Fishfinder electrical connections

Despite washing out my fishfinder's electrical connections with fresh water once I arrived home from any saltwater trips, I've got a bad case of the dreaded corrosion.   

I've been reading over on the KFS forum that most seem to turn to Corrosion X for releif.  Can anyone tell me, will that help to clean the existing corrosion off or is it only a preventative measure?  As a preventative, is it just for cleanup once you get home or is it also used as a coating of some sort before you go out?  Okay, if it's used as a coating then what about this dialectric grease that I've been hearing about, which is better?   

Anybody?

Fishin-T

Where exactly is your corrosion?

I've had corrosion at the batterey connector in which case I just stripped back some wire and redid the connector.

If it's at the FF end, well, you just need to clean it out as best you can and hope for the best.    You can try to Corrosion X and see what it does for you.  There are stronger products that will do de-rusting.  You want to make sure you get a product that will NOT etch the metal since that could make the actuall connection worse over time.

I use dielectric grease for prevention.  It's thicker and I believe it lasts longer, although I've never done a definitive test.

-Allen

Polepole,

I had the battery connection corrode to nothing and was able to simply buy another just like it (a pack of 5 really) at Radio Shack and that worked well.  Unfortunately this problem is in the female side of my 7-pin connector.  I bought some tiny drill bits, also from Radio Shack, but I can't tell if I'm getting down to clean metal inside there.  I'd like to just buy an adapter that has my particular connector on one end of it and then cannibalize it and reconnect etc.  The bad part of that answer is that I need it for THIS coming weekend and I can't find one in town.  Ahhh, I should have been looking further ahead.

I guess that I'll try the Corrosion X from Ted's Tackle and see what it can do.  You wouldn't happen to have a loaner Fishfinder, would you? 

Fishin-T

NOOOO ... don't drill!!!  I can see that taking away too much metal.  I suppose as a last resort.

I don't have a loaner FF up here in Seattle.  Hmm ... I better make sure mine is working, and remember to bring the battery cable this time.

-Allen

Instead of tiny drills go to a welding supply store and get tip cleaners for gas welding tips. They are like a little swizzle stick used to scrape the build up out of thewelding tips. There cheap and have different sizes in pack.
Matt

We used to use Baking Soda and Water to clean corrosion off battery terminals. Baking Soda seems to be a acid neutralizer.  Anyway die electric grease should prevent the corrosion. Shucks sells little packets for $.99. You are supposed to put it in the ends of your spark plug wires to keep them from corroding. Should work for your situation aswell.