Steam does not cause a crisply brown crust. You want the steam to not form or escape before browning can occur. Are you cooking at the lake or in a boat? There should be no water / steam forming. Tip that thing upside down and shake it.
My Waffle Iron sends steam out the sides as it cooks waffles. Is that what you are seeing in your sandwich maker. A little steam is good, it aids in the cooking and it escapes. When my waffle maker is done steaming, the waffle is cooked and is brown and crispy. That is what your sandwich maker should do too. Also, a little light goes out, but I don't trust that, as my waffle maker is really old.