Computers That Thrive in Salty, Humid Environments?

Ever seen one of today's garden variety computers running on sea-going vessels? How about in other places where water, or salt water is a large part of the environment? Today's Ask Slashdot deals with 3 questions surrounding the construction of computer systems that can survive in such a harsh environment. What does it take to harden a PC to survive in such a place, and how much more expensive will it cost to make one? Are there other issues to worry about aside from the salt and the humidity?

To start us out, frostman asks: "A friend of mine is living on a sailboat, and would like to set up a nifty computer system. It doesn't need to be too powerful, but it should be small, rugged, fairly quiet, and cheap. He has a standard PII/400 mid-tower system he can gut for parts (400Mhz would probably be enough). He wants to do normal internet stuff, watch DVD's, listen to MP3's (with good speakers)... and he needs it to run on 12 volts when he's sailing. Any suggestions from the hardware gurus on Slashdot?"

websensei continues with this query: "I am about to become a full-time live-aboard on my sailboat. I'm in the process of selling all my machines and plan to spend about $2000 on a new laptop for the boat. I'll use it for work and play (movies, gaming, TV via USB TV tuner?) etc. Please share any advice/experiences relating to computing on boats or other harsh/damp environs."

And last, but not least, Alioth asks about fishes, not boats: "How about computers in fish factories? Not only do we have to contend with the room being jetwashed, but the atmosphere is very salty. I've been looking at stainless steel enclosures - what's their salt water resistance like, not just the stainless parts, but the parts that fasten the stainless parts together, not to mention being able to keep the computer cool as well (meaning it's got to vent somewhere)?"

Comments

Not worth the additional cost

[Matey-O]

If you're looking at using a laptop INSIDE the boat (out of the weather, mist, etc.) Then I wouldn't bother spending the additional money on the 'marine grade' systems. They're much more bulky, and quite a bit more expensive.

Here's a little thought experiment:
Buy a laptop for $1200-1400 with a combo DVD/cdrw drive, make data backups to CD, store CD's in water tight container.

In two+ years when it starts to act flakey (corroding battery contacts) buy ANOTHER laptop for $1200 to $1400, rinse repeat.

It'll take a long time to add up to the $5000-ish you'll pay for your first marine grade laptop.

Re:Not worth the additional cost

[bad-badtz-maru]

You are exactly right. I was the IS director for the largest resort in the Florida Keys. We had at least 40 computers within 20 feet of the ocean. We used marine-grade anti-corrosive spray on all the connectors and we used special weatherproof keyboards (only because the bartenders dispensed more rumrunners into the keyboards than into the customers' cups). Other than that, we just used regular PCs. Our machines lasted 2-3 years (many longer than that) and they never died due to anything related to salt-water exposure. Oh yeah, these machines were located in thatch-roofed bars (roof made of palm fronds) and we would come in after storms, pour all the water out of the machines, wait for them to dry out, and power them up. Corrosion is the only problem and that is completely eliminated with a serious anti-corrosive spray (no WD40, we used Corrosion Block by Pacific Corrosion Technologies).

maru

Fool With a Broken Laptop

[virg_mattes]

If you think any laptop will handle this, remember that he's going to be on the water 24/7, including rainstorms. If you think your laptop can handle that well, take it into your bathroom, open it and fire it up, then take a nice, long, hot shower. Repeat this every day. If your machine takes more than four days of this without getting condensation behind the screen and developing crudly goo on all of the internals, let us know what brand it is.

Virg