Marine Stereo's
Discussion
I'm about to replace the stereo in my Chaparral and add a couple of extra speakers. It appears that marine equipment is about 3 times the price of regular car stuff. Am I to assume that standatd 12 volt equipment will work just as well as the marine gear. I see no reason to pay through the nose because it's for a boat.
The speakers are kind of in the open but the head unit is actually behind the dash cover so unlikely to ever get wet.
The speakers are kind of in the open but the head unit is actually behind the dash cover so unlikely to ever get wet.
I can't specifically vouch for the head units but..
A company I used to work for made marine speakers. They were modified car speakers (big car brand anyway), but the major mods were't to the cones - the suspension and driver cone were waterproof anyway. Marine spec required substantial changes to the magnet / coil assy, as "normal" 12v car stuff would degrade in salty conditions.
If you're going to fit a 12v car headunit, just seal the back end of it from condensation etc, but in a way that allows cooling. I _think_ you;ll be alright then.
A company I used to work for made marine speakers. They were modified car speakers (big car brand anyway), but the major mods were't to the cones - the suspension and driver cone were waterproof anyway. Marine spec required substantial changes to the magnet / coil assy, as "normal" 12v car stuff would degrade in salty conditions.
If you're going to fit a 12v car headunit, just seal the back end of it from condensation etc, but in a way that allows cooling. I _think_ you;ll be alright then.
I've just put one of these in my Sea Ray... good little unit with additional remote unit for the helm, its a standard single din fitting but with a larger front.
http://www.clarionworld.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/cmd6-...
http://www.clarionworld.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/cmd6-...
Fishtigua said:
Don't do what the plonkers at Cigarette did. Mount the speakers eitherside of the companion way, 6 inches from the compass.
My compass is above the dash close to the screen and the new speakers will be up the back somewhere so no magnetic interference here.
Thanks for your views guys. I've ordered a JVC with USB and 3.5mm on the facia and a little remote for less than a ton. Keep it dry and should be good to go.
When I worked a Moorings in the early 2000's there used to be at anyone time at least 20-30 Bose speaker on warranty return piled up in the office. They where utterly rubbish. The Head units on the boats where Clarion and I never saw one of those on the return self.
Later I ran a new superyacht it had Bose and Clarion mix around the deck/flybridge etc, the Bose where dead in 5 months..Yes the Bose ones inside where great.....Never had to replace the Clarion outside though.
The Clarion unit I had in a car went wrong though. It was modern unit built in to the dash as standard. The dealer quoted £800. I rang a clarion and they said take it out and send it to out service dept as all our units are designed to be repaired.They fitted a new CD head unit in the complete unit sent it registered post etc with a prefix standard charge rate of £70...and it was back with me 4 days after posting it...they had also taken great care with the packaging.
I did have to congratulate them on a service I had not seen in this country for some years.
Later I ran a new superyacht it had Bose and Clarion mix around the deck/flybridge etc, the Bose where dead in 5 months..Yes the Bose ones inside where great.....Never had to replace the Clarion outside though.
The Clarion unit I had in a car went wrong though. It was modern unit built in to the dash as standard. The dealer quoted £800. I rang a clarion and they said take it out and send it to out service dept as all our units are designed to be repaired.They fitted a new CD head unit in the complete unit sent it registered post etc with a prefix standard charge rate of £70...and it was back with me 4 days after posting it...they had also taken great care with the packaging.
I did have to congratulate them on a service I had not seen in this country for some years.
Denis O said:
I'm about to replace the stereo in my Chaparral and add a couple of extra speakers. It appears that marine equipment is about 3 times the price of regular car stuff. Am I to assume that standatd 12 volt equipment will work just as well as the marine gear. I see no reason to pay through the nose because it's for a boat.
The speakers are kind of in the open but the head unit is actually behind the dash cover so unlikely to ever get wet.
I bought a Fusion stereo for my RIB - this one:The speakers are kind of in the open but the head unit is actually behind the dash cover so unlikely to ever get wet.
With Fusion speakers. Not too expensive (I think they can be found for around the £200 mark).
PM me if you need more detail.
Denis O said:
So what's it like cutting through the side panels which have a cover of vinyl and a small amount of foam padding; carefully I guess.
Yes, very carefully!I would suggest firstly very carefully marking your centre position for each speaker - double checking all the time. I would then cut a smaller than circumference X (rather than a circle) with a stanley knife and carefully peel back the foam padding. Cut your panels, always keeping on the small side, rather than the large side (on the basis that you can subtract material but not add!). Then you can fold in your X of padding into the hole and cut the circle to the inside of the speaker hole. You want the rim of your speakers to very firmly and comfortably sit on the foam padding.
NDA said:
Denis O said:
So what's it like cutting through the side panels which have a cover of vinyl and a small amount of foam padding; carefully I guess.
Yes, very carefully!I would suggest firstly very carefully marking your centre position for each speaker - double checking all the time. I would then cut a smaller than circumference X (rather than a circle) with a stanley knife and carefully peel back the foam padding. Cut your panels, always keeping on the small side, rather than the large side (on the basis that you can subtract material but not add!). Then you can fold in your X of padding into the hole and cut the circle to the inside of the speaker hole. You want the rim of your speakers to very firmly and comfortably sit on the foam padding.
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