Not waterproof, why not say so?

[Chrissie]

I am bitterly dissapointed with the NASA AIS Radar system that I bought yesterday, having spent months trying to research which unit to get, reading everything that I could find about the Nasa unit,
So I opened the box yesterday, noticed there was no cover, undaunted I read through the fitting instructions, and find the words 'Not Waterproof, in Cabin use only' Why on earth was that information not on the outside of the box, or in any of the reports and reviews Ive read, or on the Nasa website? probably because they dont care about their customers, or their reputation,
I have a 26 foot boat, I sail singlehanded and so for offshore trips I really need something like AIS, but I dont want to be going down into the cabin constantly to see the screen, I want a waterproof one, and I feel that that information about a piece of marine equipment, is vital.

What do others think, should manufacturers make such product information available to customers before they buy? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[gettingready]

One thing you can be sure of with Marine equipment is that if it is waterproof it will be stated as such and normally if it is not stated you should assume that it is not. Even then there are different degrees of waterproof and that word is often not used and is replaced with water resistant or better still an IP rating (IP67 is 1m submersible).

This isn't much help I know as you've already bought it but I suspect that your supplier will take it back if you say you thought it was waterproof and it is not suitable for your application.

Dave

 

[cagey]

Unfortunately as has been reported in earlier posts NASA are rapidly loosing their reputation for solid cheap kit. I would never have their kit on my boat, but then again Raymarine seems to be loosing the plot.
Keith

 

[nigelhudson]

This issue was raised in the early reviews of this product. I raised it with the NASA people at a boat show a couple of years back but they did not see it as an issue. My view is that they have two basic case designs - the squarish waterproof deck instrument and the rectangular chart table one - and therefore they don't have much choice.

 

[dsw]

TAKE IT BACK FOR A REFUND AND HAVE A WORD WITH LOWRANCE .

 

[oldsaltoz]

http://www.ndlight.com.au/ip_ratings.htm

 

[30boat]

In all fairness,being a chartable instrument I never thought it would be waterproof.I also have their navtex and that's also not waterproof.It's cheapish after all.

 

[i_sail]

would be helpful if they had clearly stated that it is not waterproof as they must be aware that for the pleasure market, many people will want to mount the unit in the exposed cockpit areas.

by the way been to your chandlary at gosport and was very impressed. will call in again soon!

 

[roly_voya]

I would not expect instruments like AIS or navtext to be waterproof, they are designed as chart table/bridge instruments. I take your point about solo sailingbut think you are being a bit unfair on NASA although it would be worth asking if they will take it back. Hoving said that I have not seen any other waterproof ones unless you have a networked plotter at the helm and can feed AIS data to it via a below deck hub.

 

[actionoptics]

Please also be aware that just because a binocular has rubber covers, it might not be water proof. As already said, unless the instrument says "Water proof" on it and/or the box, assume that it is not.

 

[Talulah]

Well having read your post I visited http://www.nasamarine.com/ and as manufactures web sites go this is appalling. In the downloads section there are no downloads for the AIS equipment. Downloads is spelt incorrectly everywhere and the whole site does not install me with confidence. Some of the tabs at the top only work when on some pages.
I can only conclude they don’t take their web site very seriously and ipso facto don’t take support very seriously.
To not include information about outside use when the product is targeted for a marine environment may boost sales in the short term but it ruins perceptions about the instrument in the longer term.
I’ve not read any product reviews in the magazines but it is this kind of information that should appear in a review. Not just a reciting of the manufacturers product information. Unfortunately, I find a lot of product reviews don’t think or comment outside of the box and I would challenge reviewers to think more laterally when writing an article.

 

[ctelfer38]

Chrissie, I have no connection with NASA. other than a satisfied user of their Navtex, AIS and Weatherman instruments. All mounted below decks I have to say.
I have seen many examples of other makers' instruments (chartplotters etc designed for cockpit use and therefore supposedly robust and waterproof enough) failing due to water ingress. So, even much more expensive gear can let us down.
May I suggest that you consider mounting your AIS behind a perspex screen, hinged to give access to the controls? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Endeavourquay]

I run a chandlery and just walking round my shelves I see many items that do not state they are waterproof, yet clearly are, Garmin and Raymarine instruments that I sell are not labelled waterproof on the packaging, but inside the instruction leaflets mention the 'tough weather proof construction' so no I dont think a consumer buying marine use equipment, designed for small boat users, should only expect it to be waterproof if it says so clearly on the box.
And what about people who buy online, they dont get to see the box until it arives, and in this case the first and only mention of it not being waterproof that I have come across, was on the fitting instruction booklet inside the box. Not on the website, or on the box.

I am afraid that I dont sail my boat from the chart table, inside the cabin, following the rules, I keep a constant watch using sight and sound, I had hoped to augment that with the use of AIS Radar.

If anyone knows how easy it might be to make the unit water tight, I will do that.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Chrissie (AKA EndeavourQuay)

Sometimes the information can be conflicting. Have a look at a Raymarine 54E DSC radio. on the box it clearly says waterproof. When you look at the instructions it states that installation should be out of the way of rain or sea spray!

It took a call to Raymarine to confirm the radio is in fact waterproof. But none the less confusing instructions.

 

[wotayottie]

What do you mean by waterproof? At what depth and over what time ? Thats the trouble and the reason people use weasel words like weatherproof. In this lawyer infested haven of ours, some idiot is altogether too likely to drop something overboard, have it sink 10m down, retrieve it after 1 year and then sue because some water got in.

Probably get diagnosed with "post-dropping-the-widget syndrome", discover he can never work again, and get a million or 5.

OK I'm grossly exagerating, but with trading standards around, commonsense has gone out of the door in favour of "provable in court"

 

[Sans Bateau]

On the Raymarine website (I take it you refer to my comment on the 54E) it says: "Waterproof: IPX7 submersible;1 meter for at least for 30 minutes"

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Chrissie (AKA EndeavourQuay)

[/ QUOTE ]Really? Thought dual identities were not allowed!

 

[brianrunyard]

Take it back as unfit for the purpose for which it was purchased.

 

[Chrissie]

To save confusion, loads of people know me, Ive been Chrissie and on this site for a long long time. The Chandlery where I work has its own profile, EndeavourQuay, and the four of us in the company can all use it, though I tend to be the main user. Its not underhand or secret, and not really a duel identity because when I post I am chrissie.