I thought I’d share an interesting piece of information I picked up at the radio shop yesterday. I was in the marine radio shop having my Icom-802 serviced and saw a six larger screen Garmin marine GPS units waiting for repair to install new display screens.
I asked if that was a problem with just Garmin display units and was told that it was a problem with all LCD/LED type displays including panel instruments. The technician’s answer was that the display screens were destroyed by the sun’s ultra-violet rays even though the plastic covers were kept on over the display screens. He claims the UV goes right through plastic covers and results in blackening of the display screens.
He did however suggest a simple inexpensive solution and one that I’m passing on for what it’s worth. He suggested that metal tape (as used in the air conditioning business) be applied to the rear of the unit’s plastic covers to block the UV rays. This will protect the display with a thin metal film, totally block the UV rays and save the screens.
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'
Thanks for the heads up Bill. I have a burnt screen on one of my instruments. I thought I had put the cover on and forgotten to turn the unit off. I had no idea UV rays could go through plastic. You would think the manufactures would know this and install a better UV blocker.
Tim
Tim Askew
S/V Allure
1990 Catalina 36 Hull # 1079
Std Rig, Wing Keel, M25XP
3 Blade Auto Prop
Elizabeth City, NC
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
Les;
Yes, I hear what you are saying Les and I was just passing it along because it was a comment I had never heard before. But it does get a little hotter down here closer to the equator where the UV is a little more intense and this was a 5 cent fix that I thought pass it along for what it was worth. True or not, I can only take the tech's word for it.
I was on the boat today and it was 115 on the inside of the boat and 92 on the outside air temperature. Pretty soon it will be time to take out boats out for the summer as the prime sailing season is almost over for us here in SW Florida.
Bill
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'