Water and Paragliding Instruments, did you know?
Posted by Martin Havel on
We know you love taking to the skies with our awesome flight instruments, but let's face it, they're not dive computers. Nevertheless, accidents happen, and sometimes paragliding pilots find themselves unexpectedly splashing into the water with their trusty instruments by their side. We've got some playful advice on how to handle these watery situations.
So, here's your guide on what to do when your instrument takes an accidental dip:
1. Stay cool and make a splash: First things first, keep calm and assess the situation. Take a moment to make sure you're in a safe position and away from any menacing underwater creatures (hopefully just some friendly fish). Jokes aside: Safety first, instruments later. Then, let's get your Syride to drier pastures, ASAP!
2. We know you’d love to find out if your instrument is damaged or not, but don't even think about turning on your device if you suspect it is any wet. Electricity and water just don't mix. It could cause some serious internal short circuits. Yikes!
3. Rinse with sweet freshwater if it met salty seawater: Ah, the ocean's got its own brand of corrosion power! If your device had a salty encounter, it's time to crack it open, disconnect the battery, and give it a full-on freshwater rinse to wash away the saltwater and any other unwanted souvenirs from its unplanned aquatic adventure.
4. Drying time, instrument style: Give your instrument a chance to dry off. Pat it dry gently with a towel and then find a cozy spot for it to air-dry completely. Think of it as a mini beach vacation for your trusty companion. If you use an hair dryer, please make sure NOT to use the heating, it would damage electronic components.
Give it some serious drying time before you even think about powering it up again. We're talking days, not hours. You can also toss it in a rice bag or snag some silica gel packets to soak up that lingering moisture.
5. Ready, set, reboot!: If your battery decided to play it safe and went into hiding due to a short circuit scare, you might need to give it a little nudge. Plug your instrument into a USB port and hunt down that sneaky reboot button at the back. Give it a press with a paperclip and watch the magic happen!
If your beloved Syride is still giving you the silent treatment after following these steps, drop us a line. We'll roll up our sleeves and see what we can do in our workshops.