Hello, I've engineered many projects, and sometimes a simple answer to a problem can get you 95% of the way. I have not tested this idea in this particular application, but maybe it will work for you. There is a great (and inexpensive) product, molecular seive dessicants. Basically, a metallic oxide that removes humidity from the air. We use this all the time to dry out our dewpoint sensors. Anyway, back to my idea.
You take the board with the reference and put it in a small waterproof plastic enclosure. Place a few beads (maybe a teaspoon) wrapped in some plastic mesh (so they don't bounce around) inside the enclosure with the electronics. Then, feed your wires through a couple of holes in the enclosure and seal the holes with epoxy. Voila, the beads will absorb the moisture and the reference will stay very dry for a very long time. Put the whole thing in a larger box with your low emf binding posts and power supply and you're good to go.
Maybe this idea is idiotic, who knows. I know that it will be cheap to make and test, so why not give it a shot?
Thoughts anyone?
TomG.