Hello Everyone,

With all the recent problems with GPS's and waterproofness (or lack thereof), I have decided to use the rest of this epoxy to make me a waterproof GPS case. I mean waterPROOF, as in 40 feet underwater for 30 min, which I plan to actually test on a scuba dive. Of course it won't be used underwater, but the idea is design for overkill and not have to worry with it. I'm open to your input.

I do some underwater photography, and am basically taking ideas from underwater housings available for video and still cameras.

Step 1: Make a sculpey clay mold around my gps. Sculpt the outside into a nice rectangle with rounded edges. Leave a little extra raised area where the buttons will be. The front of the clay will be open for the face of the GPS, and the edges on the front will be flat.

Step 2: Cast the sculpey mold in resin, tinted yellow. (personal preference)

Step 3: Sand the face of the casing flat, and the side where the buttons will be (Remember, this was cast slightly raised in that area) will be sanded flat.

Step 4: Cut gaskets out of rubber gasket material to go around the button area and face of the unit.

Step 5: Drill holes that line up with each of the buttons on the unit.

Step 6: Insert spring-loaded pins into the holes.

Step 7: Cover the holes with rubber gasket material, and make a plastic rim that will screw it down. Drill holes for screws. The end result will be a rubber piece on the outside, under which will be a metal spring-loaded pin that matches up to your buttons on your GPS.

Step 8: Make a face out of plexiglass, which will screw down to the front, with a rubber gasket. Of course it would be nice to have it hinged and have a neat latch system, but for now screws will do. It will just make changing the batteries a little harder.

Step 9: Insert GPS, screw it shut, and mount it to your kayak. (Oh, I forgot the part about including mounting points.) Now you can do rolls, thrash waves, get rained on, whatever you wish, without fear of ruining your GPS.

Anyone got any ideas on this? I wanted to use an o-ring system as opposed to the rubber gasket on the front, but doggone that complicates things. I may try to route a groove for an o-ring. A flat rubber gasket should work pretty good. If any of you have ideas please submit them. I am open for suggestions.

QUESTION: Will the casing inhibit the ability to track satellites? How can I make it so that it doesn't? I'm not sure how GPS signals work. I mean, it can transmit through the case of the unit, but not through some leafy trees in the forrest??? I never really understood that. The casing I'm planning would be at least 1/8" thick. I realize I could go out and buy one of those plastic bag things that covers the GPS, but I want a hard case that I can mount to the kayak easily. I don't want an overgrown ziplock. Besides, making your own is so much more fun and challenging. Isn't that why we made our own kayaks in the first place?

Thanks,

Malcolm