Winches and water?

I just ordered a Smitty xrc 8 with synthetic rope. After ordering I noticed the X20 series. Is my xrc gonna die if it gets wet? I know I've seem people have them under water . I did buy the cover but figured that was more for sun fading the rope. Can I mount the controller under hood near firewall?

Are you talking getting rained on? Or being submerged?

I mean submerged.

Like if I had a winch on crossing this , would it have damaged it?

Its not that the winch is ruined, so much as the grease gets contaminated.
i would clean and repack after a hard subsurface winching