out the battery - then clean with fresh water (it is best to get a pro to clean them first) / oven bake at 50-60 c (120 f) for an hour or four / then 3-5 days in rice.
 
Further to this subject; I've again experienced moisture in one gauge that will not go away, most likely because of the onset of cold weather. I'm going to try the "rice" remedy without taking the gauge out of the dash. My idea is to place the rice around the face of the gauge and seal it up with poly and tape. With any luck, over a period of a few weeks, the rice will absorb the moisture from the inside of the gauge through whatever small gaps there may be between the bezel, glass, and the gauge body. It might be worth a try. I know for sure that the moisture entered the gauge from the front because of that pesky leak I have in the windshield. The towel I use as sun protection for the helm just happened to wick the rain water out of the "gutter" between the edge of the dash and the window frame. The dash ledge directly beneath the gauges was soaked but only the trim gauge was affected. I'll know in a few weeks if I'm a genius or a retread:wink:
 
Chris Nowell said:
Further to this subject; I've again experienced moisture in one gauge that will not go away, most likely because of the onset of cold weather. I'm going to try the "rice" remedy without taking the gauge out of the dash. My idea is to place the rice around the face of the gauge and seal it up with poly and tape. With any luck, over a period of a few weeks, the rice will absorb the moisture from the inside of the gauge through whatever small gaps there may be between the bezel, glass, and the gauge body. It might be worth a try. I know for sure that the moisture entered the gauge from the front because of that pesky leak I have in the windshield. The towel I use as sun protection for the helm just happened to wick the rain water out of the "gutter" between the edge of the dash and the window frame. The dash ledge directly beneath the gauges was soaked but only the trim gauge was affected. I'll know in a few weeks if I'm a genius or a retread:wink:
Click to expand...


You need a lot of rice to absorb moisture. You might be better off buying some re-usable silica gel packs if you are doing a limited Rice exposure :) They absorb more moisture / ounce and can be reactivated in an oven.
 
Hair dryer and a little time. Bring a beverage with you or do some other work on the boat while you're there.

Or... a good sunny day and just angle the boat (or the entire gauge panel) into the sun for a day or two.
 
Last edited:
mistercomputerman said:
Would you like us to vote now?
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I already know the results from THAT vote:lol: I'm headin' to the boat now with my little bag o' rice, poly, and tape. It's pretty windy so maybe I'll actually get something accomplished this time :smt021. Funny note though; when we awoke this morning all the clocks on the internet were an hour behind all the clocks in the house. So we really won't know what time it is until I get to the GPS on the boat. Go figure eh?
 
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