1. If you enclose circuitry in food storage bins: (a) spend the extra $3.50 to get locking Tupperware instead of the 25 cent stackable type, which seal poorly and can break open, and (b) seal openings for iButtons and wires with silicone gel rather than hot-glue, which can melt bin material and isn't particularly water-tight.

2. On competition day, have backup pre-programmed PICs for EVERY ONE you use on your vessel. Since the SPDL will be locked, you won't be able to get another and program it in time if (or when) one (or more) of those in use gets wet and decides to re-program itself.

3. Over the last 3 quarters, we have learned that you should not try to create impressively complex mechanical, electronic or software designs. Simplicity in all 3: (a) allows you to finish earlier and test for robustness longer, (b) which leads to better performance in the end, (d) allows you to impress in other ways, such as craftsmanship, aesthetics or implementation, and (d) gives you a fighting chance for a life outside the SPDL.

And back by popular demand from last quarter...

4. If it is not broken, do not fix it. If it works well, do not (try and then fail to) improve it. The change you think will optimize your design will break it.

5. Go to sleep! The later you stay in laboratory, the less productive you will be and the more likely you are to mess something up that will take hours to repair. You will accomplish a lot more by sleeping and trying again the next day.