no wonder they build "shite" to die in 9 years ... lightening strikes are one thing but IMHO: Your nuts ... if you think 9 years is adequate life for instruments on a sailboat ... heck even my old signet worked well into 21+ years and the Navman that replaced it is going on 7 years and "touch wood" is still going strong ... (yes some folks had a terrible time w/Navman - guess I was/am lucky).

If you folks think 7,8 or 9 years is good service for electronics "designed for a marine environment" no wonder they are making stuff that doesn't last - the throwaway mentality is the problem!

(were not talking laptops here where even my mac book at 7 years is still going strong - but perhaps shouldn't be).

Rant over

Nick L