Silicone Spray and Electrical Connections
Some problems are actually quite simple to deal with if you know where to look. One thing about boating on saltwater that everyone should know is that it wreaks havoc on electrical connections, even if you think they aren’t getting wet! Being on the water, as most boats are, means there is almost always lots of humidity, so seawater doesn’t have to splash on something for it to get wet. All those electrical connections in your boat are constantly exposed to moisture. The proof in this is shown by corrosion, typically a grey powdery substance or potentially a green-blue powdery substance. Marine wiring should use tinned aluminum (oxidizes into grey) but some builders did use copper (oxidizes into green-blue), more with older boats. Hopefully only a light dusting is found but it is truly an indicator.
Silicone spray can be your best friend here. You can buy it in a can, much like WD-40 and other spray lubricants. It is primarily a spray lubricant as well but it is not oil based so don’t substitute. Silicone spray is cheap and easy to use. Silicone will ‘chase’ water away and keep it away for some time. Simply spray some silicone over your electrical connections to stop corrosion and preserve their conductivity. Plug in connections can be unplugged (be mindful of manufacturers recommendations) to spray a small shot into the female or socket end and then reconnected. This is a simple task that requires little to no mechanical aptitude. This preventative maintenance can help prevent an electrical failure that seems to happen when you need something the most!