Surf Select Remote Failure

[Kmayotte]

My Surf Select remote stopped working this weekend. I figured a dead battery so I opened it up to see what type of battery it required. To my surprise it appears the seal failed, it was damp inside and the circuit board is corroded. See attached photos. One screw hole is discolored but I can't tell if it's from leaking or was a sealant applied when assembled.

I have a warranty claim in process. Hopefully a replacement at no charge is not a tall order for Nautique.

Anyone else have this issue?

[blueroom]

Funny, was just talking to the dealer about this an hour ago. Same exact thing happened to us this weekend - was working great, and then just stopped. I changed the battery, and it was clear water had gotten inside - looks a lot like yours. I am not positive this is it, as the internal red LED still lights when you push the button, but what else could it be?

[Kmayotte]

blueroom Have you heard anything about a replacement?

[blueroom]

I will be going in today to initiate the process, you are a few steps ahead of me.

[Kmayotte]

blueroom I've been informed by the local dealer that a replacement is in transit. Easy enough! Hope the pairing process is straight forward!

[charlesml3]

Has anyone tried drying it out, cleaning the contacts and replacing the battery? I bet it'll start working again.

-Charles

[Kmayotte]

Has anyone tried drying it out, cleaning the contacts and replacing the battery? I bet it'll start working again.

-Charles

Will try this weekend. Haven't had time. If it works then I'll have two!

[blueroom]

Has anyone tried drying it out, cleaning the contacts and replacing the battery? I bet it'll start working again.

-Charles

Yes - mine was totally dry, cleaned and new battery. The LED in the board does light when the button is pressed, but it won't pair. Tried it on a couple of boats. Something is fried.

Nautique shipped a new one out under warranty no problem.

In looking at it, I think there is a slight design flaw. It seems well-built, and has a good rubber seal. However, there are two screws in one side, with a lot of meat, and one screw on the other, right next to a void. I don't think the side with one screw gets cranked down hard enough to really seal up well, clamshelling against the side with two screws. It is probably enough in most cases, but not all.

[Kmayotte]

Good observation. I may take my new one and add a layer of waterproofing to seal it off. It will arrive in a few days just in time for my vacation.

[charlesml3]

Good observation. I may take my new one and add a layer of waterproofing to seal it off. It will arrive in a few days just in time for my vacation.

I don't even use mine. Once I started using the Pebble, that was it for me. I regularly adjust the NSS, Speed, and Volume from the Pebble.

-Charles

[Kmayotte]

I don't even use mine. Once I started using the Pebble, that was it for me. I regularly adjust the NSS, Speed, and Volume from the Pebble.

-Charles

I bought a pebble and it crapped out before I could even link it to the boat. What a joke.

Now my new (replacement) remote crapped out. I opened it up and the circuit board looks fine. This one was filled with a silicone goo to keep water at bay.

[charlesml3]

I bought a pebble and it crapped out before I could even link it to the boat. What a joke.

OK. I don't know what to tell you. I bought three Pebbles thinking at least one would die or we'd drop it in the lake. Neither has happened. I have 140 hours on the boat (almost all surfing) and we're still on the first Pebble. Works fine.

-Charles

[Kmayotte]

OK. I don't know what to tell you. I bought three Pebbles thinking at least one would die or we'd drop it in the lake. Neither has happened. I have 140 hours on the boat (almost all surfing) and we're still on the first Pebble. Works fine.

-Charles

Cool. Send me one and I'll give it the acid test for you

Edit:
I also remember now it wouldn't pair with my or my wife's iphone. Had to borrow my buddies android. It was painful to get the app loaded then the watch straight up died.

If you'd like to sell a pebble with the surf app already loaded on it I wouldn't happily pay you for the service and the watch.

[charlesml3]

It's somewhat trickier on a 2016. This is the real issue. On a 2016 you must downgrade the firmware and use the older version of the NSS app. If you run latest-and-greatest it won't pair to a 2016. The 2017s will run with latest-and-greatest.

Since my boat is a 2017, I won't have any way to test it and make sure it works before I send it to you.

-Charles

[Kmayotte]

And there's an issue with the legacy app working on new iphones. My phone doesn't work with the app which technically doesn't work with the watch which doesn't work with the boat without outdated firmware. FUN!!

It's a headache I gave up on. Which is why I've been using the remote.