60CS Antenna Takes a Slashing...

[moonpup]

Hi All,

 

Will have to call Garmin on this one and see if they will repair it, but I had the unit strapped onto the shoulder strap of my backpack and happened to catch a wayward tree branch that put a gash in the rubber coating of the antenna. So much for waterproofness

 

Anyway, should Garmin not repair this for free and depending on cost, I was thinking I could just use some tub and sink calking to fill the gash and smooth it over. Anyone forsee problmes with this solution? By the way the unit still acquires and locks onto satellites with no problems.

 

Thoughts?

[+Dixie's Crew]

I'd be worried that the homemade patch job would fail at the most inopportune time, namely while wet. Too, if the job isn't perfect it could let moisture seep in over a period of time before failure. I don't think it would do much for resale value either.

[+Rubberhead]

Like most duck hunters, I use Aquaseal on my neoprene waders when they get ripped. Aqualseal is tough and flexible.

 

It'd be hard to find something that would do a better job on the rubber part of the GPSmap 60 Antenna.

 

[+miles58]

You can do it, but you need a non-corrosive RTV.

Most of what you can by outgasses acetic acid (the vinegar smell) which can and will corrode circuitry. If the antenna will pass liquid or gas into the unit you can kill it. Same with the use of shoe goo or aqua seal.

 

You can get the non-corrosive RTVs, but you'll need to go to a place that supplies RTVs, noit a retailer.

[+Rubberhead]

You can do it, but you need a non-corrosive RTV.

Most of what you can by outgasses acetic acid (the vinegar smell) which can and will corrode circuitry. If the antenna will pass liquid or gas into the unit you can kill it. Same with the use of shoe goo or aqua seal.

 

You can get the non-corrosive RTVs, but you'll need to go to a place that supplies RTVs, noit a retailer.

Thanks miles58 - I didn't know nor was I think about such things.

[moonpup]

miles58, what is a non-corrosive RTV?

[+Cryptid]

Garmin will repair it, I had mine repaired, My Ferret likes soft rubber and she chewed up the antenna. It cost me about $45.00 though.

They even updated it for me.

You just go to customer service and write to them

[moonpup]

Great picture...and she looks like a troublemaker too!

 

I'll give Garmin a call.

Edited April 13, 2005 by moonpup

[Parsa]

What about that plastic stuff you can dip things like wrench handles into to coat them? I'd think that would work without causing corrosion.