Gauge Moisture

[Nehalennia]

The gauges are vented to the atmosphere, so short of changing to all sealed gauges, there is no way to eliminate it completely. Normally, when the temperature changes a lot you will see a little fogging that usually clears in a few days. When you get caught in a rain storm and your canvas leaks on your panel or if your boat sits under a leaky cover, you may get a good bit of condensation that takes a while to clear up.

I've had none, a little and a lot all depending upon the above variables. I don't mess with it, I run the boat every day we are in Florida and its never been a long term issue for me. When the weather is cooler we get significant temp. changes from lows near 20 to highs close to 70 in a given day, and times like that it just takes longer to clear up.

My voltage gauge, had something that was in the condensation and left a residue, like a chaulky film. I'm not sure how to get it out, but I think we're begining to see why he named himself Wingless.

 

[wingless]

Gee.........it might have been nice if you had given that much thought to Jason's problem when you made your original post.

The incomplete original post was reply #3 that was later supplemented with reply #5.

The correct information, that resolved the OP, was reply #2. My reply #8 modified the solution to account for the additional information provided in reply #5.

Just got back from running the boat today. Kept the lights on all day and it cleared right up! Thanks guys!!!

You are welcome. I knew it would work for you as it has for me so many times before.

Resolving the problem quickly, instead of permitting it to wait until April, as was proposed, is a better solution. Not just for the nuisance of living with an unacceptable problem, but also because glass corrodes, in a manner similar to metal rusting.

The glass corrosion is most pronounced on horizontal glass panels, but can also happen on vertical panels, when standing water remains on the surface. This corrosion is permanent damage.

Mine actually got so fogged so many times over the years that they now have a permanent fog in them. Not a moisture type fog, but more like residue on the inside of the lenses from all the past moisture. Is there a fix for this, short of replacing the gauges themselves? This would save a lot of time and money if there is! Thanks!

This sounds like glass corrosion and is not repairable. Any chance for an image?

That suggestion will work, even though it would be illegal from sunset to sunrise while your boat is in its slip or at anchor.

The issue isn't criminal, but rather the liability of having to pay for some plastic surgeon to remove the dash of some guys boat from his wife's face.

Thanks for correcting your initial error, confusing criminal versus civil law.

you can band aid it by getting rid of the moisture but how do you prevent it from coming back? Or is this unavoidable with boats?

The gauges are designed to avoid the problem, w/ “sealed” faces and a vent in the rear. This configuration is acceptable most of the time. Sometimes the seal fails, such as for the OP where only some gauges are fogged, but they all exist in the same environment.

The two solutions are to just dry them w/ the indicator lamps or replace them w/ new gauges, but that new seal might be insufficient or fail.

 

[Nehalennia]

you must be a hoot on the dock..........

 

[mistercomputerman]

Wingless Dude

Lighten up. You may want to read some of your posts before you hit the send button. Soon they'll be calling you clueless instead of wingless.

 

[vetteboy]

Many already are...