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Rip Curl GPS Search 2 watch - water inside

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Created by Ricey1 > 9 months ago, 24 Sep 2020
Ricey1
QLD, 44 posts
24 Sep 2020 11:27AM
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Hi, I got a Rip Curl GPS Search2 for Xmas last year and within around 4 months I could see moisture inside it. Took it back and Rip Curl sent it away and then gave me a replacement. I have had the replacement around 3 months now and this morning I noticed moisture inside it again. Anybody else had this problem with these watches? Wondering if I should replace it with something else

riverider
TAS, 1096 posts
24 Sep 2020 5:32PM
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I've had mine for a few years now and no problems.

808-Obsession
QLD, 440 posts
24 Sep 2020 6:37PM
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Out of curiosity, do you wear it in a hot shower? I had 2 decent-brand water resistant watches get liquid inside years ago, and couldn't work out why. When I did a warranty claim on the 2nd. I was asked the question above, and said yes (never took the watch off). Claim was promptly denied - heat from the hot water in the shower was expanding the casing of the watch, and when it cooled down it drew tiny amounts of water in via the seals. Voila - water inside a water resistant watch. Always recommend taking your watch off before a hot shower

colas
4986 posts
24 Sep 2020 8:04PM
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Yes, and not leave in the car in summer.

Studies have found that temperatures in the car can reach 80C ABOVE the outside temp.
www.researchgate.net/publication/259577084_Temperature_variations_inside_a_parked_car_in_hot_and_dry_climates

JasonProsser
NSW, 268 posts
24 Sep 2020 10:29PM
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Had several Rip Curl watches over the past 20 years. Since I purchased my first one, I have always had one until this day. Not the GPS version, but always a tide watch. Always had the batteries replaced by Rip Curl, but still have had a few suffer from moisture ingress. The first one was while paddling in icy cold water at altitude on Lake Tahoe. I had a mist build up across most of the face inside the glass. It cleared after a couple of days at lower altitude at the coast, but came back a few days later. The next time was in Hawaii - different watch - and again after spending a lot of time in the water and going to altitude. Final incident was after a day jumping off waterfalls. On every occasion, Rip Curl have replaced or repaired the watch. Despite the occasional failure, their customer service and replacement policy have been exceptional, so long as you keep receipts and have the battery replaced by them. That's why I still own one and my kids all have them too. My daily watch now is a Nixon Tide Watch which has so far not leaked, failed or needed a battery after two years of adventurous use. I still swap it out for my Rip Curl from time to time and would recommend either. Do beware the hot tub though, my son killed one by wearing it in there and both Nixon and Rip Curl recommend against it and would probably not honor a warranty if you did the same.

colas
4986 posts
25 Sep 2020 1:45PM
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FYI, I used a lot Nixon time tellers as I wanted:
- white clock hands on black background: the only thing I can read without glasses (I cannot read digits, even big, on a watch)
- the lightest and thinnest watch possible, no need to have a dead weight at arm's length
- plastic, to avoid dinging the board in falls

But I soon took the habit of first opening them (4 screws, easy, I change my batteries myself), and grease the O-ring. Otherwise the risk of leaks is always there.

Also, once you open watches, you realize that a $100 Nixon watch has exactly the same inside than $5 watches. I was happy to spend extra for the R&D behind the lightweight and thin case, and secure wristband, but I understood why Nixon was the most profitable brand of the Billabong group :-) And that they do not bother properly greasing the joint.

Note: I am now using a Rip Curl watch, that is even lighter and thinner than the Nixon time teller. But doesn't have as good a wristband. And I wear a watch only for SUPing, never otherwise.

mbuzz
NSW, 261 posts
25 Sep 2020 6:01PM
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I had two rip curl watches die due to water inside within 9 months. Unfortunately the second was a replacement for the first and under the same receipt so when the second one died they wouldn't replace it again. Then the same thing then happened with two billabong watches.

I'm now using a Quiksilver tide watch and it's been going strong for over 6 years, I've just had to replace the battery a couple of times.

JasonProsser
NSW, 268 posts
25 Sep 2020 6:11PM
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www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Garmin--Instinct-Solar-Surf-watch

This one looks interesting if you have a few hundred $$$ sitting around. The original Instinct was a tough outdoor watch, but a little bulky. I'd try one if I had the spare cash.

rockmagnet
QLD, 1458 posts
25 Sep 2020 7:00PM
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I lost my apple watch in the surf as I forgot to put the sports strap on and came undone out behind the line up. Thought it was gone until a phone call came through about 10 days later. An ocean swimmer spotted the watch on the bottom and retrieved it and called using the number on the Road ID attached to the strap.
After it was picked up I put it on charge and it's still going today. I'd attach a photo I took but it looks like the administrator deleted the last time I posted this story. (must thought I was ADVERTISING SOMETHING.) I wasn't .



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"Rip Curl GPS Search 2 watch - water inside" started by Ricey1