Condensation in Gauges

[Siamese]

My new Catalina gets condensation in its engine gauges, primarily the tachometer. Today the outside temp was in the 60's when I went for a sail around noon. There was enough condenstion in the tach that I couldn't read the engine hour display ( could read the tach okay, but there's a fair amount of condenstion in it). I keep a Sunbrella cover on the helm.

I brought this to my dealer's attention a few months ago (2007 model 309) and they said this is normal.

Is it?

[speciald]

Try turning on the night illumination lights to heat the unit and evaporate the condensation. I had the same problem with Raymarine ST50 instruments.

[Rockter]

Siamese...

If you can take the front off it for a moment, you can drop a wee iron-impregnated wiper pad into the bottom of the face, and if the condensation gets really bad you can take a wee magnet and run it over the front of the glass, dragging the wiper pad with it. It needs repeated every now and again. Use a very small magnet or it will throw the ship's compass. Store it in the bow.

[Rockter]

A hairdryer works too, I believe. Set it to hottest but be careful you don't crack the glass.

[FrankLanger]

The Raymarine manual for autopilot, knotmetre and depthsounder states that condensation is normal in these gauges, and will either evaporate or can be made to do so by turning on the lights, as mentioned above. I don't know if this applies to tachs as well. It does happen on my fuel gauge sometimes.
Frank.

[timebandit]

You might drying it out with the light on for a day and then cut a seal for the bulb assy. out of a thin rubber glove. This has worked for me on some power boats.

[chucklesR]

Condensation, nice moist marine environment, doh!

Having said that, never happened to any of my guages, ever.